5 Best Acid Free Comic Book Backing Boards
You must protect your comic books in the same way that a homeowner protects their home. In the same way, the elements or pests can destroy a home, they also destroy comic books. Many comic book collectors, whether hobbyists or collectible investors are woefully unaware of how delicate comic book paper is. Comic book paper is cheaply constructed, especially comic book paper manufactured in the early 20th century. It’s why you must use the best acid-free comic book backing boards to protect them.
I was shocked to learn about the natural acid lignin when I was younger. Lignin is released naturally in paper, whether it be magazines, books, or comic books. Unprotected books and comic books release lignin within their fibers over the years and decades. Lignin causes books to become brittle, faded, and slowly disintegrate.
So, that is why it is important to put your comic books in plastic or mylar comic book sleeves with cardboard backing boards.
Unfortunately, you have to think twice before inserting a cardboard backing board behind a comic book in a plastic sleeve. If you use comic book backing boards that also release lignin, then you are just incrementally expediting and compounding the lignin release process.
The comic book and the backing board are both going to release lignin. Both are just going to disintegrate a little bit quicker.
If you love your comic books for casual reading enjoyment or as possible future collectible investments, then you need to use the best acid-free comic book backing boards. They are also known as “archival,” backing boards.
I’m going to explain the standards between acid-free comic book backing boards in further detail. And I’m going to tell you about the best acid-free comic book backing boards that you can buy.
Firstly, I need to talk about lignin and what happens when you leave comic books consistently exposed to the elements and unprotected. Then you will understand why you must always look for “acid-free,” when buying your backing boards.
Lignin: The Biological Acid that Destroys Comic Books
If you want to scroll down to the list of the five best acid-free comic book backing boards, you can do so. But I think you must understand why such products are vital to buy to protect your comic books.
Houses are made of wood. And one of the biggest problems that homeowners deal with is termites. The average termite colony can number anywhere between 60,000 to millions.
The average termite colony can eat about 11 pounds of wood a month. And the point is not that termites can eat an entire house, they can eat enough to compromise the structural integrity of a house. Or eat enough wood to cause so much damage that the cost of repairing the problem negates the value of the home.
There are many factors that can contribute to the destruction of the wood in a house. But this is our closest analogy to how comic books can be naturally destroyed if you don’t protect them. After all, paper is made from wood.
The first comic books published in the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century were manufactured with the cheapest possible paper. Comic book paper back then was chemically unstable. They were not made to last. Comic books were considered to be disposable.
Old comic books were made of the cheapest and thinnest paper made from the cheapest wood pulp, inks, color dyes, and iron staples. When all of these unstable ingredients degrade, they make the comic degrade faster.
And lignin makes the problem worse.
Best acid-free Comic Book Backing Boards – Protection Against Lignin
Lignin is a natural chemical found in wood pulp that is used to make paper. As thin and cheap comic book paper is exposed to air, humidity, heat, and direct sunlight, it releases lignin. Lignin makes the paper slowly begin to fade, yellow, and become very brittle. Ultimately, lignin will eat away at the microscopic fibers within the paper.
The cheap staples used in old comic books rust and worsen the problem.
Unprotected comic books fade, yellow, and become brittle over the years. Over decades, unprotected comic books will turn to dust. It happens to books in libraries too.
Comic book companies incrementally improved the quality of their print paper by the 1990s. But only marginally – the problem still exists.
So, if you use comic book backing boards made of standard cardboard, which is made of paper, then you’re putting a stiff people of cardboard that will release lignin next to your fragile comic book.
All hope is not lost. There are many things you do to protect comic books. Keep your comic books out of direct sunlight when not reading them. Keep food and drink away from your comic books. Wash your hands before reading to minimize transferring skin oils on the paper.
But the best thing you can do is use the best acid-free comic book backing boards when supporting your comic books in a mylar sleeve bag. The best acid-free comic book backing boards are chemically treated to buffer the decomposition of old paper.
Keep comic books well sealed in comic book sleeves or in airtight slabs and the decomposition is significantly slowed. The average book or comic book can last 50 to 80 years, or much longer if they are valuable and sealed in airtight containers.
Also remember that while standard plastic sleeves are cheaper, mylar comic book sleeves are more resistant to the creation and diffusion of acids and gases generated by decomposing paper.
Now, here are five of the best acid-free comic book backing boards on the market. All of the following backing board products are treated with 3% calcium carbonate to prevent the release of lignin and buffer lignin proliferation in comic books.
Zero Issue Mylar Sleeves and acid-free Backing Boards
One of the best acid-free comic book backing boards manufactured in the business is manufactured by Zero Issue.
Zero Issue’s mylar bag dimensions are 7.06 x 10.5 inches and the backing boards are 6.93 x 10.5 inches. This product features resealable flaps. The company ensures that their acid-free backing boards won’t yellow your comic books over time.
And they are designed to protect Silver and Modern Age comic books. This product comes with 100 mylar bags and 100 acid-free backing boards.
BCW Mylar Sleeves and acid-free Backing Boards
BCW is a brand that most comic book collectors trust to protect their collections. And they are considered by many to be the best manufacturers of the best acid-free comic book backing boards.
BCW certifies that their acid-free comic book backing boards are scientifically tested by independent laboratories. They are certified to be 100% acid-free by the company.
This product comes with 100 mylar bags with resealable flaps and 100 acid-free backing boards. BCW mylar sleeves are designed to protect Modern Age comic book dimensions.
The dimensions of the mylar bag are 6 ⅞ x 10 ½ and the backing board is 6 ¾ x 10 ½.
You can get it for $25. Supplies are limited at the time of this blog’s posting.
CheckOutStore Mylar Sleeves and acid-free Backing Boards
CheckOutStore offers a generic style of mylar sleeve with acid-free backing boards. However, the company claims that its acid-free backing boards are thicker than its competitors.
COS’ acid-free backing boards are 2 millimeters. This product comes with 100 resealable mylar sleeves and 100 acid-free backing boards.
This product is designed to protect Silver and Modern Age comic books.
Get it on Amazon for $26.
YSCare Mylar Sleeves and acid-free Backing Boards
The dimensions of this product’s comic book boards are 6.75 Inches x 10.5 inches and the mylar bags are 7.2 X 10.8 inches.
However, the mylar bags do not have a resealable flap. YSCare’s has some of the best acid-free comic book backing board products designed for use by children, although they are also applicable for use by adults.
This product comes with 100 mylar sleeves and 100 acid-free backing boards.
You can get it for $23.59 at Amazon.
Leffis Mylar Sleeves and acid-free Backing Boards
This product features 100 mylar sleeves and 100 acid-free comic book backing boards.
The dimensions of the mylar bags are 7.2 x 10.5 inches. The dimensions of the backing boards are 6.75 x 10.5 inches. Leffis’ mylar bags and acid-free backing boards are optimal to protect Modern Age comic books.
Leffis specifically states that its acid-free backing board is lignin and acid-free. However, their mylar bags do not feature resealable adhesive strips.
Ever wondered how you could make money investing in something you love? If so, then comic book investing might be for you! In this guide, A.A. Francis covers everything the casual investor needs to know in order to get started. Learn about what makes a comic book valuable, how to determine value on your own, and strategies for making a sale. Plus, find out why now is the best time to start investing in comic books.
The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
