Two Comics in One Bag/Board

[opieandy]

I'd never seen this method (two comics in a bag, one on either side of the board) until some ebay shippers used it, and it got me thinking. Obviously, you can't flip through a box of comics as easily, but if you've got a run of comics in order, it seems you could back-to-back them in one bag and still flip through the box. Just wondering if there's any negative impact on the storage of the comics. Doesn't seem like there would be.

Chris

[DaeJi]

It hurts the corners and edges. Also, the bags tear a lot more when you do that.

[Dorsai]

One of the guys at my LCS uses the Golden Age(?) sized bags (the larger size) and puts a comic on each side. He says the larger size works without having to abuse the books to get both of them to fit.

I can see it as a method for long term storage or shipping but as someone else mentioned, it is a bit more difficult to flip through the box.

[Samurai]

I do it for nearly all my comic runs. It saves a ton on bags and boards, and if you use bags that are large enough, it has no problem fitting them back to back. Don't use bags that are so small you need to fight to get the 2nd book in... it should slide in easily. There's no problem finding issues, just flip the bag around and look at the back.

[Tom-El]

I avoid it at all costs. I'm not sure what brand of board you're using, but I've never seen a board that has two smooth sides.

The rough or unfinished side is like sandpaper on the back cover. Eventually, the board will absorb the color that has been rubbed off of the back cover.

I hope this helps.

Tom

[K'Nort]

I put two comics in each bag, although I only board about every tenth bag. Just enough to help keep things upright.

The advantages are that I buy fewer bags (my shop doesn't provide them) and the rows stay straighter because you're alterating which side the spines are on. Most books aren't really thick enough for this to become a big deal, like with magazines, but it does help with some titles.

I'm not investing, or otherwise intending to sell, so issues like bending corners aren't on the radar.

[StarsAndGarters]

I use it all the time. It certainly lets me fit more comics in a long box. I don't really mind the torn bags though, and I haven't seen any wear in the corners of the books.

[TheLazy]

How about you read the comics? ;)

I avoid it at all costs. I'm not sure what brand of board you're using, but I've never seen a board that has two smooth sides.

The rough or unfinished side is like sandpaper on the back cover. Eventually, the board will absorb the color that has been rubbed off of the back cover.

I hope this helps.

Tom

I've seen this done with larger bags with odd/even numbers, worked out well for that guy, he put tissue paper in between the card and comic to stop the absorption.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I've bought some comics from guys who do this. Not a fan and I usually take them and put em in 1 bag/1 board.

[Gene M.]

It's how I store my comics. I've never really worried about the condition of my books, so if I end up with a folded corner every once in a while, it's not that big of a deal. I look at it as a way of getting twice as much bang for my buck when I buy bags and boards.

[Gingold]

When I still used bags, I often double-bagged my comics. It worked fine.

[Gargus]

I avoid it at all costs. I'm not sure what brand of board you're using, but I've never seen a board that has two smooth sides.

The rough or unfinished side is like sandpaper on the back cover. Eventually, the board will absorb the color that has been rubbed off of the back cover.

I hope this helps.

Tom

Dont know what your using, all mine are smooth on both sides. Been buying these for years.

And no contrary to popular belief it doesnt hurt comics to do this. Its one of those things people think sounds good so they say.

For a long time Ive had comics like that, not all mind. But if I end up with a variant cover, like I have both archie vs punisher issues, I put them both in the same sleeve and they just as good as the day I bought them. All the rest stay single bagged though. Or like my superman dies issue has the newstand edition on the front, back has the blag bagged version and its still fine.

[Riker Omega Three]

Back when I was buying single issues, I would do this a lot, though I did it more as a kid for some reason. I'm not a collector, so it doesn't matter to me if the corners get a little bent, and I never noticed the bags tearing. The larger 'regular' bags worked out great for me, but the 'current' size was just too tight a squeeze -- even when I put one extra-sized comic per bag. Strangely enough, I thought it was easier to flip through a box with two books per bag.

[Sean Walsh]

It hurts the corners and edges. Also, the bags tear a lot more when you do that.

Depends on the bag, I guess. I used that method of storage for years and the books & bags were always fine.

I also used the "put multiple comics (like, 4-6) in one bag" thing for years. Again, the books & bags were fine.

[Mac Danny]

I do it for all my comics. It saves room and cost of bags and boards. I recently re-read my heroes for hire run and the condition was still the same as when I bagged them.

I try to keep them in number order. If I am missing an issue, I put only one comic in the bag the other should go in.

If it is something really valuable, keep it alone. But if you are looking to store your collection of Night Thrasher comics. It's a safe bet.

[Punchy]

A lot of my older books are bagged two-per bag (no board), all my newer stuff over the past 5 years ago is individually bagged and boarded (my shop gives them for free to subscribers).

They keep equally as well.

[K'Nort]

I try to keep them in number order. If I am missing an issue, I put only one comic in the bag the other should go in.

That's an excellent point. You don't want to have to re-bag everything when you find a missing issue.

If it is something really valuable, keep it alone. But if you are looking to store your collection of Night Thrasher comics. It's a safe bet.

True. Everything of mine that is pre-1980 still has its own bag and has a board. They look like they want to fall apart otherwise.

[Headhunter]

The boards are only treated on one side; if you care enough to bag and board, do it right!

[stealthwise]

Been doing it for years, it's awesome, it saves money and keeps runs together a bit easier.

[mgs]

The boards are only treated on one side; if you care enough to bag and board, do it right!

I think it has to do more with a coating. Cheap ones only coat one side, but for treated boards, you have to treat the whole piece of carboard. if the board is not glossy white, front and back, top, bottom and sides, then it's only been coated. for archival quality, the whole thing should've been made by mixing up the wood pulp then pressing out the carboard.

[opieandy]

Thanks for the feedback, everybody! Opinions on both sides of the board. Obviously an issue near and dear to our hearts!

I am a real novice at boarding/bagging. I have two sets of boards. One is Ultra-Pro, and it's clearly only coated on one side. The other is Comicare, which I haven't even opened yet. At a minimum, this discussion has been helpful to confirm that I should be putting the comic against the coated side (they don't give a user's manual with these things!). Seems like if there's a "right" way to use the boards, the package should inform you of that. Although there seems to be some sentiment here from double-baggers that it doesn't matter.

Hmmm.

Chris

[Redgi]

I've been putting two issues with one bag and board for a few years now. For me putting the current issues in a silver age bag/board works. Not too tight nor too loose. If you can afford to put one issue with each bag and board go right ahead. Most of the boards that i use are smooth/shiny on one side and matte on the other so the poster who said that the boards they buy are smooth/shiny on both sides which brand do you use? I ask because the smooth side of the board is coated so that it absorbs the acid from the paper, so you do have to put the smooth/shiny side against the comic.

[Ben Morgan]

All my comics come in bags and boards anyway, so I just leave 'em that way

[Night]

As others said, depends on the bag, board and comic. I wouldn't buy cheap bags and boards, even if it was for 1-per set for the collection stuff I had. But sometimes you get them when you buy them. Then again, most of the stuff I have, isn't very high on collection value anyway, just bought them because I like the story. Then all I got to do is keep them in enough quality so they can be read. There are some thing I just store in the box even, without bag or board.... then again, those I could replace cheaply if I had to. It all depends.

[Sonicjuce]

I did it for awhile, but something just seems wrong about it. Also like everyone has said you need the bigger bags. The argument that newer stuff can go in two but older not seems foolish to me. In 40 years that will be the older stuff and you will have ruined it.

I guess it doesn't effect me too bad since my future brother in law buys me 300 bags/boards every year for Christmas. Man that guy can shop. Best present every year.