Storing comic books

Comic books are printed on machine-made wood pulp paper, and U.S. paper standards came late, in the 1980s. So many comic books in a collection are acidic, which makes good storage especially important. Careful handling is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make them last.

Why the paper breaks down

Wood pulp paper made before the 1980s tends to be acidic. In the presence of moisture, those acids cut the paper's fibers into shorter pieces, and the paper weakens. Paper also takes up acids from polluted air, which is why pages often turn brown and brittle at the edges first. Light damages paper too. Since the 1980s, makers have added alkaline buffers to paper meant to last, which neutralize the acids. Better storage slows the damage on any paper, acidic or not.

Handling them

• Start with clean hands and a clean spaceClear a table before you take a comic book out.
• Keep food and drinks away
• Open it no more than 180 degreesNever fold a comic book back on itself.
• Mark a page without clips or folded cornersPaper clips, dog-eared corners and acidic inserts all damage the pages.
• Keep tape, glue and rubber bands offDon't use any of them on a comic book.

Where to keep them

• Somewhere cool and fairly dryKeep them at room temperature or below, at about 35% relative humidity, in a clean place where both stay steady.
• Not in the attic or basementSkip any spot with a high risk of leaks or temperature extremes.
• Out of the lightKeep exposure to all kinds of light low, and never leave them in direct or bright light.
• Away from radiators and vents

What to keep them in

• Supportive enclosuresUse acid-free and lignin-free folders, four-flap folders, envelopes, document boxes or preservation binders, either alkaline buffered or neutral pH.
• Stiff polyester sleevesClear polyester film works if it's stiff enough to support the comic book inside.
• A note on buffered materialsBuffered storage materials help neutralize the acid in paper, but some inks may be sensitive to alkaline materials.
• Brittle books and staticPolyester builds up static easily, which can lift paper crumbs off a brittle comic book.

When storage isn't enough

• A conservator for real damageWhen a comic book has problems good handling and storage can't solve, a book or paper conservator can treat it, which may include reducing its acidity.