Comic Book Community Reacts To NEW PSA Label...Did It Get Worse?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ต.ค. 2024
- In this video I talk about the leak of the new redesign for PSA's comic book grading label. While there is not that much difference from the previous design there are changes and it seems like comic book community is NOT impressed. I discuss some of the feedback in this video and would love to hear what you guys have to say as well.
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OMG. Looks like the label on my prescription from CVS. At this point, I'd better not get them confused.
If CBCS got shunned because the community didn't like their labels, PSA is in for a rude awakening. I personally didn't mind the previous CBCS labels, but these PSA labels are straight fugly.
It's true that trust in the grade is paramount, but you still want something that displays well. If you are just going to throw the slab into a box and never look at it, then the label doesn't matter. But if you want to display it, an ugly label takes away from the presentation.
I think the picture on the label is what you're buying.
PSA needs to understand that comic collectors are different from card collectors. For a new comic grading company to readily secure a slice of the business, they need to produce an eye catching label and a quality slab that enhances the visual appeal of the book. This, unfortunately, doesn't do it. That said, with consistent grading and good quality control (no "banana gates"), PSA should still be able to secure a piece of the comic grading market.
I like it! I am still going to send my books to them.
Label is still hideous.
Just checked their post and the negative (even not so negative) comments that you covered all seem to be gone. So, that's a demerit in my book. A lot of us who collect (the buyers) we want a pretty slab. That's going to affect value. It certainly does in my mind.
Post is in the description. Its from Neo, not from their stream.
@@Swagglehaus Well now I'm just disappointed in myself.
Dig it. No matter what the label is they’ll be getting my business. Have a long box ready.
Custom labels/matching labels to a specific comic are an untapped market that PSA should perfect. CGC’s custom labels add a lot to the overall presentation.
Sometimes a classic look is the best look
Many companies follow a brand guide and definitely need to update the brand guide for new products
I love the irony that whenever CGC screws up, the pro grading crowd rushes to their defense saying they’re so necessary for “the protection of the book”, or “it makes online sales safer”, or “its the best way to detect restoration”. But as soon as a competitor enters the room all they care about is how the slab looks and what the resale value is. Be honest with yourselves folks.
Was thinking the same exact thing.
This guy is going against the current! Get him! Conform… conform…
@@fuzzy8593 LOL
Bent books and pretty labels. Doesn't make sense.
Those PSA labels are super ugly and I would not want one in my collection. I was considering trying them out initially when I heard they were entering the market, but after seeing their labels and how little they seem to be open to changing them to make them look better, I have decided to stick with CBCS.
If the slabs are UV protected that be a plus. But if not then I'll stick to my preferred grading compnay
All grading labels look like airport sandwich price tags. Grading is a tool so you don’t get screwed online, or Ahole dealers. A tool not a frame.
If everything is equal and the label is the tie-breaker, this is a valid comparison. However, we need to take a holistic look at all the companies... fees, turnaround times, quality control, grading consistency, slab security, UV protection, shipping security, grader notes, pictures, customer service, etc. If PSA (or CBCS) can do 1 or 2 of these things better than CGC, the needle won't move; but if they can (hypothetically) beat CGC at everything but the label, then that's a completely different discussion.
We need to look at the entire value prop, not just the labels and slab size. We just don't have enough information to make an informed decision yet.
Maybe one of the conditions of the injunction was that CBCS got to redesign their label....
I keep saying, the labels gotta be better. These arnt sports cards, they are artwork that need mats and frames to enhance the comics.
Those pieces of art are a small fraction of card collecting. Card's dwarf books by a large margin.
*_I was 100% sure it was a placeholder._*
*_I think they want all their slabs to look the same, be it cards, comic books, posters, etc._*
*_The grade needs to POP, and it needs to be ON THE LEFT SIDE, as in the West we read from left to right._*
*_In my opinion, the background of the grade could be a hologram. It is important that there is an hologram somewhere on the label, as of 2024, it seems it still can't be faked?_*
*_There could be a thin banner with some writing and the banner is a hologram. QR-code and barcode should be on the back of the label._*
*_Also, where is CVA going to place their sticker, ha-ha-ha._*
As someone that owns many PSA card slabs, I can appreciate the design consistency for their comic slabs. I'm surprised it took them this long to start authenticating comic books when they've been slabbing so many other non-card collectibles for years, like ticket stubs and even loose scraps of paper with autographs on them.
Unless card collectors are entering the comic market. They are the market leader in the comic space. So how do you stand out. Having a fugly label. Remember comics are an art medium also.
@@vertualvice true, but once you slab a comic book it essentially becomes a card, good for the art outside but not within. You can see the front and back, but the contents inside are sealed away.
@@alexmathewmendoza Sorry it's more than a card. The cover is pure art and it's much bigger than a card. PSA on cards use the small plain type because cards are small. There's no reason to do the same for comics.
The red looks so faded, but it's probably the photo quality. I think they should try to have a consistent brand between their cards and comics labels for sure. Agree the sticker looks better with the distinct red and blue and the title text getting bigger is an improvement. It sounds like they're still iterating so who knows what the final product is gonna look like.
What I would personally like see, at least label-wise:
- Much more distinguished framing around the grade.
- Shiny foil numbers and a distinct frame around 9.9, 10 grade
- What labels look like for witnessed/unwitnessed/restored/etc versions
- Inaugural custom label for the launch with some kind of illustration or background
Same same. But different.
I’m old school and stick to CGC for my books.. No one is perfect but in the end of the day CGC has been dominant in the comic world for 24yrs…
I agree with the one comment that they need to hire a way better graphic designer. Maybe even get a better sleek plastic holder design as well so it can stand out compared to the competition. Here's a business idea: customizable frames you can click onto the holder itself. Think all the great comic boarders you could click and apply on to your book to suit your room walls. I've seen it with eye glasses frames. Why not comics? It's a great way for the collector to have more control of how they want to present it.
As a graphic designer, this is embarassingly bad
EGS has the best overall slab and amazing custom labels. This should be the choice of all true collectors.
Thank You!
It's pride and incompetence. PSA isn't listening and their ego will hurt them.
Just like CBCS
@@jasondcerny3646 💯
The look doesn’t bother me but the cert number is not on the front and I feel that would be a scammers dream come true.
I think at the end of the day CGC is too big to lose the top spot in comic book grading, at least for the foreseeable future. Talk to me about PSA in a decade.
You were right in saying it all comes down to the sale $$$. People can comment on CGC online all they want, but as long as people are putting money down that is the only comment that matters towards trust. If security was the point then we wouldn't even have labels.
It's just.....flat. Some might argue that the label should be flat and unassuming so that it doesn't take away from the cover art, and I agree with that to an extent. But this label looks like it was designed using Word. In the western world our eyes are trained to move from left to right, so the most important info (or whatever info you want the reader to notice first) should be on the left. They also need to use different font weights to distinguish the big stuff from the finer points.
I respect that PSA wants some branding consistency between their card and comic book labels...but they need to push this design a few steps further before its ready for prime time. It barely edges out the 1st generation CGC label.
Let's all take a pill and realize that PSA has time on their side, and is actually asking for feedback. It's hard to imagine that the label won't do anything but improve from here.
As for comickeys (who left a comment on PSA's IG post....if he's dumping on the latest PSA label AND the new CBCS label....it's quite possible that this person is impossible to please...or works for CGC.
2:28 I find it funny that the image of the slab and label that PSA uses to promote their services is an Incredible Hulk #181 “Newsstand” edition when a Newsstand edition for this book doesn’t exist. Hulk #181 is dated Nov. 1974. Barcodes didn’t start appearing on the covers until June 1976 - and even then, there was only one U.S. edition of the book until 1979 when Direct editions were created.
That was my first impression of PSA graded comics and it will also be my last.
Great video and always informative.
I don't want to go so far as to say the label and slab are ugly, but it certainly is boring. I do believe that PSA is not listening to it's prospective future customers though. Visual representation of your slabbed comic books is paramount and only second to the actual grade. PSA please do the following:
1. Make the slab transparent. The current white smokey slab for comics is not working. It may be standard for cards, but comics is whole different animal and comic collectors are use to having graded comics a customary way.
2. The background label color should not be white. Pick a color that pops out, perhaps a metallic blue back ground, or purple or red or whatever but not white. The white background is not working.
3. Make the font a bolder/darker black.
I think these small things will go a long way in wining over comic book collectors that want there items slabbed. I hope PSA is listening!
Thanks guys.
My theory is that PSA will attack all of CGC’s weaknesses in order to try to get market share little by little. I personally think they will end up dominating at least the sports category for magazines but it will take time of course.
Looks like they are trying to save on ink
Can't PSA hire a graphic designer?
With the different kinds of paper and colours we now have that the best they got. All the fonts should be bigger and in a different style instead of the original old sports card style. To make the comics pop out, they should do it in a different cool looking font or even in a font that has a colour to it so that it stands out with the cover and the red line around the border should be a foil matching the old style PSA Label. Or the grade that’s up in the top corner should be the same colour as either the Comic label or the Comic colour of the cover..
Hey Swaggle, why don't you start a competition for the community to make a version of the label they want to see and make a video of some of the submissions or maybe contact PSA and suggest they create a competition of comic fan created labels. Maybe they get some ideas from someone's creation and have fans vote on a final list of say 10 versions and they reward the top 3 label winners with some free prizes/submissions etc. This new label looks worse than the first and really is cheap looking for a multi million dollar company.
PSA slabs are taller and wider and might not even fit into a graded comics box. Great idea!
"Resale value is the only thing that matters".
Well, it's #1, but it's not the only thing. I like to display my beautiful keys. And while I personally would rather display them unslabbed, the reality that I'm not going to find certain books, such as FF 49, unslabbed in the condition that I want to display them. And I've also got some certified signature books, such as Lynda Carter, that I have displayed on the wall. I do not want an ugly case surrounding the lovely Ms. Carter's image.
IMHO, the two purposes of the label is 1) show off the grade and 2) be in a neutral color that complements the book. The text should be readable, but should almost fade into the background -- being there to be read if you look at it, but can be easily ignored if you're looking at the book.
I never liked those comic slabs without autograph because they would give you ugly labels...if you are grading autographed comic, they would replace it with a nice clean looking label.
You know you're doing the right thing for preserving or increasing the value if you're using;
PSA for cards
CGC for comics/sealed games
WATA for sealed console/games/dvds
For me, it's always been about the design over almost everything else. But to each his own. I will say, however, that as a team lead in product design (and having done this for 20 years), there is absolutely some internal conflict going on with these labels. There will likely be product managers or execs with their opinions driving the decisions here, while the designers try to make the best out of the business requirements they are stuck with. This is the age ol' conflict that exists between execs and creators in movies, board games, and almost any other product.
The label is indeed problematic, as it looks like a "design by comittee" melting pot of different ideas going on here. It would have been better to just embrace the card label to a fault than this lack-of-commitment monstrosity. The card labels are stronger since they look very no-nonsense. This looks more like a wireframe of an idea than anything else... something you'd send to your visual designer to make it look good.
They didn't even include the barcode on the front and the other font size is to small. I wonder what the back looks like. The card slabs have a QR code on the back.
Since they’re trying to set their own standards, why not make the border trim gold for golden age, silver for silver age, copper - with metallic inks and a soft blue bg for the body.
More bold fonts……oh yeah (no bias here but for modern, any shade of garbage like gray or brown would be suiting for brand new ready-made “collectibles”). Grading was initially intended for books of value and prevention of resto just for starters.
i find it exhausting , all the nit-picking inconsequential details like the label of a slab. why do people care. the priority should be the accuracy of the grade and quality of the slab. keep it about the comics yall!
Helvetica font?
Possibly… but at this point in the evolution of typefaces there are dozens of versions of Helvetica, similar but different
CGC is laughing 🤣 at PSA.
I have to be honest, I have no idea why all of the information needs to be on the front of the labels to begin with...I personally think the front should be clean and just have the main issue info and what makes it a "key" along with the grade. And that holo-label is terrible in the silver/white like you stated!
On your sponsored comparison video between the slabs, I was wondering why they don't take you on as a consultant for the design.
I'm not a card guy at all, but honestly I love the simple and straightforward PSA card label. I know it's hated by many, but to me it comes across as very "official" looking and would give me confidence if I were buying a card in that slab. They're not trying to impress you with a flashy label, they're just giving you the basic facts. With the comic label, they've fallen into the uncanny valley. It's looks like they tried to make it look nice, but they did a bad job. It's the same mistake CBCS made with their previous labels (their new ones look fine to me). Either hire a professional designer to make a label that is aesthetically pleasing, or stick with the "undesigned" look of the card label that at least conveys a sense of authority. Right now they're going half way and it just looks cheap.
Well they obviously want it to look nothing like CGC's label by reversing everything on the label. I understand the Red is part of their branding but it doesn't send out good vibes.. .The number would be more familiar and in turn welcoming if it was on the left. The grade Font is thin and looks amateurish. A box around the grade number might help it out. I like the comic book title now, they made it bigger so it will stand out better....nice work on that!!
It’s not THAT bad. I’d change the grade font to a boldface, make that PSA holo sticker A LOT smaller and bump up the size of the rest of the text.
It's insane people will choose a pretty label by a company that ruins your books.
i love the psa with the red and blue title, i don’t like they gray. I love the 1995 look lol.
First of all... why is there a space on both sides of the "dash" in Spider-Man? Second... what if the title is longer than Amazing Spider-Man #300? There's almost no space left for the title to grow. If you look at a CGC label (which isn't perfect by any stretch) they can accommodate twice as many characters in the title. CGC solves this problem by bolding the title to give it weight - not with size like PSA is doing. (and I want PSA to look nice so I can switch to them!)
I agree that CBCS's current label is the best in the business. I trust their grading more too.
I just dropped 160 books off to cgc for 8 different invoices at Baltimore comicon and I'm personally not interested in submitting to psa at this point.
Just wow..... that label looks like it was designed by the people who were in charge of marvels letterings on covers in the mid / late 90's, not a fan of how that looks, its terrible from a graphic design perspective, however the grading accuracy is most important at the end of the day, but aesthetics on stuff we collect, I'd prefer also if the label looks nice. Greetings from Scotland :D
I like the new CBCS label than all competitors. The PSA color for me is a non-starter. My favorite slabs to collect are yellow label signed books.
The design of all slabs seems to be based upon packaging for retail sales; an encased product with a large visual banner. Once I own the book I’d rather not see the banner at all!! We seem have forgotten that the focus is on the book, not the HUGE number at the top. It only plays a role when it is sold, so why does it have to dominate the space all the time? Id prefer if my wall wasn’t essentially a large advertisement for CGC. How about one slab size (say silver age for all?) and put a grading banner or square/rectangle centered on back (cause who gives a shit about the back). Or just on the strip across top edge of slab? I know; never going to happen.
I think they are going to come out strong just until cgc get it together. Until PSA fix their label I only see them as a place holder for cgc.
Yea that looks terrible. I get it’s their trademark look for cards, but it doesn’t work for comics. We as collectors will literally pay an extra $5 to have custom labels just to make the slab look cooler. Also, CGC and CBCS use the similar sizes and label colors (blue, gold, etc), so you can display them next to or near each other without it looking too weird. I’ve got roughly 100 cgc slabs I’m not gonna regrade them with psa and I don’t see me putting a psa slab on my slab display!
if i was the company i would do the label like the customers want which would be as easy as taking the best things from the existing companies labels and combining them....whoever did this label did the exact opposite of that...its as if they took everything the customers dont like about the labels and combined them into one super shitty label....its a very small piece of paper and ink ....make it how the customer wants it like EGS
Back to the Lab!
Since the S word in their name is blue why not make the outline for comic labels blue while keeping the outline for cards red? Also I would like to see something embossed or lightly printed across the entire label, that plain white paper look just looks super cheap to me. They can definitely do better.
The blue and red label looked much nicer imo
They might have to incorporate the blue in the "S" of PSA into their label....still going with CGC tho.
That label looks pretty damn good to me but then again I don't care about graded books.
im okay with the label. wish they made the grade a bit more bold. in graphic designer's term, in font weight: black or 900
PSA is demonstrating they don’t understand comic collectors. They should scrap this idea of having the same label and get a designer / artist to design a Comic Specific label and custom labels. If they want to make a splash right away, give out free custom labels for orders of 15 books or more. This isn’t hard but they are over thinking this and by the time they are done, people still wont be happy. IMO both CGC and CBCS are much better looking slabs than this. Much more work needs to be done if PSA wants to enter this market with momentum
PSA desperately needs a graphic designer. The text underneath the book title is way too close (bad line spacing) and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
As much as I have lost complete trust in CGC, it is still the King of the Hill, especially when it comes to labels. It displays the best. It is also the company that is least likely to fail and become bankrupt. They have their issues and scandals, which will deter many people from grading a book with CGC, but the comic book community has spoken. The community highly prefers CGC slabs. For every 100 graded comic books, I "may" find one CBCS and that usually sells after what is available in CGC. People care how their graded comics display. And they care about resale value and the ability to sell it.
That label is not going to work. They need to hire a couple graphic design artists and move off the red flip.
They just need to put a picture on it of Spider Man or Iron Man. That would do it!
Right. They're stuck on the idea it has to be in line with their traditional card labels. Could have taken Swag's advice from his video
This PSA label looks like a down grade from the old CBCS label, they should RE BRAND BOTH the cards and comics together with the launch of their comic grading.
RE DESIGN IT ALL GUYS, this clearly reads as your internal struggle is maintaining brand awareness and identity but trying to appeal to a new audience that isn’t fond of the label.
If im being very frank it looks like something I made in an Excell 95 spreadsheet in middle school, im not being hyperbolic either, I feel like putting my books in this would make them less desirable overall
I feel like PSA designed their labels and slabs based on a verbal description of other companies' slabs.
How can such a large and successful company put out something so aesthetically hideous? It doesn’t have to be beautiful, but it looks like a 7 year old with no taste designed these labels.
Looks like PGX threw up on their label. Shadow Boxing the grade number would make it pop more, and a more brilliant red.
Its obvious PSA isn’t actively listening and applying the comic communities opinions.
Knowing the space thats being entered by PSA.
We the comic community strongly suggest to come out the gate having applied the prerelease feedback.
Playing catchup in this space (comic grading) isn’t a game to be played.
Especially since PSA is going up against the tried and true. CGC
I wouldn’t use PSA just based on how their labels look. CGC understands that the look of the case and label are equally important to the grading process.
That new label looks like it was made in my basement. Someone needs to refill their toner.
Keep the original label design just with the larger font. That would be the best of what they're shown so far.
Worst part of this new label is just the huge holofoil psa in the middle. A small oval containing "PSA" right in the middle middle would be best.
That label is straight up fighting for third place with CBCS. EGS is the best for labels, with CGC at second.
I could actually make a more appealing label on my laptop 🤦🏻♂️
Is the background pink now instead of white? It looks like it was designed on Word by an engineering student. How hard is it to hire a graphic designer?
Does PSA list all of the major faults with the book on the masthead, like CGC used to do before the auction houses and dealers told them to get rid of it so the customer wouldn’t be able to see?
SEE YOU AT NYCC
I prefer cgc but overall it doesn't matter. If you are worried about what a label looks like then you have bigger issues than the companies. It's paper and plastic. As long as the grade is accurate it doesn't matter
I'm glad PSA is in the game, but that label is hideous. The label should should be considered part of the art. It should be eye-catching on its own.
I realize I’m in the minority of people that give 2 shits about how the label looks. I need my label to do 2 things, provide information from the front and from the top. Graphically, CBCS does it the best, however they don’t need to. I also like the idea of a universal case size. Golden age through modern all fitting the same dimensions as magazines allows you to store them all in the same size box. The idea that somehow this case size being a deal breaker, when all other companies have different case sizes for different era comics, is people just finding something to complain about. Don’t like it? Don’t use the service.
The new PSA label isn't bad, but it feels like it's missing something. Also, I do think the Font on the Label should be much bigger and easier to read.
Comics should have a fun logo. This label looks like a tax form.
I would love to design this label so many opportunities to destroy the competitions tables. I cannot give my ideas they can pay me lol
It’s an improvement. 😅
I don’t like the white, it looks like something from my cheap home printer. Even a little gray might look good with the red border.
If PSA takes just as long as Beckett did to change their label, then it'll be a failed crossover.
The Label on their website looks different than the one you present...why?
No reason for the PSA hologram to be that large. Looks silly, I find it distracting.
How big is the slab? Is it super heavy and larger and wider than a regular CGC slab?
Don't like the red which they are not ever going to get rid of due to branding... all the sharp edges/corners is not pleasing and the giant holo feels like I have Marty McFlyed myself back to the 90s.
That label just looks old like the books has been sitting in it for years