Is Luke Cage #R-34 worth grading?
Marvel · 2024 SkyBox Metal Universe Avengers Retro · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Luke Cage #R-34 sells for $67.00 against $1.25 raw: a $65.75 spread, 54× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($61.00) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.25
- Grade 9.5
- $67.00
- PSA 9
- $61.00
- Gem premium
- 54×
- As of
- Aug 15, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $67.00 | +$40.75 | +$15.75 | −$84.25 |
| PSA 9 | $61.00 | +$34.75 | +$9.75 | −$90.25 |
Net = sale price − $1.25 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $62.50 | +$11.25 |
| 50% | $64.00 | +$12.75 |
| 75% | $65.50 | +$14.25 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $67.00 |
| 9 | $61.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2024 SkyBox Metal Universe Avengers Retro cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Luke Cage #R-34 — FAQ
Is Luke Cage #R-34 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Luke Cage #R-34 sells for $67.00 against $1.25 raw: a $65.75 spread, 54× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($61.00) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
Is your Marvel card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
Check my card free