Is Uatu [Black Wave] #85 worth grading?
Marvel · Marvel 2024 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Uatu [Black Wave] #85 sells for $299 against $220 raw: a $79.00 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($260) 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)
- $220
- Grade 9.5
- $299
- PSA 9
- $260
- Gem premium
- 1.4×
- 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 | $299 | +$54.00 | +$29.00 | −$71.00 |
| PSA 9 | $260 | +$15.00 | −$10.00 | −$110 |
Net = sale price − $220 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% | $270 | −$0.25 |
| 50% | $280 | +$9.50 |
| 75% | $289 | +$19.25 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 26%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $299 |
| 9 | $260 |
Run your own numbers
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Full set checklist →Grading Uatu [Black Wave] #85 — FAQ
Is Uatu [Black Wave] #85 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Uatu [Black Wave] #85 sells for $299 against $220 raw: a $79.00 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($260) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Uatu [Black Wave] #85 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Uatu [Black Wave] #85 breaks even when it gems about 26% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $260).
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.
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