Is Venom [Human Torch] #149 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Venom [Human Torch] #149 sells for $263 against $195 raw: a $67.53 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($240) 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)
- $195
- Grade 9.5
- $263
- PSA 9
- $240
- Gem premium
- 1.3×
- 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 | $263 | +$42.53 | +$17.53 | −$82.47 |
| PSA 9 | $240 | +$19.03 | −$5.97 | −$106 |
| PSA 8 | $200 | −$20.47 | −$45.47 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $195 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% | $245 | −$0.09 |
| 50% | $251 | +$5.78 |
| 75% | $257 | +$11.66 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 25%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $263 |
| 9 | $240 |
| 8 | $200 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Venom [Human Torch] #149 — FAQ
Is Venom [Human Torch] #149 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Venom [Human Torch] #149 sells for $263 against $195 raw: a $67.53 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($240) 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 Venom [Human Torch] #149 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Venom [Human Torch] #149 breaks even when it gems about 25% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $240).
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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