Is Venom [Orange Lava] #149 worth grading?
Marvel · Marvel 2025 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Venom [Orange Lava] #149 sells for $594 against $270 raw: a $324 spread, 2.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($540) 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)
- $270
- Grade 9.5
- $594
- PSA 9
- $540
- Gem premium
- 2.2×
- 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 | $594 | +$299 | +$274 | +$174 |
| PSA 9 | $540 | +$245 | +$220 | +$120 |
Net = sale price − $270 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% | $553 | +$234 |
| 50% | $567 | +$247 |
| 75% | $580 | +$261 |
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 | $594 |
| 9 | $540 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Venom [Orange Lava] #149 — FAQ
Is Venom [Orange Lava] #149 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Venom [Orange Lava] #149 sells for $594 against $270 raw: a $324 spread, 2.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($540) 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