The old three-way grading comparison has expired. One of its columns is now historical. Since CBCS stopped accepting submissions in April 2026, the useful question is no longer which of three companies should receive a comic. It is whether you need a current grading service, or need to understand a CBCS-certified book already in circulation.
The current status at a glance
| Company | New submissions in August 2026 | Certification records | Signature path | Published service structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC | Yes | Certification lookup, census, grader notes when available | Verify current options with CGC | Free or paid account; dealer submission also available |
| CBCS | No | Population report and prior certification records remain | Historical witnessed and Beckett-verified programs | Closed to new submissions April 17, 2026 |
| PGX | Yes | Verify current support directly before submitting | Advertised signature and art authentication | Direct submission; no membership advertised |
That status line matters more than old forum arguments. CBCS can still appear in a collection, auction listing, or census search, but it cannot be selected for a new grading order.
CGC: the most documented current path
CGC accepts submissions through free and paid accounts, as well as authorized dealers. Its tier selection depends on factors including publication date, fair market value, and desired turnaround. Because fees and turnaround estimates change, confirm them on the live submission page instead of relying on an older comparison chart.
Its documentation is unusually specific. CGC explains that its grading standard grew from Overstreet criteria and expert consensus, while also acknowledging that grading is not exact science. It does not promise to reproduce a grade assigned by CBCS or PGX.
The label carries information beyond the number. A blue Universal label is used for an ordinarily graded comic without a qualifying issue. A green Qualified label calls out a significant defect requiring description or an unauthenticated signature. Certification lookup, census data, and grader notes when available provide separate records that can be checked against the slab.
CGC also publishes a limited guarantee. Its current terms say covered comics are inspected by at least two professionals and are authentic unless the label states otherwise. Those terms have exclusions and a claim deadline, so “guaranteed” should never be read as unlimited protection or a promise that another grader would agree.
CBCS: a legacy slab, not a current submission option
CBCS was founded in 2014 and built a recognizable alternative around grading notes, archival holders, population data, and signature programs. Its Verified Signature Program routed unwitnessed autographs through Beckett Authentication before CBCS graded or authenticated the comic.
That history remains useful when reading an existing label. Beckett’s March 24, 2026 service update said new submissions would end April 17, existing orders would be completed, and the population report and certification database would remain accessible. An intact CBCS slab therefore still records CBCS’s opinion and can still be researched. The shutdown does not transform it into a CGC or PGX grade, and it does not create a current CBCS resubmission path.
If an existing CBCS book matters to your catalog, record its certification number and consult the surviving database. If you remove it from its holder for another company to assess, expect a fresh judgment rather than a transferred number.
PGX: active and direct, with fewer checked public records
PGX advertises grading, restoration detection, pressing and cleaning, and signature or art authentication. It accepts direct submissions without a membership and currently states a standard turnaround target of 30 business days.
Treat that target as a current service estimate, not a permanent characteristic. Confirm the submission form, eligible book types, shipping instructions, add-ons, and terms on PGX’s live site immediately before sending anything.
The checked PGX homepage did not provide enough detail to make a parallel claim about a public census or a written grade guarantee. That absence should not be filled with an assumption. Ask PGX directly when one of those features is important to the purpose of the submission.
How to choose between the active options
Start with the result you need, then verify the service that supplies it.
- Confirm the company is accepting the book. CGC and PGX are active submission paths; CBCS is not.
- Decide what the label must document. A standard grade, a qualified defect, restoration, or a signature can require a different service or label route.
- Check the verification trail. Look for certification lookup, census or population data, and grader notes rather than relying only on the number printed on the slab.
- Read the current guarantee and terms. Scope, exclusions, and claim windows matter more than the word “guarantee” by itself.
- Verify the live turnaround and submission rules. Do this immediately before shipping; do not use a saved comparison table as a promise.
- Photograph and inventory the comic. Record the raw book, packaging, submission number, and declared details before it leaves your possession.
For an existing CBCS slab, the choice is different: keep and document it, or submit the book elsewhere for a new independent opinion. There is no automatic conversion table among the three labels.
A grade belongs to its certification
CGC, CBCS, and PGX all express condition on a numerical scale, but matching numbers do not prove identical judgments. Restoration findings, qualified defects, signature treatment, and the physical handling of a resubmitted comic can all change the result.
Read a slab in layers: company, certification number, numerical grade, label category, issue identification, variant notes, page quality, restoration notation, and signature status. The number is prominent because it is compact. The rest of the label explains what that number certifies.
For the underlying condition vocabulary, continue with comic-book grading basics. That guide explains the 10-point scale and the difference between a raw estimate and a third-party certification.