Comic lingo, decoded

What all those words in a comic listing actually mean.

Covers and variants

Variant cover: An alternate cover for the same issue. The story inside is identical; only the cover art or finish is different. Many modern issues have several variants.
Cover A: The main, or standard, cover of an issue. Later letters (Cover B, Cover C and so on) are variants.
Incentive variant (ratio variant): A variant that stores can only order by buying a set number of other covers. A 1:25 variant means one copy for every 25 regular copies ordered, so a 1:100 is much scarcer than a 1:25.
Virgin variant: A cover that shows only the artwork, with no logo, title, issue number or barcode printed over it.
Trade dress: The logo, title, issue number, price and barcode printed on a cover. A trade dress variant has them; a virgin variant does not.
Foil variant: A cover printed with a metallic or holographic foil layer, usually in smaller numbers than the regular cover.
Store exclusive: A variant commissioned by a comic shop or online retailer and sold only through them. Many are limited, shown in titles as LTD 1000 or LTD 3000 copies.
Cardstock variant: A cover printed on thicker card stock instead of regular paper.
Connecting covers: A set of covers that form one larger picture when the books are placed side by side.

First print: The first print run of an issue. A second printing, third printing and so on are later runs, often with a different cover, and first prints are usually the more collectible.
Key issue: An issue that matters to collectors because of what happens in it, such as a character's first appearance, an origin story or a major event.
Absolute line: DC's Absolute Universe, launched in 2024 with Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Superman: new versions of DC's biggest heroes, known for heavy variant collecting.

COA (certificate of authenticity): A document from the signing company or witness confirming a signature is genuine, usually numbered to match the book.
CGC: Certified Guaranty Company, the largest third-party comic grading service. CGC grades a book on a 10-point scale and seals it in a hard plastic case.
CGC 9.8: Near Mint/Mint on CGC's scale, the highest grade most modern books realistically receive and the grade collectors chase most.
CGC Signature Series (SS): A yellow-label CGC grade for a book signed in front of a CGC witness, so the signature is verified as well as the condition.
Slab: Collector slang for a graded comic sealed in its plastic case.
Raw: A comic that hasn't been graded or slabbed.
NM (Near Mint): A grade for a book in nearly perfect condition, with only tiny flaws. Often written NM or 9.4 and up.

Bagged and boarded: Stored in a protective plastic bag with a stiff backing board so the book stays flat and clean.
Presale: A book sold before its release date. You lock in your copy now and it ships once the book comes out.
FOC (final order cutoff): The last day comic shops can change their orders for an upcoming issue, about a month before it comes out. Incentive variant quantities are set at FOC.