Canadian Price Variants (CPVs) and the CGC Census
Canadian Price Variants (CPVs) are given a notation during the CGC grading process and the number of CGC graded copies of CPVs are recorded in the CGC Census. Since 2003, CGC Census data updates have been compiled and made available online at CGCdata.com. The current (June 2026) CGC counts for CPVs are: Marvel, 14,741 CPVs graded (up 11.6% since November 2024), and D.C. Comics, 4,223 CPVs graded (up 11% since November 2024). Archie Publications have 1,805 CPVs from the 1980's on the CGC Census (up 16.1% since November 2024), and Warren/Harris have 608 (up 71.8% since November 2024).
| Publisher | CPV Issues | CGC Graded |
|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | 1,312 | 14,741 |
| DC Comics | 956 | 4,223 |
| Archie Publications | 104 | 1,805 |
| Warren/Harris | 206 | 608 |
| Publisher | CPV Issues | CGC Graded |
|---|---|---|
| Marvel | 1,297 | 13,210 |
| D.C. Comics | 923 | 3,805 |
| Archie Publ. | 89 | 1,555 |
| Warren/Harris | 143 | 354 |
For the 14,741 Marvel CPVs graded by CGC, there are 1,312 different issues. The average is over 11 CPVs graded by CGC per issue, but the top ten Marvel issues for CPVs average 406 CGC copies per issue, with Amazing Spider-Man #252 having 946 CPVs and Thor #337 having 724 CPVs each at the top of the Marvel list.
For the 4,223 D.C. Comics CPVs graded by CGC, there are 956 different issues. The average is just over 4.4 CPVs graded by CGC per issue. The top ten D.C. Comics issue for CPVs average 94 CGC graded CPVs per issue, but the only three D.C. Comics CPVs are currently above 100 CGC graded copies. Tales of the Teen Titans #44 has 177, Booster Gold #1 has 113, and New Teen Titans Annual #2 has 107. There are now nine other D.C. Comics issues with at least 50 CGC graded copies of CPVs.
For Archie Publications total of 1,805 CPVs, 415 are TMNT Adventures #1 (1988) Direct Edition Canadian Price Variant and 131 are TMNT Adventures #1 (1989) Direct Edition Canadian Price Variant. Betty and Veronica #320 (1982) has 76 CPVs graded. Only Archie's 1980's CPVs were reviewed in this analysis. Warren Publishing has 583 CPVs on the CGC Census, but only Vampirella #83 and Creepy #113 have more than 10 graded copies, having 20 CPVs for Vampirella #83 and 12 CPVs for Creepy #113. Harris has 25 graded CPVs, with 22 for Vampirella #113 on the CGC Census.
With more than 25 years of CGC Census history available at CGCdata.com, it’s possible to check not only the current CPV counts on the CGC Census, but also the historical CGC census numbers by CGC grade.
A dramatic increase in the numbers of CPV Marvel comic books graded by CGC is evident, particularly since 2018. A similar recent increase can be observed for CPV D.C. Comics issues, although the counts are significantly lower.
The CPV counts of CGC graded copies are important, but most CPV analysis focuses on the relative scarcity of CPVs to their direct edition (and U.S. newsstand) counterparts. In the CGC Census, there is no separation of U.S. newsstand edition from direct editions (recent CGC policy changes are not reflected in the current CGC Census), therefore the CGC Census does not provide a direct method for estimated scarcity for all three editions. However, the percentage of CPVs graded by CGC overall can be established.
| Publisher | Year | CPVs | Other | CPV % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel Comics | 1982 | 1,332 | 53,033 | 2.5% |
| Marvel Comics | 1983 | 4,467 | 110,803 | 3.9% |
| Marvel Comics | 1984 | 4,386 | 172,171 | 2.5% |
| Marvel Comics | 1985 | 2,533 | 103,599 | 2.4% |
| Marvel Comics | 1986 | 1,713 | 72,937 | 2.3% |
| Marvel Comics | Total | 14,431 | 512,543 | 2.8% |
| Publisher | Year | CPVs | Other | CPV % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC Comics | 1982 | 370 | 7,160 | 4.9% |
| DC Comics | 1983 | 923 | 19,906 | 4.4% |
| DC Comics | 1984 | 772 | 21,998 | 3.4% |
| DC Comics | 1985 | 751 | 27,484 | 2.7% |
| DC Comics | 1986 | 574 | 16,562 | 3.3% |
| DC Comics | 1987 | 666 | 33,951 | 1.9% |
| DC Comics | 1988 | 165 | 11,044 | 1.5% |
| DC Comics | Total | 4,221 | 138,105 | 3.1% |
The CGC Census reported percentages of CPV books for Marvel and D.C. Comics in the 1980s are currently 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. The highest individual year for Marvel was 1983 with 3.9% CPV.
D.C. Comic percentages decrease from 4.9% in 1982 to just 1.5% in 1988. The percentage of CPV books for Archie Publications is 12.5%, much higher than the Marvel and D.C. Comic percentages, likely indicating higher percentages of Canadian books printed for Canadian audiences, particular for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title.
It is important to note that all CGC grades are included in these totals, and there are many comic books which may not be worth submitting to CGC in midgrade or lower grade conditions. Additionally, the dramatic increase in the number of CPVs submitted to CGC since 2018 may continue to have an impact on the percentage of CPVs on the CGC Census for years to come. The current snapshot of CPVs percentages on the CGC Census represents more than 650,000 CGC graded Marvel and D.C. comic books which were published with (and without) a Canadian Price Variant.
— Greg Holland