Help:Gradings

To make it easier to figure out how prominent a character is in a given issue of a comic book, use this Grading Guide. All Sightings should have a Grade. Grade 1 and 2 Sightings should have a link to a page for the individual comic for more information.

Grade 1

Character is the Main Character of the book, he's on the cover or he's the drive of the plot, or shares the story with only one other character.

Examples:

Any Aquaman title, Adventure comics with Aquaman as the lead in a story, Team-ups in Brave and the Bold.

NOTE: If an anthology has one Aquaman story or Aquaman team-up that would be graded as a Grade 1, then mark the whole book as Grade 1 and give it an individual page. The page for the book can and should focus entirely on the Aquaman story.

Grade 2

Character is a major part of the plot, is part of a team in the plot, or is a guest in another character's book.

Examples:

Aquaman's Justice League appearances, Aquaman in Flash #66.

NOTE: If the character gets top billing in the story, or shares the top billing with only one other major character, it's Grade 1. If three or more characters share top billing, it's Grade 2. Team-ups that occur in another character's regular title are always Grade 2.

Grade 3

Character makes an appearance in the book that helps to move the plot along, usually must say a few lines.

Examples:

Aquaman in Kingdom Come #2, Aquaman in some Justice League issues.

Note: If the character is on many pages but never says anything or does anything major, it may still be a Grade 3. If the character is part of a team in the story, it should be Grade 3. Grade 3 appearances tend to be slightly more than just cameos. Use your best judgement.

Grade 4

Character makes a cameo appearance, says something and is more than one panel.

Examples:

Aquaman in Guy Gardener #29, Aquaman in Zero Hour Crisis in Time #3

NOTE: The difference between Grade Three and Grade Four is plot. If you remove a Grade Four appearance, the plot will not change, but if you remove a Grade Three appearance something must replace the missing piece.

Grade 5

Character appears: in background, on the cover, in a panel or a few.

Examples:

examples: Aquaman in The Golden Age TPB, Aqualad in Tiny Titans #1

NOTE: The difference between Grade Four and Grade Five is speech. Grade Four appearances have the character saying something. In a Grade Five appearance, you get visual but no text.

Grade 6

Character is mentioned but does not appear, or book has major effect on the Character in specific.

Examples:

for instance: Superman's Death had a major effect on most DC heroes, I'd wager, but not on most heroes in specific, so it would NOT be a Grade 6. Atlantis Chronicles has a major effect on Aquaman, specifically, even though he's not in most of them.

NOTE: If Aquaman appears at all in the book, it is Grade 5, not Grade 6. This Grade is for mentions of him or books that impact his mythos. If there is any visual Aquaman, it's Grade 5.

Grade 7

Character appears in supplementary material such as a letter column or sketch book. House ads may be included in this grading.

Grade R

Reprint.

Whenever possible, add a number grade. For instance, The Aquaman Archives would be graded R1, while JLA Archives would be graded R2.