What We Can (and Can't) Accept

By content: is it age-appropriate?

Good news — we keep this one simple. We accept everything except mature content. Once comics reach us, our own team sorts everything by age-appropriateness, keeping teen-appropriate titles separate from all-ages titles before anything is matched to a shipment to any establishment. You don't need to pre-screen content before donating; that sorting happens on our end.

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By item type: what do we take?

We accept:

• Single-issue comic books, any title

• Graphic novels and trade paperbacks

• Coloring and activity books

• Funko Pops and similar pop-culture collectibles — for both hospitals and ComicBooks for Troops

• Action Figures

• Other toys or pop culture items

• Pokemon Magic or other collectible cards

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We cannot accept:

• Loose pages, incomplete issues, or anything missing significant content

• Funko Pops or collectibles no longer in their original box unless approved in advance.

• Non-reading items outside our program's scope (unless a specific drive or program has asked for them — see Host a Comic Book Drive)​

• Damaged toys or other damaged items

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By condition: does it meet our safety standards?

This is where even a great comic or a great pop culture item can get turned away — not because of what it is, but because of the shape it's in. Every donation is inspected against our Safety & Disease Control Protocol before it's sorted for distribution.

 

Why we hold this standard: research on infection control actually shows paper materials like comics carry a lower bacteria risk than shared toys, which many hospitals require to be brand-new and sealed. Even so, we choose to hold ourselves to the same "new or almost new" bar our hospital partners expect — not because a slightly worn comic is dangerous, but because it's the standard that lets every partner hospital trust what's inside the box without a second thought. See the full reasoning on Safety & Disease Control Protocol.

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We accept:

• Items that are new, or look almost new — hospitals follow infectious-disease control policies, so items need to look genuinely well cared-for, not just "okay"

• Pop culture items as noted above that are new or gently used. New items we can share with hospitals. Gently used items will be shared with our sister organizations.

 

We cannot accept:

• Anything with mold or mildew

• Anything with water damage or smoke odor

• Anything with pest exposure (insects, rodents, droppings)

• Comics with missing or torn pages, heavy staining, or visible wear

• Funko Pops or collectibles that are out of their original box

• Items donated from a household with an active, contagious illness at the time of packing

 

If a donation doesn't meet these standards, it's set aside and not distributed — we'd rather turn away a questionable item than risk a child's health over it. See why hospitals hold items to this standard on Safety & Disease Control Protocol.

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Donating to ComicBooks for Troops?

These same content, item-type, and condition standards apply to donations headed to service members through ComicBooks for Troops — one set of guidelines, whether your donation is going to a hospital or overseas. See Donate to ComicBooks for Troops for troop-specific details on what a box typically includes.

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Not sure if something qualifies?

When in doubt, ask before you ship. Contact us — mention you've reviewed this page, and we'll answer any questions and get you set up.