Good edits share the same traits: sourced, accurate, neutral, and formatted consistently with existing content. Follow these to get your edits approved quickly.
Sources#
Strong sources get edits approved faster. Prefer the top of this hierarchy when possible:
Primary — most reliable:
- Official publisher websites (Marvel.com, DC.com, Image Comics, etc.)
- Printed comic books: credits pages and indicia
- Publisher press releases and solicitations
- Creator statements from verified interviews or official social media
- ISBN records, Library of Congress data
Secondary — good corroborating sources:
- Comic databases: ComicVine, Grand Comics Database, League of Comic Geeks, Metron
- Established comic news outlets (CBR, Comics Beat, Bleeding Cool)
- Published reference books
Tertiary — use with independent verification:
- Wikipedia (verify against primary)
- Fan wikis (verify against primary)
- Retailer listings (cross-reference with publisher)
Never use as the primary source: unverified social posts, personal blogs, rumors, fan theories, leaked scans, or unpublished material.
Relationships (Creators, Characters, Arcs, Teams)#
Before adding any relationship, verify the link exists in official content, search VerseDB to avoid duplicates, confirm you've got the right entity (watch for name collisions), and choose the correct role or type.
Creators — pick the role from the list (Writer, Penciller, Inker, Colorist, Letterer, Editor, Cover Artist, and variants). Prefer printed credits when available, and match the credited spelling exactly.
Characters — only add characters who physically appear in the issue. Separate cameos from major appearances when the distinction is clear. Don't add characters who are only mentioned.
Removing a relationship is for genuine errors — a wrong link, a duplicate entity, a character who doesn't actually appear, a miscredited creator. Explain your reasoning in the edit notes, and consider variants, reprints, and retcons before pulling an established link.
Common Mistakes#
Warning
These reasons account for most rejections.
Guessing — don't invent dates, page counts, or credits you can't verify. Leave the field blank; incomplete data beats incorrect data.
Copying verbatim — never lift text from Wikipedia, other databases, or publisher descriptions. Paraphrase in your own words.
Opinion-based edits — avoid "best run", "poorly written", or any value judgment. Stick to verifiable facts and documented reception.
Overwriting good content — build on what's there. Don't rewrite solid descriptions without reason, and watch for pending edits before you submit.
Final Checklist#
Before clicking submit:
- Information is accurate and verifiable
- Sources are reliable and cited in notes
- Formatting matches surrounding content
- Language is neutral and factual
- Spelling and grammar checked
- You'd trust this edit if someone else had submitted it