VerseDB – Showcase Your Comic Book Collection

1. 01Upload the VerseDB plugin ZIP and activate it.
2. 02Open Settings → VerseDB and choose Connect to VerseDB.
3. 03Approve the read-only connection on VerseDB. HTTPS is required except on localhost.
4. 04Search for VerseDB in the block inserter, add a display and publish your page.
5. 05Allow WP-Cron to refresh new displays, then use Refresh preview in the editor.

As a fallback, create a token in My Apps with read:public and read:showcase permissions. Paste it into the settings page and choose Test and save connection.

Token entry also requires HTTPS, except on localhost.

Can I paste a VerseDB link to embed a card?

Yes. Title, series, issue, event and creator links become cards in WordPress’s Embed block and classic-editor auto-embeds. Other VerseDB links stay links. No account token is used for public link embeds.

Which shortcodes are available?

[versedb_profile], [versedb_collection], [versedb_wishlist], [versedb_pull_list], [versedb_reading], [versedb_currently_reading], [versedb_reading_goal], [versedb_lists], [versedb_list], [versedb_reading_stats] and [versedb_reading_calendar].

Use list_id=”123″ for one public list, year=”2026″ for a reading display, layout=”list” or columns=”4″ for comic displays, and limit=”12″ for item count. Profile options include show_avatar, avatar_size, show_bio, show_banner and show_stats.

Profile, comic and list blocks include an “Enable links to VerseDB” toggle, on by default. Turn it off to display covers and names without links. Shortcodes accept enable_links=”false”. The optional display credit is controlled separately in Settings → VerseDB.

Can I rearrange and style individual fields?

Every block starts with the standard arrangement of editable fields. Move, remove and add VerseDB Field blocks, or arrange them with Groups, Rows and Columns. Each field has its own Styles controls for typography, colors, spacing and borders. Image fields include width, height and fit. For covers with only series names, keep Cover and choose Series name and year for the text field, such as “Absolute Green Arrow (2026)”.

The template repeats for every comic or list item. Profile and reading summaries render once. Existing layouts become directly editable when opened, retaining the current arrangement. Shortcodes use the standard layout.

Why is a block empty?

Connect your account first. A new or changed display needs a background refresh. Check token permissions, filters and public-list visibility in Settings → VerseDB. An empty public block renders no content. Pro displays require an active Pro account. WP-Cron runs when the site receives traffic; quiet sites may need a scheduled cron from their host.

How often does the cache refresh?

Hourly by default, in small batches. Refresh now queues a background refresh. Rate-limit backoff is respected. Item displays show up to 100 items (50 for Currently Reading), and the site can cache up to 100 distinct display queries. Public Lists verifies each list’s publication status in background batches of three. Existing unverified list caches are removed and rebuilt automatically.

Will private data appear?

No private account fields, prices, notes, storage, loans or market values appear. Collections exclude copies marked private. Lists must be public and published. Placing a block publishes that selected display on your site.

What does VerseDB Pro add?

The VerseDB service provides yearly statistics, calendar counts and collection filters for signed copies, grade ranges, grading companies, genres, creators and characters. The plugin follows the account’s current service eligibility. Local styling works for every account.

Does Recently Read show what I am currently reading?

Recently Read shows recorded reads. Currently Reading shows unfinished comics from the VerseDB reader with their completion percentages.

What happens when my token expires?

Cached content remains available. Reconnect from Settings → VerseDB. OAuth tokens include expiry metadata; a pasted token’s expiry may be unknown. The token manager on VerseDB shows its expiry and lets you revoke it.