Top 5: How to Select A Comic Book Shop.

One Store to Rule Them All!

Nestled among antique shops and various ma and pa eateries in downtown Glendale, Arizona is an oasis of geeky goodness. Such a lofty description may seem like flowery praise to some, but to those of us who know the struggle of finding a comic book haven to call our own know the words are very apropos.

The store in question is called Drawn to Comics and you may have guessed it, but it just so happens to be my preferred local comic book store. More to the point, it also just so happens to be my new place of employment.

As someone who has long since read/collected comics, I’d gone through a whole list of comic shops before I discovered Drawn to Comics. Said list has spanned 20+ years and multiple states, but it wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I was able to really pinpoint what drew me to some stores more than others. Why settle for somewhere merely based on location when you can find a store that will welcome you each week like you’re a part of their family?

Before setting up camp at my store, I went to several nearby ones that I was able to cross off for one reason or another. Location, selection, staff, discounts… All of that and more came into play when I’d say goodbye to one store and a hopeful hello to another – and before I get too far, can I just point out how awesome it is to have the flexibility to be so picky??? With comic books being ‘main stream’ and more accessible than ever, we all have more choices in where we go to shop which is almost part of the problem. Sometimes too many choices can make for a convoluted and confusing experience. When I personally stumbled across Drawn to Comics, I’d easily been to four other stores within the span of two weeks and was disparaging ever finding a shop to call my own.

My first visit there was such a surreal experience, in fact, that I remember it with all the detail most recall for life changing events. I’d looked it up on facebook the evening prior for cross streets and hours or operation. Early the next morning (a Wednesday so I could pick up all of that week’s new releases), I was outside the door ten minutes before they opened so I could pick up Savage Hulk #1. About five minutes to, a man came around the corner and saw the small group of us waiting and smiled. He took turns shaking each of our hands as he made his way to unlock the door, saying a sincere ‘good morning’ with a welcoming smile. A few were greeted by name while others such as myself were quick to share ours when he introduced himself as Ken, the owner of the store, and inquired our names in return. What followed next was an hour visit where I not only picked up the issues I’d been wanting for the week, but also shared collecting stories with him and the others on staff – heard all about their discounts – picked up a couple new titles per recommendation during our conversations – and opened up a subscription pull box so I could repeat the wonderful experience each and every week thereafter.

My trip there was such a pleasant surprise that I knew within five minutes of stepping into the store that I’d never shop anywhere else if I could help it. Almost two years of loyal shopping there and I developed such a great rapport with the staff (and even other regulars) that I was more than excited to show up at store events; never hesitated with volunteering to help them out on Free Comic Book Day. Ultimately, when they told me they were hiring and asked if I was interested in applying – it was a no-brainer.

Having worked there for a few months now has given me even more insight to the comic book business and it is through my experiences as both a shopper and an employee that I offer up my Top 5: How to Select A Comic Book Shop.

Now honestly – it really isn’t that hard to determine where to buy comic book if you know what you want. But with comics increasing in popularity and stores popping up overnight to capitalize on their current success, there is very likely a few things you may not have considered since you have five stores all within fifteen minutes driving distance from you to choose from. Perhaps you’re new to the game and don’t even know where to start or what you should be looking for…

Either way, I know we all want to avoid cold, emotionless stores only in it to make a buck and these tips will help you do just that!

Top 5: How to Select A Comic Book Shop

1. Location: Just as with realty, everything comes down to location, location, location! This one seems a obvious until you realize exactly how accessible comic book stores are – especially factoring in the many online stores as well. First and foremost, I suggest supporting your local shops over faceless websites. There’s no denying the convenience of online shopping and sure, maybe we all hit up eBay for that key issue you can’t find anywhere locally, but nothing will replace one-on-one customer service you get through conversation. Take your time when you visit a shop and don’t settle on the closest one to you just to save ten minutes driving time. Pull up a modest list and hit them all up, particularly around the time you want to do your usual shopping so you can see who’s usually working around the time you’d be there.
2. Product: This is a big one because the nature of comic books has changed greatly over the years. Where I once had a pull list dominated by Marvel, I’ve seen more DC creep it’s way into my box and both publishers are now dominated by Image or other independents. If you find a store that carries more of one or the other, make sure it’s the one you want to be reading for the foreseeable future. Or better yet, keep looking until you find a store that best represents ALL of comic reading available so you can expose yourself to new titles you may not have found other wise. Half the fun of comic reading is discovering new titles you may not have considered otherwise! Not only that, but how a store organizes/takes care of their comics is so incredibly important. Bags and boards are a must – would you rather pay for them or find a store that includes them already?
3. Discounts: Because who doesn’t want to save a buck? Sure, comics aren’t super expensive. DC’s Rebirth titles start at a $2.99 cover price which was a huge draw for me since I subscribe to so many. Fact is, though, prices add up faster than you think when you have a pull list twenty titles long. A lot of stores offer student/teacher/military discounts and if you’re a regular, be sure to check out what sort of discounts are offered for opening a subscription box. Maybe you can score 20% off your new releases for the week at one store and not the other – and if you go every new release Wednesday to pick them up, that 20% adds up fast!
4. Staff: This is perhaps the biggest thing to look at when visiting a store because for all the potential convenience and savings, who wants to shop somewhere they don’t feel wanted? More than that, a knowledgeable staff is vital to any comic reader. There is so much out there to read – more than most would ever expect – that it pays to have a knowledgeable and approachable staff that is quick a new title to recommend. Even more, if you’re looking at becoming a regular anywhere, having a store that gets to know you will definitely pay off. Whether in terms of extra discounts for being a loyal customer or maybe them setting aside key issues to give you first dibs, a genuine staff can lead to awesome scores for your collection.
5. Store Events: Perhaps the easiest to overlook, store events was something I’d never once considered looking at in stores until recently. How involved a store is in their local community can say a lot about how they treat their customers and conduct business… With Comic-Cons increasing in popularity, it makes sense to try to harness some of that magic on a smaller scale. Stores these days may have everything from weekly drawing events to monthly book clubs. Finding an involved store can mean anything from local artists coming out to do sketches to big names coming out for signings. The possibilities are endless!

Whether you’re a once a week shopper or just someone who pops in every month or so, you deserve a store that sees you as more than a mere wallet. You deserve a staff that is helpful and knowledgeable and who, you know, actually does their job. You deserve a store that actually carries comics and not a store that carries a small handful of them while stocking mostly toys or collectibles (which isn’t a bad thing unless you’re there mainly for the former).

Whether you’re the head-down, no-talking, on a mission shopper or someone who wants to discuss all the latest reads with workers and customers alike, these tips will leave you one happy camper.

Oh! And if you are lucky enough to find a store that excels in all these areas and they offer you a job – take it! There’s no reason for you not to have your cake and eat it too! #livingthedream!

What do you like about your local comic book store?
What do you dislike about some you’ve visited? Sound off below and let me know!