How to Find a Good Comic Book Shop

Comic book shops are independently owned stores that carry new and sometimes old comic books. They resupply every week when new comic books are shipped. Much like a video store where new product arrives every Tuesday, comic book shops get new product every Wednesday. The majority of the comics are from publishers Marvel comics and DC comics. Smaller publishers such as Dark Horse and Image Comics also have new releases every week. Not only do comic book shops supply new comic books, but also stock new collected comic book editions like trade paperbacks and hardcovers. Many stores also carry comic book related toys and t-shirts and other things related to the comic book lifestyle.

The phenomenon of stores that solely sold comic books started to appear in the mid-1970s and early 80s. Comic books used to be found in convenience stores, pharmacies, grocery stores - anywhere you would find magazines, you would find a rack of comic books. As those outlets slowly started to phase out comic books, stores devoted to selling them began to open across America. By the late 80s, comic book stores were the only places to find new and old comic books.

Comic stores reached their highest density during the early 90s, where the comic book speculator boom led to people coming out of the woodwork to buy comic books as an investment. Many shop owners opened their doors only to close them a few years later when those speculators stopped buying comic books and sales dropped dramatically. Today, comic book shops are still in operation, though there aren't as many. New markets such as the collected editions and the attention of mega-blockbuster movies like Iron Man and The Dark Knight keep a steady flow of customers coming each week.

To find a local comic shop, one can look the phone book or go online to ComicShopLocater.com. This will give you a listing of the closest shops to your zip code. If more than one shop is listed, you may want to visit them all over time. Every shop is not the same. Some offer more back issues, some have more collected editions. Many stores only keep the latest books in stock while offering a large inventory of other merchandise like toys or video games. Also, you will notice quickly how different stores are organized and generally kept. One store may look clean and well planned while another store may look like someone's garage. It's all personal choice, but multiple locations will give you an idea of what different stores offer.

Once you've chosen the shops you like to frequent, get to know the employees and owner. Many times, they are a great resource of information on upcoming product and other comic book news that you may find important. You can also establish a "pull list", which is a list of comic books you would like to buy every month and these issues are pre-ordered for you and kept at the store until you pick them up.

Comic book stores rely on their stable of customers, but also welcome new customers and hobbyists through their doors. A great comic book shop is invested in the local comic book community. It can be a great place to meet new friends or just a place to get away each week and peruse your favorite comics.