Review of Local Comic Book Stores in Macomb County, Michigan

Comic books have had an uphill climb for critical acceptance because the word "comic" implies they are only read by children. Not so. With hundreds of thousands in print today, adults as well as children enjoy the adventures, stories, characters and color of the medium. In New Baltimore, Michigan, Chesterfield, Michigan and Fraser, Michigan three comic stores stand alone in their inventories and enthusiasm.

She plopped down, sinking into the yellow butterfly chair, dropping one leg over eachside of the metal frame.The comic in her hand beckoned to her, even more than the beach. Besides, her sunburn was still pink and sore from yesterday's endless hours spent dodging the waves and swimming along the sand shore. It was 1960 and at nine years old she didn't really understand that she was in the Silver Age of comics. All she understood was that reading Superman, The Flash, Disney's Donald Duck or romance was exciting fun and her cousin's huge cardboard box of comic books was a treasure on a hot summer day.

Years later, a trip to Mike's Comics on Green Street in New Baltimore, Michigan brought back floods of memories of hot summer days whiled away savoring the four-color comic books and the heros like Superman, Batman, the Flash and to-die-for romance stories. Mike greets you cheerfully when you walk in the rows and rows of boxes heavy with new and old comics, some sealed, some uncovered ready to pick up and enjoy. His shop sits between the munincipal beach at Lake St. Clair and the historical museum along a quaint small-town main street area with the smells of the bakery on the corner and the family-run Slippery Rock restaurant next door. Mike has a full scoop of kid-friendly comics ranging from the Golden Age of comics through X-Men, Marvel comics, Disney offerings and Japanese manga (comics). His prices are reasonable and the trip is complete with an ice cream cone bought at the local shop three doors down.

On to another bright spot on the comic scene is Collins Comics located on Katherine Street in Chesterfield, Michigan. Owners, Dan and Keith try hard to fill your hands with comic treasures and you won't walk away disappointed. Dan and Keith offer fair pricing on their hundreds of comics and also carry books as well as cards and comic collector's items. A stop in their shop is a must for the serious collector and appreciator of comic art.

The Comix corner on Utica Road in Fraser, Michigan has been around almost as long as some of their comic books. The owners try hard to please visitors and will order any title of book that they feel they can lay hands on for you. The store is well-stocked with older comics and newer titles like Marvel, Disney, DC and newer collector items. The owners offer a membership that works well for customers who move out of the area to get their four-color fix on a regular basis. They also have action figures, games and old and new comic books. They will work with you on price and layaways so that you keep coming back for more. The friendly staff that works there make the experience great and will leave you coming back for more.

After these local stores, the next largest gathering of comics would be at the International Comic Con convention held currently in San Diego, California. Watch for the "bat-light" in the sky to lead the way!