I've been an avid comic book reader and collector since I was a little kid back in the late 60's. Every comic book shop that I've been into has their own unique personality. Some shops are just to get your stuff and get out. Others, like Alakazam, are where you can hang out, talk to, and get to know the staff. The owner, Marco, and his staff, Ryan and David, are really helpful. I have a subscription/pull list that I come into every week to pick up. Yes, there is no subscription/pull discount, but I can get that online. If I miss a comic, usually from a short run mini-series, they can track down a copy for me for pick up next week or later. They have MTG tournaments, with a huge selection of other trading card games. Lots of Funko Pop figures, hard to find graphic novels and a really good 50% discount section (mostly over-produced Marvel stuff). They are always up to the task when I am searching for something unique, hard to find, or out of print. Marco has some resources that you couldn't get if you don't spend some quality time with your local comic book shop staff. So for those reviewers that have only visited the Alakazam comic book store once or twice and given less than 4 star reviews, I say, "Bah, begone with you, miscreant!" read more

I have been coming here for years. It is hands down my favorite local game store. They have a solid collection of games and collectibles, but where they really shine is in comics and card games. Alakazam has a wide range of comics and a large collection of magic cards. This is the only place I'll go for Friday Night Magic. The owner is friendly and always more than happy to buy and sell cards. You couldn't ask for a better LGS. Thanks Marco! read more

Amazing selection of comics (new and old), graphic novels, collectibles, and more! Knowledgeable staff and excellent service. They sometimes buy items to sell on their eBay store online. Wide selection of comics and a sale area in the back room. Some special orders available. Also carrying D&D and Magic the Gathering items. read more

Part of the appeal for me going to UCI almost 20 years ago was that Alakazam was across the street. While that's no longer the case, the store is still my go to store in Orange County. Marco and Ryan treat their regular customers great and are always willing to put in orders if I'm looking for something that's out of stock. The back room with dollar bin comics is great if you have the crate digging itch. read more

I've been here a couple times, love this comic shop. Found great stuff both times, super friendly and everything. But please update your online hours. I was busy until close to 5pm today, but I wanted to go there and browse and buy what I could find because of the fantastic sale today, thought I still had an hour or so to get there. I live about 30 minutes away, but I rushed anyway because I wanted enough time to browse. I got there at 5:33pm. Lo and behold, they were closed. The store hours, were on the ground and hard to see. But I did see that they close at 5pm on Sundays. Please update your online hours. read more

I wish they opened on Mondays and Tuesdays but whatever. They open at 11:30 so you can get there early and pick up any books you might've missed. They have a ton of $1/$2 comics and a good selection of key and variant issues. read more

As if this shop didn't already have it all - the staff is friendly and Marco is a wizard of comics, merch, and magic. There's deep deals, a warehouse style back room, always a crowd, and gosh-darnit always a fun time here! read more

My partner and I were looking for a new place to draft MTG, called up to ask about what they were drafting and what the rewards would be. Employee on the phone was super rude, cutting me off in the middle of me asking the question. All his responses were abrupt and totally condescending answers. We were bummed because we are always looking for new places to meet new friends to play magic. Also, when MTG players have a tendency to be toxic, hearing an employee/owner be a jerk for no reason in response to 2 questions just completely turned us off to coming and participating. read more

Great selection - good prices. Some hard to finds and treasures if you take time to look. I like the set up. Polite staff the day I was there. : ) read more

Great shop! All of the comic stores by me sadly closed, so I'm trying to find new stores. Don't buy comics on amazon when you can get them from your local shops! nothing beats browsing and finding new titles, or covers that just look interesting. I hate browsing online..I definitely prefer in store shopping. This shop has some great sales too. Definitely sign up on their mailing list for sales. It's a super big store too- very organized and easy to find comics. The staff is also very friendly, and knowledgable about comics. Highly recommend this place. read more

I've been going to Alakazam Comics since I was in middle school and it was still at the old location near UC Irvine. It has always been fun to hang out at the store and the staff is always really friendly. read more

This location has an excellent selection of comic books, action figures, games, card games and toys. A good place to release your inner geek. The store seems to have all the comics I am familiar and some I wasn't familiar. They only have newer comics though, I didn't see any collectible comics. A large action figure of Aragorn from LOTR caught my eye and so did the board game. I am a big LOTR fan, so any place carry items from the series gets bonus points. The store is well organized and the staff is friendly. read more

Great comic book store. Support your local business! The owner is really nice guy. Prices are good too.

We were in the area for dinner and didn't even know there was a comic book store here. Apparently it's been around for quite some time, too. Stumbling upon these stores is dangerous because I tend to splurge shop causing Jaime to ask, "Where the hell are you going to put this stuff?" From the outside it looks like a small store, but inside they utilize almost every square inch of the space for comics, toys, games, and more. They have a ton of comic books from the floor to the ceiling. I browsed their collection of graphic novels and some of their more popular comics on display. They had a small toy section with Star Wars and other figures from cult phenomenons. I was about to leave when out of the corner of my eye I spotted him. A 12" Leatherface toy from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series. I'd never seen one like this and went to the internet to figure out how much they were going for. Most were in the $60 price range and I picked this one up for $24.99. A steal. The box wasn't in pristine condition, but it was in good enough shape for me to swoop it up at that price. The guy behind the counter wasn't pushy and friendly throughout the whole transaction. I'd definitely come back to see what else they had. It's definitely not a huge space, so if there is something super niche that you're looking for, this might not be the best place. But like I said, there is so much stuff, it might be best to ask because it might be hidden in a secret corner that you never thought to check out! My office is starting to resemble that of a toy store. Some call it hoarding, I call it a collector's dream space. read more

The worst customer service I have ever had from a comic book store. I had friends visiting the US for the first time from Canada and since we were in the area, we decided to come in. As soon as we started browsing, the guy behind the counter told them to bring their drinks outside or put it on the counter. They asked where since they couldn't see the small laminated piece of paper sitting flat on the counter. Then the guy behind the counter proceeds to go off on them about if they could read or if they are blind. He then starts ranting about how he shouldn't bother telling people since they don't read or follow the rules anyways. If you don't have any customer service skills, don't work in retail. Simple as that. Thanks for being a wonderful ambassador to our neighbors up north. If I could give this a 0 stars I would. read more

This place absolutely SUCKS! the owner or whoever is always working there is such an A$$hole and a stuck up person it seems. He seems to have no concept of customer service let alone knowing how to interact with customers in a polite manner. Simply no common courtesy from that man. I have come in here on a few occasion whenever I am at the University Town Center and have overheard the way he interacted with customers: just being rude. I have also have a rude experience with him when I asked him a simple question and he rudely answered in a way that made me felt stupid. I don't even understand how he stays in busy with the type of customer service he provides. Whatever, if you want to buy something quick without doing needing to do much interactions with the employee then come here. However, if you need some "help" from them, simply avoid this place and look elsewhere. In other words, this place provides crappy customer service. Just avoid it read more

It's time for an episode called "Update an old review!" 1) They've expanded their games. Though not primarily a game store, it has expanded to include: -standalone card games - miniature games - board games of varying themes 2) If you end up liking this place, they do offer an email service where they send periodic emails about sales and whatnot. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, they can do Myspace (does anyone still use this?), Facebook and Twitter. 3) The businesses around this place has flourished, despite the sagging economy, slow recovery and lopsided progression of current political err... sorry. I didn't mean to get on a soapbox (gets off soapbox). I just mean that you can eat, shop and spend money till you run out and get into debt. This place offers more shades to the already colourful palette this commerce center has. Go shop! Go now! Oh, go when they're open. Recently came to pick up my comics (I get only 1 a month, my geek side is on an ebb lately, thanks school!). I also bought a promising board game during one of their current sales and more for less due to a coupon. See, go get that email thing going! I love you Alakazam. I wish you were bigger, like the comic stores in AZ. I'm just glad you're close to home. I would hate the 6 hour commute to Phoenix LOL. read more

Alakazam ROCKS. I had been going to the Costa Mesa store for my comic fix for years until it closed, so I started coming to the UCI store. It's a little smaller than the CM store but it still has a great selection of new and back issues. Free bags and boards with every purchase, too. The service is the best in the OC. No question about it. Example: had a situation in which one of the comics to which I subscribe hadn't been pulled, and it sold out. One of the staff, Will, actually tracked it down on Ebay and got it for me. He likely paid a little more for it through the auction, but he sold it to me for the original price. There's something to be said for exceeding customers' expectations and, in this case, Will certainly did. He went above and beyond without being asked. THIS is the definition of good customer service, in my opinion. Another great thing about Alakazam is the extensive selection of rental graphic novels. You can check them out for a few days and, if you like it, you can buy a new copy. I've read a few of the mid-90s X-Men story lines just to get caught up. Very handy. Like having a library for nerds (for which I proudly carry my card). Alakazam also has games, manga, action figures and much more. More than enough to get your inner-Sheldon on. If you're ever looking for a place to get a great gift for that special geeky someone in your life, Alakazam is for you. PS: They also play great music in the store. If you're lucky, you might hear some Clash or Ramones while you browse. read more

Wow. This place is smaller than my living room. Not too many comic books here. But lots a graphic novels. That's good, because that'll keep me from going ape shit from buying everything up. Lots and lots of Manga and stuff for gamers. And, the dude running the place had the Colbert Report going on. Found what I came in for. It's A-OK, by me. read more

A comic book store needs to be much more than a place to buy comics. You can buy Comics from places other than a Comic Book store, so there has to be a reason to buy comics from Alakazam Comics, right? Honestly, I'm not going to lie, I bought some really cool back issues of Akira that surprised me. They also sell individual Magic the Gathering cards and toys. Suffice to say, these guys are cool and definitely worth stopping by. That being said, there's nothing special. It literally feels like another comic book shop. Their quality supply of new comics and manga is nice, but it feels like buying stuff from the Internet. You just look through, pick what you want, and pay for it. The only difference is that there's no shipping. I'm not trying to be mean, but what's the reason to go here compared to say Barnes and Nobles. Employees are nice, stock is well supplied, and there's some cool things behind the glass, but nothing is like POW, right in the face, this store rocks. I came out satisfied, but there really isn't anything compelling that makes it stand. Alakazam Comics is a good store, but it can be great. read more

Ridiculously small shop that seems to only carry recent issues for comics (no back issues that I saw). It's so cramped in there that I always felt like I was either going to knock something over or knock someone over. Comics here are higher priced than some other places, and the guys who worked there were not the friendliest. I think I'll stick to Trinity or Comics Toons and Toys for my comic book needs. read more

Will is awesome. People that say otherwise are pretty much just venting their frustration over the fact that their stuff isn't worth as much as they'd hoped. Since Will is the guy that handles these things, he's the one that they whine about. It's not like you're going to get a significantly better offer at any other comic store, anyway. You're dreaming if you think any comic store is going to pay you hundreds of dollars for obsolete card games like that WoW TGC. It's not Will's fault it isn't worth anything. Anyway, even though the store is small, if you start a subscription, whatever books you want will be put aside for you as they come out. You can even look through their ordering catalogue and chose whatever you're into. And they also have some cute sticker/ stationary sets. I've always had good experiences with all of the employees and Marco, which is why I've been a customer for ten years now (Will and Holly are my favorites, though). read more

For the (2) people who follow my yelping, I am not a games person. I only go to game stores because I collect dice :) These guys had an above-average selection of dice and didn't disappoint. Their service is also great, as the guy running the shop knew his stuff (usually dice is an after-thought at a games store, and I've been to places where they're almost annoyed you're in their place because you're supposed to be there for the games). Good service, good prices (they were actually a bit cheaper, I was happy about that), and very good selection for a store that is more about games. Thanks, guys! read more

Much like other similar comic book shops, this place carries the standard offering of comic books, manga, board games for gamers, and trading cards. The square footage of this location is rather small, though there are usually not a lot of customers in it so one can browse at their own leisure. On the Irvine Company shopping website, they offer a 20% off coupon for a single item, though all the games for gamers that are around list price. They do have a large selection if one needs to get their game on in a timely manner, though, so if you want to pay for the convenience, get it here by all means! Some of them even come with promotional cards! Other than the pricing, the staff members are friendly and have discussed the games with us, although seemingly in a sales pitch format to get us to buy them without obtaining more information about them. read more

It's quite the mishmash of a store. It's a great impulse buy, wander store, but there's no rhyme or reason to how they organize the comics. They aren't really up to date if you're looking for new issues. They have a good back issue log, and their prices on action figures are low. It's a pretty good collection too, I almost considered some. The manager of the store is pretty rude. I did not interact with him, but listening to his interactions with others actually drove me out of the store. I was never asked if I needed assistance either, and I was in the store for at least ten minutes looking up and down for the newest issues. read more

Came here for a Dungeons and Dragons night. The people were approachable and nice. The store clerk was very helpful in answering questions about if I needed a character and setting my expectations. While I didn't get too much of a look at the merchandise, the store definitely seems to have a good selection if you're looking for table top merchandise or your other nerdy needs. read more

Alakazam is rather small, but does its job to cater to collectors of all sorts. I have went there a few times, but there's nothing much. Their selection on collectibles such as Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic are pretty poor (meaning their booster pack selection contain older packs with no prize cards) and not worth the price. Yes, I know the great recession must have been part of the reason why, but they'll probably sell a $4.99 pack once every month in that rate. During my visits, I purchased some collectible card sleeves, but got the wrong size, so I went back the next day to return them. They do not have a visible return policy, and had to reject my item, but I did get to trade it in for the right size, but overpriced sleeves nonetheless. Should have known that this small comic book store would be stingy on returns. The customer service is rather poor in my opinion. read more

This is my favorite little comic book shop. The staff is friendly and knows their comics. Despite the teeny tiny store, the selection is diverse and excellent. And if they don't have what you're looking for, they'll find it for you. My favorite part is their rental comic section. For those of us who already own far too many tomes and have nowhere left to store them or for those who simply want to try out a series without commiting to the expense of collecting all the trades this is a boon. Also Alakazam sits in the middle of a terrific shopping center so you can really make a fun trip of it. read more

This is one of the best shops in the Orange County area. I was sad when they left the UCI shopping center. Great foot traffic and cute location. But it was small and rent went up too much. Marco, Will, Ryan and Dave and whoever else they have working are nice and knowledgeable about the product and nobody tries to gauge you or get you to buy something you don't want. It's as good a shop in the local area as any and they have a wide variety of books, new and old, Pops and collectibles. I recommend this shop to anyone in the area. read more

Alakazam's new shop is a big improvement over the old one. Much more space! Owner is really nice and hooked me up with some small freebies when I made my first purchase. Just a heads up that bag and boards are not included with monthly issues/floppies/singles. Also there is not discount for setting up a subscription here, which is why I can't justify a full 5-stars. There are so many other comic shops that offer a discount that this needs to be a must-have. read more

EPIC place. it's where I got into comics (last year) great vintage comics, and a fun (not thorough, so be warned) selection. oh and it has the NICEST people (although they kinda have short temper with some kids aka snot nosed punks who bring food in and...you get the picture) read more

Yes! A game store that's not too far! Games are usually more expensive at these stores but I always like going and checking out all the games for real. This place also has a ton of comic books but I was more interested in the board games. The place is very small so they don't have much but I think it's a good variety. I ended up buying two board games here and asking about some other ones. The store employees are friendly and they have insightful conversations with each other and with customers. read more

Ah, I remember those good 'ol days when I was totally into manga. :D Great selection and it's conveniently right across from the UCI campus. What a treat! read more

As part of my nostalgic Irvine rounds, I had to make a stop by Alakazam. Fine, it was also Wednesday and as any good geek knows, that's comic book release day. Alakazam used to be my lunch break haunt during my UCI days. Of course, back then I was more into Yu Gi Oh cards than comics (yeah fine whatever judge me all you want). As a result, most of my memories of Alakazam has to do with their cards rather than their comics. Cards: As I said before, I would go for the Yu Gi Oh and occasionally the Magic cards. On that front, Alakazam was absolutely amazing. There was always a huge collection and when you were a serious noob about things like Magic, they were always helpful about showing you the light. Comics: I guess it's hard to judge on my one comic-related trip, but for a store of its size, Alakazam packs in a lot of comics. Granted, their back issue selection isn't as big as I'm used to, but again, it's a pretty small store. They have a decent selection of trades. My major complaint is that I didn't quite get the pricing. I'm still trying to sort out which of the New 52s I want to read and I didn't understand why two books released the same week would be sold at different prices. Maybe there's some art to it that I don't know. I don't know. Everything else: Tons of toys, tons of used books, and a ton of anything else awesome you'll ever see. The staff's awesome. Will was always a fun guy to talk to and this is probably the only comic store I've been to where I've regularly seen girls working there. read more

Probably the most reliable comic book shop I've ever been to. If I ever find myself in LA in need for comics, I'm coming here.

This is one of the best comics shops in Orange County! Now located near John Wayne Airport off of 405! Plenty of parking, and plenty to eat near by! Much more open and less cramped that the UCI campus store. Current hours are temporary and will Change once the old store closes. read more

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Alakazam has been my shop for years. The staff is excellent and friendly. They're not at all shocked at seeing an older female who loves comic books. They go out of their way to find things I like or might like. They never talk down to me like I've experienced at other stores. I love their subscriber policies. I do miss their Costa Mesa location as it meant going more often, but I'm glad to make the longer trip in order to get my fix. Honestly, I've never had a bad experience there. Alakazam is the kind of place other stores should send their employees to learn what great customer service should be. read more

I'm glad to know that this place survived, it's always had nice workers and some of the more interesting items that you won't find in every comic shop. There have even been times where the worker would give out freebies if you purchase items, and I don't believe I was ever charged for the comic book bag and board. It always looked like the story was going down, and I believe they also sell several items on ebay just to make room for the new stuff. It's still a cool little place you can browse through and find something that you like. When I shopped there often they would also reserve items for me, which was really nice of them. It might not be one of those huge stores, Mile High Comics comes to mind but the beauty of this spot has always been that it's not trying to be a huge store. It's just a good spot where the workers get to know everybody and even talk about some of the same things that you enjoy. The prices are fair and the customer service can't be beat, it's worth checking out. read more

While not a very big store, they make up for it with the friendliest and most knowledgeable staff around. They have a great subscription program where I never need to worry about getting to the store first thing every Wednesday to make sure I get a copy of all the latest and greatest. They also get to know you on such a personal level that they're able to make personal recommendations based on what you're currently getting, and I'm always happy with what gets recommended. If you're into collectible card games they seem to have a great selection of several different games and even stock boosters of cards that have been out of print for years. This is a definitely one of the greatest comic shops in Southern California and worth checking out. read more

Would not suggest it if Eric is present- pretty shady ((looks through cards under the counter, you can't see into a giant area where he could easily flip cards, even if you walk to the side the depth of the area and it's opacity/the angle of the office space interferes- for that matter, it's covered with posters (I wonder whhhy?)) acts very put upon (he really would prefer hanging out with his gf, I assume he is not cut into profits, couldn't even get him to call will re:cards he cannot authorize purchase of), he doesn't wear shoes (and you can smell it). Also, they don't pay extra for foils but they are fine e-baying them (the explanation was "poor uci kids don't want to pay for foils" (but they sell for 300% of what they pay FOR CARDS THEY DONT EVEN HAVE) You can get 50% store credit, cash is 25% and the dude will actually mark down prices while you are watching! Look at how many price stickers are on the books. And, and when it's done, he mocks you "we just got this guys money hahaha (actually Eric you make minimum wage, so no, you didn't get shit. I am assuming this will have little impact on their business- I was there for 3 hours and it seemed like the clientele was mostly Asian uci girls willing to pay through the nose for quick, discreet access to hentai. Store credit might work with will, haven't met him, but he said Eric was great (I called beforehand) and is sadly uninformed re: employee work ethic. If you have a hentai fetish go for it- otherwise don't waste your time. read more