Been a customer and neighbor for over 20 years. Any review calling this store disorganized is lying. Alternate Reality is by far, IMO one of the most organized stores I've ever shopped at. You always know what is new for the week, and what came out last week. Everything else is in the back shelves organized by brand and title. Tim is always helpful and friendly. If you have a bad experience know it's a fluke, not the norm. read more

Large comic store in the south side that has plenty of back issues in the rear of the store. There are very limited current comic titles that is closer to the front of the store. The store owner asked if I needed anything as he could tell I was just looking around the store. Plenty of street parking. read more

over priced. all the "cheap" comics were ones I literally never heard of. the worker was extremely rude as well. store was filthy and unorganized. DO NOT GO HERE!!!! read more

Avoid this place if you have kids. Owner will try to take advantage of your kid and charge extra. It's weird, I guess we all learned some life lessons to avoid this place, but seriously guy? read more

AVOID THIS PLACE!!! DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS GUY AND THIS BUSINESS!!! Selection is very minimal and the guy in there is a total tool bag! Extremely rude service from start to finish! My kid asked to see two packs of cards from behind the counter and then he decided on one, and then proceeded to hand the other pack to the guy and I paid for the pack that my son wanted. Well after paying I seen the guy grab the pack we just paid for and hang them back on the hook!! Then when we asked where they were he tried accusing him of taking or misplacing them!! He then grabs them back after a few minutes of pretending to look for them and tells him to be more careful next time!! If that isn't the definition of tool I don't know what is!! read more

I've been going here for years. The owner and associates are very knowledgeable. They are always stocked on all different publishers and have many back issues available for those who were behind on issues, such as I was in the past. Come here if you want the best comic book shop experience in Chicago. read more

Alternate Reality is the best comic shop in Chicago, and it doesn't even have a review yet! I attribute this to the fact that it is south of Madison, therefore does not exist to the rest of the world. Those of us geeks who spent time stomping around the south side however, probably have been in here at some point. If I didn't live over an hour away from AR, I would still go there. Tim, the owner is a really nice guy and will help you find or order whatever you need. Best selection of comics, books, graphic novels, toys, shirts, collectibles that you can find, and a very decent back issue selection especially for books from the last year or so, which is great if you need to play catch-up on a certain title. Hundreds, maybe thousands of movie posters to choose from. Awesome discounts which rotate every day of the week with lots and lots of monthly and yearly sales with deep discounted stuff. New stuff, not just crap that other stores put on sale because they can't sell. My only complaint is that last time I was in there, some of the titles were so deep on the rack that they were beginning to lean forward and bend. Made the racks look unprofessional, and put a curve in some of the new books' spine. Not a big deal if you only buy your comics to read, but I personally like to put my own dents and creases in my books/comics. And if you use their subscription service, obviously this would never affect your stuff. read more

Alternate Reality, Inc - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So I went here and all I can say is that the people working here are the rudest people I've met in a while. I called them on a Saturday to ask them what time they were open on Sunday, and the ignoramus who answered the phone said, "Well, we're open now, obviously, since I answered the phone!" I repeated myself, asking what time they were open on Sunday. She replies, "Same time as today!" "Which is when?" I say. "Ten am," she says in a snotty way. So I get there at about 11:40 and find a "Be Back in" sign in the window. The clock diagram in the sign is pointed to 11:55. My daughter and I wait until 12. Didn't open. We didn't stay. We won't be coming back. read more

Now that I have a comic lover for a companion, this is the kind of nerdy stuff I review. Ok, I'm also a nerd, but not quite a comic nerd. This store has a huge selection, particularly of trade paperbacks which are easier for me to understand, and they also have a huge section of back issues. I was a little disappointed that though they had a sticker on the door claiming to be women friendly, some of the women/girls selected comics were titles like "Marvel Weddings." What about Tank Girl?* They did have some interesting Daniel Clowes titles beyond Ghost World, so I won't be too cranky about it. For a comic novice like myself, this place is a bit overwhelming, but I now have a good place for gift shopping for a certain someone, or a way to lure him into giving me a ride when I have things I need to do at the Beverly Art Center. *They do have Tank Girl, just not in this section. read more

Come for the comics, stay for the movie posters and the ageless Comic Book Man. There's not much for me to say that hasn't already been said in the previous reviews. In my opinion this is the best comic book store in the greater Chicagoland area. I just wished that I lived closer. There's so much to love about this place. Tons of comics and collectables for a good price. 15% off all new comics! That's never changed in the 10+ years that I've visited this establishment. This is a place is not only perfect for comic book lovers, but also for movie buffs. They have the best selection of movie posters that I've ever seen in a store. They have ultra rare posters from decades past and in amazing condition. Posters range from popular movies like Star Wars to the lesser known cult films such as Foxy Brown. I highly recommend this place for people who truly love comics. Not recommended anyone who belongs to the new wave of self proclaimed nerds who don't know all the Robins or what "women in refrigerators" mean. Go down to the Southside and immerse yourself in the sprawling caverns made of ink and paper. Also, that guy hasn't aged a day in ten years. read more

Drove 30 minutes to check out this spot. I'm from out of town and I always need to hit the local comic shops. It's totally legit! The smell is what old school comic collectors will love, very nostalgic, the owner was very friendly and definitely knows his stuff. It already had great reviews ( one of the reasons why I visited) and I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. Totally worth the visit! read more

Chicago's best comics shop is actually in Mt. Greenwood. Sure, you can find the latest books here next to their big collection of t-shirts and gaming supplies. And sure, there's a gaming room in the back and long-boxes full of comics. But the thing that impresses me the most about this shop are all the funky little nooks and cranny's full of graphic novels and books. For a true comics fan there's nothing better than turning a corner to find a hidden grotto with even MORE books in there for perusal. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable. The shelves are clearly marked. And this place is jam-packed full of the best possible merchandise! I will be back. Most definitely, I WILL be back! read more

I have been a customer of Alternate Reality from the day they opened. Their fantastic service, their collection of new, recent offerings, discount boxes galore, and fairly-priced collectors issues is truly amazing. They have doubled in size to become the absolutely best Comic Book Shop in the Chicagoland area. Since moving to Palm Springs to pursue my literary career, and now settled in Phoenix, I never miss several visits to Tim's magical comic book shop. I make several visits to browse through the exceptional collection of graphic novels and to talk to Tim for hours about the state of the comic industry, the latest trends, the hottest selling books, and to pursue the lively art of conversation. I cannot recommend Alternate Reality enough. In the Chitown area, it is the closest you will come to Comic Book Heaven. read more

This is without a doubt the WORST comic shop on the South Side. The staff is crude, menacing, and hostile. They do not greet you when you walk in, and give you an evil stare. I've been to almost every comic store on the South Side, and I've told the different owners how I'm expanding my reach, looking for new people to talk comics for, ect. Almost the first words to come out of all of their mouths were, "Have you been to Alternate Reality?" or "Please tell me you haven't gone to Alternate Reality yet." Unfortunately, I have. I'm reader in the age range of 16-20, and about 6 years ago when I was much younger, I had a gift certificate to the store. I planned on buying a World's Finest, X-Men, and other new issues for the week there. I didn't spend all my money and the "Comicbookman" (as he is so called) told me I had to spend it all. I grabbed a GL trade which exceeded my limit by $1.50 and planned on paying the remainder of the bill in cash, but I was told I would have to use a credit card..... Terrible customer service, terrible prices, and terrible ownership. DO NOT GO HERE. read more

This is my place for comics and Magic cards on the South Side! Awesome store, and Tim donated a bunch of stuff for a Magic event that I ran at the school I teach at...more than he had to, and we really appreciated it. Now, go buy comics! read more

Me and my brother are 10 and 9 we went in and 5 minutes later the guy said there is a time limit so get moving then he said are you getting anything and me and my brother were looking and in my head I was like no money and no parent =you're kicked out read more

Terrible service a bunch of unneeded things happend and the people were super rude. I asked what he said because I didn't hear him and he said "are you deaf" and I said no I just didn't hear you and he said "get your ears checked" read more

I am a Comic nerd.I have been one since I was 10 and I have Nirvana around the corner. Alternate Reality is a Southside shop with a Near North side Cool. The staff is steeped in Comic knowledge. Posters trade paperbacks toys and statues....everything you could want...need. In fact you may show up when one of the regulars in the store are there and you will eavesdrop on The New Avengers....movies......politics.I pick up a coffee and hang out with Tim for hours....Look for me and I like DD coffee..... read more

Hands down the best comic book shop in Chicago. Any rating under 5 star is likely a Millennial (just Google Time Magazine Me Me Me Generation). The owner and his lady associate are the best! Prize give aways, new release discounts can't be beat and weekly deals can't be beat! read more

The woman who answered the phone was really rude, acted like she was doing me a favor taking time out of her day to answer my questions. Someone needs a tutorial in customer service... read more

Alternate Reality is not "the best comic shop in Chicago". It does not "dominate over all comic stores on the south-side", and it does not have the "biggest selection and sometimes best deals" either. Well, okay, they do have a good discount every day/all day to lure people into the maw of discomfort that is Tim's unrelenting stare. I wonder how Marvel and DC Comics feel about a comic shop selling their work at such a low rate? If I were to ever come back to Alternate Reality, it would certainly only be for the 15% discount they offer on everything in the store. Let's ask ourselves why the owner, Tim, feels the need to offer such a high discount every day and all day? Is it because while in the store, you'll often times feel very uncomfortable? Is it because the owner stares *through* you like he's wondering what you look like on the inside? All I know is that, A) Tim stares at you, B) You'd be hard-pressed to get Tim out from behind the counter to help you locate a trade paperback or back issue in the pig sty he calls his store, C) You very well may find the issue that you're looking for, but the condition it's in will make that 10-15% discount seem not worthwhile. Now, hey, I get that sometimes the comic community is not the most endearing community you could find yourself apart of. It certainly has it's virtues, but all too often, it's people like Tim that give people a bad taste in their mouth when it comes to visiting other, more respectable comic shops in their area. Let's do a faux Q & A session! Q: Would you, John Smith, bring a child into Alternate Reality? A: No, no I would not. Right next to their action figure section, well, is a porn mag section, conveniently covered in black drapes to obscure the fact that they sell pornographic magazines in the same store they want to sell toys and comic books to your children. A hundred times no. Q: Were you able to find what you were looking for at Alternate Reality? A: No, my schedule doesn't permit me to stop in the comic shop every week, and my finances don't allow me to set aside a certain amount of cash every week to buy new releases as they're out, so when I come into Alternate Reality, I really do try my best to find what I'm looking for before I invoke the wrath and scrutiny of the owner. If I'm lucky, they will have it in stock, but it's in such a poor condition that it's not even worth buying! Q: Would you come back to Alternate Reality based on past experiences in the store? A: HAHAHAHAHA. 'tis all folks. Research comic shops on google and call ahead and try to get an idea of the attitude of the employees before heading in, lest you be disappointed. For every disappointment you suffer, there is a GOOD comic shop out that that wants your money and will try their best to earn it from you with awesome customer service and a willingness to help you out. read more

WOW. A whole lot of comics and toys everywhere. The store is so large and packed floor to ceiling with comics, toys, posters, and other things, it was over whelming. My neck hurt after looking at the figures hanging from the ceiling. I did find a few good deals, but I can get some items at other stores for cheaper. I would go back if I'm in the area again, but that's a 3 hour drive from where I live. read more

As a new member to this shop, I have to say i'm impressed. I read a few reviews before this and want to give it just 4 stars, but I can't. This store really is outstanding. I usually pick up comics every third week and just binge away. I do this because they have a $10 minimum for cards in their store. Not only is the owner such a cool guy to talk to, but the second person that works there is a really awesome woman as well. They always have multiple copies of most things you'll want and always have some kind of sale going on. When a brand new #1 of something that isn't Marvel comes out, the comic is only about $2 after tax. read more

I just visited the store for the first time today on Free comic book day. Friendly people, great costumer service. They have a big selection and good sales. I just recently got back into comics again and this is going to be my go to store. read more

Its an amazing shop, what impressed me the most wasn't that Comicbookman had everything that I personally look for in the "ultimate" comic book store, but the fact that he had something for almost every demographic of comic and pop culture. Always with an animated movie looping or audio comicbooks on speaker in one part of the store. This is a place where anyone is invited whether you've been a comic fan for years, or looking to find your inner geek, Alternate Reality is one of the best Comic Book stores I've ever perused.. read more

Free Comic book day sale is the best out there. $1 new comics on every comic priced $4.99 and under. Best store in the city, I cannot wait for the next big sale. Highley Reccomended! read more

I come here every once in a while and I buy some of books. Every month, I anticipate a new issue of Sonic Universe and I get the same issue. It's a pretty good place to come. It even has some books not sold everywhere else. read more

This is a great store. The staff is helpful and informative. Everytime I have gone in, I have either gotten what I wanted or had it put on order for me. Excellent selection and reasonable prices. read more