I love BB&C. It's not perfect, but it may as well be. Comic stores are wonderful because they are usually small, often quaint, and always unique to their entrepreneurs. Bell serves all the right purposes: they sell comic singles, collections and books; they sell gaming cards and accessories, board games, novelties, snacks, and even have a selection of fantasy and scifi books which I consider a bonus in a comic shop. Did I mention the dedicated gaming space? The greater Dayton area is blessed with a lot of shops of this nature but they all have various strengths and weaknesses. Bell has a certain homey feeling that not all the shops around here can replicate. Although I love Maverick's, and I'm fond of Epic Loot, Bell has become my comic stop of choice on Fridays after work (since they stay open late on that day!). I read the other reviews on Yelp and I can understand why some people aren't entirely satisfied, but this shop does everything I need it to, and often does more. Someone mentioned that John is sometimes less than approachable. To that I would say that he is one of a small handful of staff members, and it's entirely likely that he has his stressed out days just like anyone else. I've never seen him be outright rude to a customer. Hell, one night as a teenager I wandered in there after they closed because I didn't see the sign, I misheard him when he said they were closed, and despite my stupidly barging in he let me browse anyway without any trouble. No shop can be everything to everyone. For me though, this one is wonderful. I highly recommend it. read more

great stock of comics and card stuff but the owner is rude everytime u ask a question or ask to get something from a couple weeks prior he acts annoyed that he has to go next door to get it when they put it next door in the first place if you didn't have random stuff nobody is buying or wants scattered wherever you please you would have room. rest of the staff never had a problem only the owner, such a waste of time going there, try crooked dog comics or mavericks if you get a chance read more

This is one of the best experiences I have had at a store. Everyone was so kind and helpful and Maya was truly amazing. I can't wait to go back, thankful to have a place to find MTG cards that doesn't make you feel super intimidated and everyone just wanted to help. Very different from other comic stores I have been to. read more

This is the best comic and card shop around. I enjoy the friendly staff and how well stocked everything is. They have the absolute best prices in town and always gives the customer a fair price. I highly recommend this Dayton Gem!! read more

They have an excellent selection of minis, Magic cards, and gaming books. Their sale events are occasionally awesome. Free pens are cool. BUT it has a cramped interior, poor accessibility due to a one-way parking lot, and an unprofessional sales staff. I often don't know who works there because the staff will mingle with their gaming friends and I won't be noticed until I go to the counter...sometimes not even then. Also, as a player of both 3.x and 4e D&D, the staff is very biased against 4e, and I was actually ridiculed by a staff member for playing 4e. read more

Pros...One of the biggest selections around. Cons..only one guy really knows about the comic books (pete) and he can be rude towards customers he always seems too busy to be bothered. The other guy is really slow to put books up and has no idea about them when asked questions. I wont be back for a while. Rude off comments were made in my direction as i was looking through books. I will take my generous amount i was spending each week elswhere read more

Lovely staff and very friendly! They give you fair prices and treat everyone like regulars. Their store cat (shesha) is friendly and cute little mascot for the business. The owner is a great man who treats everyone well and will discuss prices with you. I absolutely recommend this store and everything they have to offer. An easy 5 read more

We love Bell, Book & Comic! The selection is great and there is nice coverage for all ages of Comic lovers. This year we shopped BB&C for Christmas and my husband and I bought each other the same Christmas gift... oops! We called the store and will be doing an exchange no problem. I also received one of their sweatshirts for Christmas this year and it is the most comfortable sweatshirt I own! Check them out! read more

I have mixed feelings about Bell Book and Comic. While they have a great selection of trade paperbacks and graphic novels, their gaming stuff is often out of date and poorly filed. The owner, Pete Bell, often has strange shifts of mood, as well. Some days, he's gregarious and eager to please--particularly when I'm there with several friends--but other times, he won't give you the time of day. The store itself could probably use a good, thorough cleaning as well. Compared to the other stores in the area, it seems dingy and poorly lit. I do stop by once in a while, but I much prefer Bookery Fantasy in Fairborn or Epic Loot down in Centerville. read more

Four of us (two men and two women) visited Bell Book & Comic as part of a trip down memory lane for my spouse, who went to University of Dayton and spent a lot of time there as a student. I am ashamed to say that my home city of Atlanta doesn't have a gaming store anything near as good as this store! In terms of board game selection, I was incredibly impressed: even after their selection had been devastated by Christmas shoppers, it was still extensive, encompassing a wide variety of modern games and some vintage games as well. The selection of dice is also way above anything I have found elsewhere--they had all the specialty dice that a lot of places will only special order (Fate Dice! absurdly fancy dice! dice to substitute for card decks in games!), and a nice selection of your standard Chessex polyhedrals. I did not check the comic section since I have a regular pull at home, although my impressions were that the selection of trade paperbacks and graphic novels was about average for a small comic book store, and there was a full selection of individual issues. The "book" part of the store is so small as to be nearly non-existent, and is mostly sci-fi and fantasy series. Skip it and go to any medium-sized used bookstore instead--you'll have a better selection and it'll be cheaper. (The exception is probably if you're looking for a vintage or out-of-print SFF book.) As a geeky woman, I also tend to evaluate my geeky stores based on reactions of the staff and clientele to my presence. The staff was polite, helpful, and nonjudgmental, answering me directly rather than my spouse (a sadly common occurrence). One other group came in while we were there, three or four male students, who seemed slightly surprised to see women there, although they didn't bug us at all. read more

Hands down Bell Book and Comic has the best selection in the Dayton (montgomery county and green county) area. I don't think anyone can beat their back issues catalog. If you are looking for something from geekdom, this is your place. I wish their service was better though. I don't feel welcomed when I show up even when I am with my children. read more

I went there for my second time, and the guy with ponytail... having attitude and disrespectful. He took too long take out the cards what I need..took for almost 2hrs... and I told him this person pay all and he having little attitude. But I'm not going there again... we need friendly worker. read more

Wish I could leave NO ! Horrible shop! RUDE! Doesn't honor priced products!! Marks up when you get to register... the worst! Don't waste your time!!! Nasty place!!! NASTY read more

Great selection and great prices. The building is dated but what building in the downtown Dayton area isn't. The staff are great! Treated well and if you ever need help just have ask if you weren't asked. Usually though as soon as you walk through the door if they aren't helping someone else "hi or welcome and can I help you with anything". Would recommend them to anyone for back issues as they have the most extensive collection I've found in this area. read more

There is nothing bad I could say about this store at all. I have shopped there often for MtG cards and supplies and I've never had a bad experience. I don't know the name of the man who always waits on us but he's very friendly and patient even if he's the only person working and he's busy. They have a place to sit down and look through the cards and their prices can't be beat in the area. read more

Really nice comic book shop, tho a bit cramped and only slightly full of creepy nerds.

Bell Book & Comic is my favorite stop to make every Wednesday. The staff is friendly, helpful, and welcoming, their selection is huge and full of mainstream and indie comics, and their prices are always fair. My #1 comic destination, no question! read more

In all honesty, I've never had as positive a first experience at an FLGS as I have at Bell Book and Comic. I was immediately welcomed and treated like more than a dollar. I will be back in the future for both competitive play and great customer service/product selection. read more