You find some great stuff here like a Daken chesspiece or a X Men Wolverine comic you've been searching for! You'll find something if you dig a lil bit. And dig you will! They have a good amount of $1 comics that are cool and you're bound to find fun stuff. Great location also as it's near the legendary Old Town School of Folk Music and Laurie's record store and toy stores like Quake Collectibles that's cool. Also a bit close to all 3 Replay barcades either by car or foot thought it's a bit of a hike. Most of all, they have a customer bathroom! read more

I'm not a big comic book nerd at all or know what I'm really talking about in regards to comics, but I took my son here to peruse. They had a lot of comic books and everything looked to be well organized. There was a DC section and a Marvel section (Marvel FTW) and even a $1 comic section (cheap FTW). The staff here was super nice and friendly, and the vibe I got from this place was that this is the place to come and hangout with friends. There was a DnD informal tournament that was taking place and I thought that was pretty good. read more

Dark Tower Comics - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Experience: My girlfriend and I were looking for a present for a friend and decided to come here. In the past, we always observe this place in passing, but never went inside till today. It surely did not disappoint! Great selection and amazing staff! Parking: There is paid street parking in front of the business. BUT there is also free parking behind the store w/ limited spots. In order to get there, you would have to drive through the alley by Walgreens on Lawrence. Very convenient and not difficult to find. Worth: 100% worth it! Staff is very friendly, professional, and patient. I am not too familiar with comic books, but the staff, specifically Alex, was very helpful and informative to all my questions and concerns. Ambience was very chill and just really cool to look around.I would definitely come here again! read more

Dark Tower Comics - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely love this place! The management is very friendly, and easy going and they're very knowledgeable when it comes to talking about comics. When I went here, with my uncle I was amazed at how big the store was inside and it overall was a very welcoming environment. They know their stuff, and it's my go to comic book store in the Chicago area :,) Definitely would return again. read more

This place is so fun to come to! The staff is extremely friendly, especially Alex! He's very knowledgeable with anything I ask. Leads me directly to the comics I'm looking for. They offer an assortment of comics ranging from $1 comics to very valuable expensive comics. I do appreciate the range they have. They also have an assortment of pop figures if you're into collecting those! The store itself is very spacious and nicely decorated. There's parking right outside the store as well. Will come back again and again! read more

Grew up coming to this place and the prior one. Always find friendly fellow nerds and something good to read.

My family and I love this place. Although it is a bit out of our way (We're in Jefferson Park neighborhood) we do not mind making the trip there. The place holds a lot of great comic book series, from the Marvel and DC to some adult or kids selection (Fables, Beauty, Casper, etc). My kids and I are into comic books, always have been. My wife, not so much. That is until the staff of this place made her discover some books she really got into. Now she's following 4 different series and sharing our passion. Excellent comic book store. read more

I visited this place on free comic book day and absolutely loved this place. Parking was not bad, even with the location, there is a good amount of street parking. I wanted to find a regular comic shop to visit and have to say this is now it. I visited on free comic day. They had a few cosplayers outside and the crowd was pretty decent. They had good deals inside and well worth the visit. If you're going to make a stop on that day, this is your place. Everything in their store is on sale, everything from soft cover volumes to back issues. The staff is very friendly and you feel very welcomed. The actual space is large and has a nice layout so even if it's crowded, you can still get around just fine. I most certainly have found my main comic spot and would highly recommend this place. read more

I haven't actually been to this store. But my husband and I really enjoy the Around Comics podcasts which are recorded at this store on a weekly basis. (very funny podcasts with great interviews with comic book writers and artists and in depth discussions about sex and violence in comics and history of JSA and similar killer topics). See the site more details = http://www.aroundcomics.com We really love this PodCast Show and often download them for amusement on long road trips. Thanks so much for hosting this awesome webcast! We really enjoy it! read more

I will admit that I am a grown man who likes looking cool most of the time but I LOVE DTC!!!! First of all, judging the design sense of a comic shop is like discussing the design sense of a garage sale. No matter how you stack and sort your shit, we all know we can get almost anything for under 10 dollars. Save yourself a trip if you are looking for something fancy and go to Chicago Comics for the hipsters who prefer to call them graphic novels. They're comic books, okay? You read them once and stack em or give them away unless they're TPBs that you keep in the bathroom. And, befitting the intended merchandise, Dark Tower looks like a place kept by man-children who only care about the books. The Yellow shelves are perfect and the 1.00 bins look like dollar bins. In short, I would never bring my lady here unless she was "The One" that can handle all that nerdiness. This place is filled with awesomeness, knowledgeable clerks and little knickknacks that geeks like (and yes I have a lantern ring). The only slight gripe I have is the that some of the new issues are organized a little funky (not always quite alphabetical). As far as ambience goes, It is what it's supposed to be. There are prettier places like Chicago Comics (which I also love, for different reasons) but none does exactly what I think of as a comic books shop as effortlessy and casually as this shop. I love DTC. read more

Yeah, I gave this place several chances. I started shopping here... maybe a decade ago? And over time, the owner has gotten less jovial, and increasingly more rude every time myself and people I know go in. I always knew he was opinionated, but that level of abrasive cynicism is starting to affect the overall experience, and rub off on his employees. In fact, female friends of mine have started to regale me with stories of semi-chauvinistic comments coming from workers that shall not be named. Doesn't really help the case that a few months back, they decided to make an OUTRAGEOUSLY misogynistic post on social media, and quickly tried to cover it when they were called out. I've taken my business elsewhere, but I hope they lighten up. I'll give them an extra star for the pleasant experiences I had at the onset, but they're all about gone. :/ read more

It's tiny.. but hey they're trying. This dude needs an interior decorator to teach them how to use the space more wisely, then it could be an awesome comic book store. Regardless, local kids come running in excited to buy that next in the series of their comic book and that's what matters. If you are into toys, replica statues of your favorite characters, they have a nice display of some, expensive - yes. They also have some jewelry; like Superman rings and watches with Iron man, Spider-man and Superman faces. Did not see any t-shirts. read more

I'm a comic geek. I'll admit it. I've always loved comics. But. Comic book stores traditionally tend to skew toward the Simpsons-esque in the fact that they're usually staffed by a group of people with a depth of comics knowledge, limited social skills, and equally limited hygiene. And that's what makes Dark Tower so awesome. The staff ARE comic geeks, and the manager, Mark, does bear a passing resemblance to the Simpson's comic book guy with his ponytail, but that's where the similarities end. The staff at Dark Tower are funny, friendly, helpful, and are really knowledgeable when it comes to comics. And while I've never gone right up to a staff member and given them the sniff test, I've never caught the undeniably acrid whiff of BO either. The store is well-lit, well-stocked and, while a little cluttered, always pretty clean. The comics pull service is updated monthly and the more comics you have reserved, the bigger your discount. And they have a Trade Paperback service where for every 5 you purchase, you get a discount on the next one you buy. As mentioned in other reviews, the podcast Around Comics is recorded on location (most ) every Friday night, and they're not afraid to have an audience, so swing by and check it out. read more

In terms of comic book shops, this one has the most exhaustive stock of 99 cent back issues in the city - and I'm not talking old Batman titles from the early 90's either - I've OFTEN found issues in these boxes that were hot on the shelves just a month or so earlier. Coming here has almost made me question the usefulness of having a pull list as economically, I could just be patient and wait for the overstock of all of those fresh issues to make it to the boxes a month or two later. Regardless, I've plugged quite a few holes in my collection coming here and I'll forever be a faithful patron. read more

I have been buying from Dark Tower for several years now and i have to say that having shopped at several comic book stores in and around Chicago. This is EASILY the best shop i have ever been to. The owner Mark is very helpful to everyone that comes into the shop. Whether they're regulars there or new walk ins. DT has a pull list discount club. Where the more books you purchase every month the bigger the discount you get. Ranging anywhere up to 20%. Mark isn't the only helpful worker there. Everyone including the customers are always nice and will give you a hand and suggestions. They have big sales on a regular basis every few months either on graphic novels or old issues. They also have a HUGE collection of back issues. Many for only a buck. There is also a very great comic podcast called Around Comics that records in there weekly. If you are looking for a great comic shop. Go here!!!!!! read more

Looking for a place for great conversation while you shop? Looking for a LCS with a free pull list/discount program? Like discounts on your trades? Like to play with fun dogs that are occasionally in the store? This is your place. Great store. Great staff. The addition of a TV is dangerous...you may find yourself stopping in for a minute to grab some new books, and realize an hour later that you're still hanging out watching Swamp Thing with Mark (Grand Pubah). This is definitely a fun place to hang out if you have some time (some would call it loitering), and a knowledgable, engaged staff that can help you find what you're looking for. This place attracts a pretty diverse crowd, and is definitely welcoming to all. read more

I'm not HUGE into comics, but this is a great store in several ways. Whoever is working here is always kind and helpful while not being condescending to those of us who don't know a lot about comics. They have an interesting array of figures, toys, etc. in the front that are always fun to browse. They make their own mini-buttons, and sell them on the cheap. It's nice to have buttons that not everyone else owns. The best thing is that at the end of 09/start of 2010 they had a ridiculous sale, the best part of which was 40% off ALL trades. Amazing! That is a great deal. Also they have a frequent buyer card for buyers of several trades. They keep it in the store for you and everything, so you needn't worry about losing it. This is really a top-notch place. It's my favorite comic store by far in a city with no shortage of places to buy comics. read more

Another place ventured to with my buddy Shane, this is definitely a great place to go for comics. The weeknight hours are pretty late for a comic store (which is great since I don't get home from work til 6). When we got in, I wasn't sure what to expect. The owner was kinda quiet until we opened up, and then he was a wealth of information and suggestions. Nice guy, nice place. There are a LOT of comics here, almost too much for the small space. Some stuff seemed a little hard to find or not easily accessible, but nothing too bad. I'm definitely making this a regular stop every few weeks. read more

If I am looking for some back issue I know that I can find four out of five here. They don't really have obscure stuff I look for but I can't blame them, I can be looking for some weird stuff. Overall this is a great little shop. They are more than willing to help. Nobody who works here thinks they are king stuff. It's a great little shop. read more

Place is awesome and oraganized, easy to get to, and full of cool stuff. The proprietor, whom I assumed also owned the dog that was back there with him, was pretty knowledgeable with stuff asked, and answered questions satisfactory. The interior was well organized and clean...maybe could have used alittle light to make it cheery. Thumbs up otherwise. read more

Everything you'd expect from an old school comic shop (cramped, busy, packed floor to ceiling with stuff, boxes and boxes of back issues on the ground that kill your back)... in short, excellent. The owner is friendly, and I bumped into the (now defunct) Around Comics folks there, who were very talkative. I'll be back for the cheap back issues... there are more than you can possibly dig through. read more

I walked in here with my kids and had a very pleasant experience. He was friendly and the store had good prices which were nicely organized. I got some 50 percent off comics and my kids got some 50 cent comics which were all in mint condition with cardboard backing. Love it I think this is my new favorite. read more

Great neighborhood comic store for picking up weekly releases, trade paperbacks, heroclix and CCG's, and so on. The owner bags and boards any issue that you buy for free, and you get a 10%-20% discount if you set up a weekly pull list. There's a great little gaming community centered around this store if you're into that sort of thing. Now for the cons; it's a superhero-centric store, so don't expect a good selection of indie comics and zines. Also, they tend to order for the pull lists moreso than for general stock, so even routine montly issues of comics are "sold out" on Wednesdays because they only ordered an extra issue or two instead of enough for casual browsers. Makes picking up the odd issue a bit of a problem, so you tend to have to add a book to your pull list if you want to be able to grab a copy. read more

I've been a customer at Darktower through three locations (including their current one), two owners, and any number of comic conventions, and they still manage to delight me. A recent remodeling of the store's layout has given the dollar books and trades more precedence, and there's a lot more open room for browsing. They still support Heroclix (even if the company that made it no longer does), and the gaming community there is as healthy and well-adjusted as a bunch of folks who fight each other with little plastic superheroes could hope to be (I should know - I run the tournaments). I'm sorry that Nikki O.'s experience left her with the "no girls allowed" vibe typical of so many shops. Frankly, in a lifetime of longbox diving, I've frequented few comic stores that approached Darktower's level of openness. It's not uncommon to see mothers shopping there with their children (with mom browsing trades or picking up a long-delayed copy of Buffy and kids getting the latest Tiny Titans). And Mark, the owner, is a swell guy who's quick on the uptake when it comes to customers' reading habits. If he recommends a book, you can be sure that he's got your particular tastes in mind. This contrasts with certain nameless stores in the Chicago area, where the counter staff has better things to do than to associate with lowly mortal customers. read more

When it comes to comic books, I'm a bit of a maverick. Marvel, DC, Image, Independents, there's no telling which way I'm coming at yah when I stop by on new comic book Wednesday. Yet odds are if I'm looking for something, Dark Tower has it, and even if they don't, they can get it, like an unscrupulous drug lord if your narcotic of choice is dudes in tights. Their weekly pull service is a sweet deal too, the more you reserve, the better a deal you get. Thanks to them, I don't feel like I'm wasting my college fund every time I step in, even though I definitely am. Roger, I'm sorry, you're going to a state school. They also have such a wide variety of comic book wares that any fan can be sated. I just bought a Luke Cage magnet there the other day because he was a father figure to me growing up and sometimes you need something to remind you that anyone can be falsely accused of a crime, sent to a prison where they're illegally experimenting on inmates and be cursed with unbreakable skin. Sometimes there is a dog. The dog is cool. The dog once tried to smell my donut holes but it didn't actively try to eat them so the dog is okay in my book. Once they gave me a breadstick, that was dope. read more

Decent selection of back issues. Parking is a bit tricky. Prices seemed fair. Service was okay.

Sigh. I've given them chance after chance after chance. Yet, they fail me every single time. My story - I don't have a pull list. I don't buy super regularly, but I DO buy comics. I know what I like, what I read, and who puts out the books I read. I'm not that much of a newbie. But Like I said, I'm not a regular. Every time I've gone into Dark Tower, I can't find a single thing I am looking for and no one ever offers to help me on their own. I have to seek out help. This last time, when I asked for an older title the dude rolled his eyes at me, sighed, and then let me know that no, they do not carry that. My $$ should just be as good as people with pull lists. I'd hate to say it's because I'm a woman, but I may not be off the mark on that one. read more

I was insulted by one of the owners for asking about a game that recently went out of print. They had the x-pac, was it unreasonable to ask if they happened to have the base game? read more

Dark Tower is the best comic store in the city. It is that simple. You would be hard-pressed to find better service than what you will get from Mark and the guys at Dark Tower. They have an excellent trade paperback selection and lots of great deals. Also, if you go on Friday night, you can see the guys from Around Comics (probably the best podcast ever!) record their weekly show. Just watch out. They might ridicule you for standing there watching a bunch of guys record an audio podcast. I speak from first hand experience. read more

My new home away from home (on Saturdays). Very welcoming to comic newbies like myself, but this is also where the hardcore come to hang. Good luck matching wits with the owner Mark, this A$$hole isn't shy about calling you an a$$hole. Oh, and he loves flowers. read more

Have been going here for years and am very happy here. A great place to buy comics, both new and old issues. I love the dollar boxes. You get some nice issues for only a dollar.....have seen the same issues elsewhere for $3. $5. Even up to $12. Elsewhere. But only a dollar here. And the boxes of 1960's and 1970's marvels are almost always super cheap compared to other stores. Very conservative and accurate grading at this store. Lots of toys, posters, keychains, superhero glasses and many other nice items to buy. The employees are very nice and the owner, Mark, is very pleasant to deal with. A great comic book store to shop at. Highly recommended!!!! read more

If superheroes and action figures are your thing, then this is the place for you. The lighting & shelving were ok, but the store just seemed a bit run down & cramped. Also, I got the feeling that not many women go there (or at least not without a bf in sight). Like: Trades program Dislike: Big 2 -centric read more

I've been going to Dark Tower for the last few years and they are consistently surprising me with their kindness, warmth and massive $1.00 comic selection. The staff is always helpful and Mark, the owner, has been great about grabbing books he knows I'll like and setting them aside for me. Dark Tower is also the home of the Around Comics Podcast recording. Going to a comic shop to put back a few beers and talk comics with like minded folks from different walks of life is a blast. I can't recommend this shop enough. read more

Several months ago I call the store and spoke to Mark. I had a discontinued complete comic book series from the 1980s and early 1990s, that included doubles of many issues, that had some value. I asked Mark if he was interested in buying the set and he said no thanks. I did not want to just toss it in the trash since I knew people did collect it so I offered it to Mark for free. He said he would not take it for free, but would sell it on consignment for me. I dropped the books off a few days later and Mark sold them all over the next few months. Mark figured out what I was owed and paid me over $250. Mark could have easily just taken the comics for free and kept all the money for himself, and who could blame him during this terrible time for small businesses. Mark is honest and put in the effort to find someone to buy my more obscure comic books, thanks Mark! I highly recommend Dark Tower Comics read more

Best comic shop in the city. Mark and his workers are super helpful, friendly and give great discounts. My friends are shocked when they hear I get 20% plus free bags and boards. I have been coming here since 04 or 05 and whenever they don't have something I need are more than willing to order it. Definitely a must go to shop for comic fanatics or just fans of the movies and shows. read more

Very nice decent size shop. I called here before I went looking for a specific comic. He made sure they carried it before I went. When I got there the salesman was very nice. Tremendous customer service. Great Selection of comics and much more. Will definitely be back. read more

Small and quaint. I can't believe I just used the word "quaint" to describe a comic shop! This place is a fun little shop with friendly service. Not pushy and not snooty. I don't like how all comics are in alphebetical order without seperating publisher. I need my DC and Marvel to be as seperate as possible! Don't try to confuse me with your organized ways! I agree with the others that they don't have much on the indie comics side. But they do have a cool progam for trade paperbacks. Of course they also have their collection of overpriced action figures, but what is a comic book shop without those? Some hero-based collectible games too like heroclix and horrorclix. I will definitely be going back. read more

Not very welcoming storefront; seems like a lot of old dudes wander in here and load up, but there is no where to sit & they don't like you reading anything -- you can't, the comics are sealed tight. no real books to peruse, and a too large selection of plastic action figures... kind of whacky staff with zero design sense. the layout of the store is tragic. read more

The service is very knowledgeable and helpful. I wish this store was around when I was in junior high school...they have excellent back issues at a cheap price. If Dark Tower was closer to my house I would patronize it more often. read more

Dark Tower has a lot of comics....unfortunately they are in boxes (that are piled on top of other boxes), but taking the time to go through them is well worth it. They have many back issues and a wall of hero-clix that would make you shit yourself (i am not into hero-clix, thus i did not shit myself). Very up to date, very knowledgable comic book guy. I hear they also do a podcast....which is pretty coolness. Could use more indie comics though, but i'm glad they DO have Action Philosophers. Best comic book store in the neighborhood... read more