Comics, Collectibles, Pugs, and the Coolest Bathroom What a great little comic book shop. The owner was incredibly friendly, the store was spotless, and there was so much to look at. They have a huge selection of comic books, collectibles, artwork, and fun memorabilia throughout the shop. One of my favorite parts was meeting the two adorable, well-behaved pugs who were happily hanging around the store. They definitely add to the welcoming atmosphere. The walls are covered with interesting art and displays, making the entire shop feel unique and full of personality. Everywhere you look there's something fun, quirky, or nostalgic to check out. And I have to give a special shoutout to the bathroom. I don't think I've ever mentioned a comic shop bathroom in a review before, but this one was awesome. The walls were hand-painted with beautiful koi fish artwork and even included information about the artist. It felt more like a little art exhibit than a restroom. As the wife who isn't really into comic books, I also appreciated that there was a comfortable, clean waiting area where I could relax while my husband browsed. That's a small detail, but it made the experience much more enjoyable for me. Between the friendly owner, the adorable pugs, the creative artwork, the welcoming atmosphere, and the massive selection of comics and collectibles, this place is a gem. Whether you're a serious collector, a casual fan, or just tagging along with one, it's absolutely worth stopping by. read more

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I came here looking for hot sauce and there wasn't much inventory at the time.. I walked around and it was a neat comic store with pugs running around and the owner (I assume) was very helpful. read more

Nice comic store. Spacious. Calm and good environment. I don't shop comics often. Usually just to get Stocktoncon tickets. read more

Ben rocks i have been going to this shop since I was a teenager. Love everything they got going on. If you are looking for graphic novels and family fun give them a shot! read more

My girlfriend and I go every new comic book day to pick up my pulls. When I'm browsing the variants she's on the couch playing with the doggies. I only read marvel comics. The owner is friendly and knowledgeable about his books. He even put me on some indies. He also posted weekly videos on new books and hot sauces.This is your one stop shop for new comics! I recommend being a "savings club members" for monthly perks, local events and pull list! read more

Empire's Comic Vault - Comic Books Near Me - Sacramento, California

This is a proper comic book shop, having a back issue section, graphic novel selection and a pull list. There is also some hot sauce for sale. There is a wide selection of current comics from many different publishers available, would keep me occupied for an hour to be honest. read more

Either it was a bad day or something else. When I arrived I wasn't greeted at all. The owner sat on the couch on their laptop the entire time. Wasn't asked if we needed help or were looking for anything. No customer service or friendliness. read more

I love this place. It's very mellow, lots of comics to choose from. My son loves seeing the owner's dogs who hang out there.

These guys are great. Hit them up twice today during there early Black Friday sale. I won't be needing to many more back issues after today! 50 cent books and half off new variants. They had hella variants in the back issues and I was charged the sale rate of 50 cents to a dollar (books over 5-10$). Sweet come up. Just wanted to show appreciation and give a review. Least I can do. They are also active in the community. Authentically active. And regularly too. Don't be surprised to find signed books on the wall at cover. They have a podcast I need to peep and a painting night too. Also a drawing a day fb group too. Very cool. 10% off and bags/boards for customers with pulls. They are on my wed new comic connoisseur tour. read more

Empire's Comic Vault - Stacks from today's hunt. That Guardian's pile is nothin nice - Comic Books Near Me - Sacramento, California

Came here on Free Comic Book Day. There were plenty of activities for the children even a food truck - Wandering Boba. Several people were dressed up as The Avengers and other characters. The free comic line was being monitored very well with 20 let in at a time. My only complaint was that the store had a rather dank smell. I don't know if it was because of the people inside or if that is the usual smell. However, the owners were very nice and actively involved with the customers. I would definitely bring my kids back to find comics. read more

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Fantastic comics, staff and service. Helped me find my current favorite hot sauce and I will be back!

He was super nice, my kids love books so why not take them to a comic book store. It was super cool, and they have a variety of hot sauce, I only stick to sriracha but next time I'll buy a hot sauce from him. I got an avatar book, Marvel book and my kids got marvel and Despicable book. Also his kids books are 20 percent off! If you love comic books, I highly recommend coming here! So great! read more

What can I say, this is my favorite comic book shop in the area. Ben is awesome. Knowledgeable and he is always in a good mood. He's fun to talk to also! The pugs that run around the store, are an added bonus for a dog lover that lives in an apartment that won't allow dogs! I at least get to interact with them every Wednesday! New comics are always easily displayed and accessible. Plus they always have a movie or music playing so it gives off a comfortable vibe. They have other things going on during the weeks to keep your comic/nerd interest and Ben even hosts special events once in a while. I highly recommend this shop! read more

Empire's Comic Vault - They always support a local artist every month by displaying their art on the shops wall. Sometimes the pieces are for sale too - Comic Books Near Me - Sacramento, California

Looking for any new comics or graphic novels...or hot sauce? This is your spot. My family and I travel here monthly for new comics and books. Ben, the owner is super nice and willing to take the time to get to know you, your preferences and give you recommendations. Love this place! read more

An awesome spot for a comic book reader. What's really great about this place is that they have an incredible collection of titles as well as an impressive collection of back issues. While the place is big, they do a good job of keeping everything organized so that anyone can find their way around the store. It's the kind of store you can spend hours just looking at all the different titles and back issues available. I definitely recommend this spot for any comic book fan. read more

Very, very nice store. The cleanest and most relaxing comic book store I've ever been in. Huge trade paper back and graphic novel selection, and it's nice to see a traditional comic book store again with just comics and not magic cards and whatnot (no offence to magic players). Also the owner is a very nice guy. Fellas, if you're out and about with your lady, and want to stop and look for some comics, stop here. They have comfy places for your lady to sit down and they have PUGS walking around the store. read more

Empire's Comic Vault - Comic Books Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Went here earlier this week from a coworkers rec. I was out of the comics world for far too long.. This place reignited my love for comics. Empire's is fully stocked (as far as comics go, not so much on the manga), clearly up to date on issues, and like all the other reviews said.. customer service is on point. I'm the kind of guy that doesn't mind being greeted at a comic shop..but then after that, pretty much just left alone unless I have questions. That's exactly what I got here. 5 stars because I can find everything I like to read/collect here, the workers + owner are super chill, and the overall atmosphere is pretty welcoming. read more

I really enjoy coming here with my mister. They have a friendly staff and a great selection of comic books, including local artists and I think I even saw some manga there, and collectibles! Whenever my boyfriend are in town, we have to stop by and check it out. Excellent place! Definitely give it a try! read more

They have the BEST hot sauce selection!!!!! Random at a comic store but the owner loves hot sauce so added a wall full of his favorites!

Drove a ways to check this place out today, only for them to be closed. Im assuming because Easter was yesterday? Bummer, drove a ways, but not gonna nock them too hard. Just hope that in the future they update hours/post if they will be closed. read more

There's a reason why I kept my membership here, even when I moved back to the Bay Area! This is one of my favorite comic shops ever! Once you walk into the doors, you're instantly welcomed and feel part of the family. Ben and the team welcomes everyone! I've been to shops where I was ignored and not welcomed, but you'll feel the opposite here. They're really knowledgeable, passionate, and helpful about comics. They carry a lot of the ongoing books, a big backstock, a big library of collections/trades, a good selection of toys/collectibles, and even have a sections dedicated to local/independent books. There are also a ton of events that they throw: mini conventions, open mic nights, and model drawing just to name a few. On Free Comic Book day, the Vault turns into a block party. And I just love it when the pugs on duty: Rolly Polly & Captain Dylan Hunt are running around the store, because I've got plenty of petting to pass around. If you're looking to give your patronage to a comic shop, you need to check these guys out. Keep it up! read more

A really cool vibe comic shop. If you love pugs; the owner has them! A bought a tote bag here for my comics. I used it every time and travel and buy comics. I like to support local comic shops; this place is one of the best in Sac. read more

Best comic book place around. I live in Placerville and pass 2 A1s to come here. The owner is always in a great mood, VERY knowledgeable about the comic books, he loves them and knows the stories, and it shows. You can really tell that when you buy from here you're supporting a local business and someone who's passionate about what he does. He has a HUGE collection with a lot of independent as well as mainstream comics. Go here! read more

Ben got me my copy of a extremely popular book. I preordered through Instagram and he contacted me the moment it arrived. He also hosts so many events at his shop and through social media. He keeps alive our community's passion for reading comic books. Thank you Ben. read more

So I moved to Sacramento from LA about a year ago and was looking for a local comic bookstore. I checked out a few highly rated ones, but frankly there was always something lacking. Particularly irksome were some highly rated stores that kept their graphic novels in plastic. I guess you were allowed to ask and they would remove the wrapping, but that is ridiculous. Empire is great and my new local comic bookstore. It has a great selection of both mainstream and alternative comics. The owner is very nice and helpful and will make recommendations. The only downside is that they tend not to have too many back issues of comics that are currently going. By that I mean when I go to the single issue comic book area, I might see, for example, for the first time #3 of a comic series and think that looks interesting, but they generally won't have the two previous issues available. But that last problem is not a big deal-I can always wait for the collection. Kudos on a great store. read more

Great comic shop in the Arden-arcade area, always loved going to this spot. Definitely would recommend!

My comic shop of choice, friendly atmosphere, great service from the owner, and everything is laid out very well. Not hard to find what you want Update July 2018... still the best! read more

I love this place! I'd give it a 5 stars, but I went in there the other day (and I'm a loyal customer that spends TONS of money here) but for some reason, when I went there Saturday, they had different employees, most of whom were nice enough, but one particular new guy... I'm not even sure if he works there or he's just a friend who was hanging out... but he was really rude. I'm all for opinions, but if I'm purchasing something, I don't really need anyone's personal opinion unless I asked for it. Well this certain person muttered something in his breath about "that's wack", and I just stared at him. I thought that was rather unprofessional because from a business standpoint, would you want a merchandise you're buying to be degraded by an employee? Wouldn't that shun you off? Not that I care about his opinion because I ended up buying it, but I thought that was rather unprofessional. It just didn't sit well with me. I pay people to do their job, not to give me their personal opinions on what I want. That was the first time I saw him there and hopefully next time I do see him he won't say anything as unprofessional unless asked. Yeah, I know it's just a comic book store, but it is still a place of business. In summary, it's a great place for comic books and anime alike! Great selection and USUALLY awesome service. Check this place out if you are into the Marvel comics (or any comics) genre. You won't be disappointed (just don't take the rude guy's opinion to heart). read more

Great store. Well spaced. And there two adorable pugs to greet you at the store. I Look forward to coming back again. read more

Empire's Comic Vault - Saw this at the register. - Comic Books Near Me - Sacramento, California

Ben and his staff have always been welcoming, and even enthusiastic to see a girl walk into their comic shop. I usually just buy the latest in the Buffy series, but he's happy to chat with me and suggest other stuff I might like based on my interests. Not only that, they have a great inventory of past issues and graphic novels and will order anything you want if they don't have it in stock. Not located in Mid-town, but I make the drive there, and it's worth it. read more

Empire's Comics is the best, in my opinion, as it can get for a comic book. It's well lit, very clean, and I even talked to Ben for a bit about trading cards and let me know there's a bunch of cards there and he doesn't know what's in there. Very friendly, always smiling, welcomed me with a smile and a friendly hello. I went in here today to look for some Green Hornet, Ghost Rider, and Boba Fett from Star Wars comic books but there were so many that I didn't know what to get because I had $10. I did find some very nice back issues selections from different eras. I found one from 1999 and another maybe from the 80's or before that? I'm not sure. But he does have a box where the new back issues are from, all wrapped and taped in a nice bag. But I found something else that I wasn't expecting. Peanuts Gang comics. I found #2 of a four part and asked him if he had the first issue and he said, "Yes, we use to. Let me go and check if we have anymore." Came back and rang me up for the two issues and I was on my way. He also put the comics in a nice bag and I was please to see that. He tries his best to make sure everyone is happy, he even made me happy with the outstanding customer service he gives out and how well known he is within the community. This is truly the closest and best comic shop to me; and I will be going back very soon to get a Sailor Venus action figure I saw for $20, and he also has Hope, Sahz, and Fang action figures for $40 from Final Fantasy XIII! I couldn't even find that in Japan Town when the game came out! Manga's are a bit low but still good selection for the 50% section he has, but found some action figures from Star Wars in a few boxes that were 50% off as well, so I don't know if he has anymore manga's in those boxes or not. But if your starting to get into comic books or getting back into the scene like me; don't feel imitated like I did. After browsing for a while, I felt right at home and will be going back for more comics. read more

This is a great shop, and my favorite in Sacramento. The selection is good, of course, but in that Empire is not unique. What really makes this shop stand out is the staff and the community of the place. I showed up on a weeknight and there were a decent amount of people going over the nerdly happenings of the day. The owner is quite knowledgable about the comics scene, and I received top-notch service. While the place is a little out of the way unless you live in Arden Arcade, I go out of my way for it, and it's my regular shop now. read more

My favorite comic shop in Sac. The owner, Ben, obviously takes pride in his business, knows his product and endeavors to make customers feel welcome and appreciated. Excellent selection in a store that is clean, large and organized. There's even a section that highlights local creators. Nothing bad to say about the place! read more

This place ROCKS! From the in-store service to the online social media interaction Ben and the entire ECV staff is amazing! They are very knowledgeable in all of their merchandise in the store and if they do not have something that you are looking for they will find it to make sure you are happy. Ben in particular went out of his way to help me find the third and fourth comic books from the Sons of Anarchy comic book collection and ordered the first and second books for me and sent me an alert on twitter upon their arrival to the store! The fact that this place is conveniently close to me and the customer service is stellar makes me a RAVING FAN! If you enjoy comic books or anything associated with them, I recommend checking out Empire :) KJ read more

Personally, I'm not too deep into comics. Manga is more my style so it's not a surprise that's what lead me to this shop while I was in the area and early for a dinner reservation. While they're manga selection is lacking, the five star rating is more for the large selection of comics, graphic novels, and the friendly staff. After meeting Ben (I can't entirely remember if that was his name) and being shown the few mangas they carried, I asked him a few questions about new comics and maybe getting into something. He was friendly, helpful, and very informative! After letting him know what kind of stuff I was into (Sci-Fi, Superhero, Fantasy, etc.), he quickly found a number of different recommendations! Can't wait to finish the handful of books I got and come back to chat about them. Even if the comics aren't as good as I hope them to be, I'll definitely be coming back for the good company and conversation. Edit: Almost forgot to mention the friendly little pugs! Sucker for pugs. read more

I've been going to Empire Comics even before Ben owned it. Jack was the original owner and let me say that he was a d-bag. After being a faithful customer of his store he tried to rip me off (overpricing) some back issues I inquired about buying. That wasn't the only incident, but it was the draw that broke the camels back and I stopped going to the shop. Fortunately for all of us, Ben purchased the store and did a 180 with it. Ben is friendly, knowledgeable, and more then willing to answer any questions you may have about anything! Ben supports other local shops and has referred me to them if he doesn't carry what I'm looking for. You can see Ben supporting the local roller derby team and even do a spot on the local news station when they need insight into comic related movies/news. I'm happy to say that I am a frequent customer of Empire Comics Vault and really owe it to all to Ben and his vision of what a comic shop should be. read more

Worth a 2nd look. I went in here maybe 5 years ago and decided to never go back - it was a dive, tiny, cramped, horrible customer service, etc. I just went back a month ago - it's undergone a complete transformation. The store is now twice the size and it has a spectaular selection of current comics, back issues and graphic novels. Highly recommended. read more

I'm not a huge comic book collector I leave that up to my husband and son. I like to go to Empire's Comic Vault to see the pugs. The owner of the store is super nice and always friendly. The best part is they have some delicious hot sauces. I always get one for my brother when I'm there. This is a great place to get comics, funko pops, or just some love from some very special pugs. read more

I love this place! I've been to all the comic shops in the area and this one's my favorite. I'm not into tourniments, so I can't vouch for that but Ben's shop is the ONLY one that will give you boards and bags for the comics you buy and not charge you for them. They have great sales from time to time and I made out quite nicely at the last one. Lots of independants and figures and a decent selection of busts and statues. The staff is friendly and helpfull and will save comics for you. Check it out for yourself. You won't be disapointed. read more

My fiancé and I love to scope out comic shops whenever we find a new one. Having just recently moved to Sacramento, we've now seen the majority of what it has to offer. Ben and his adorable pugs have the best comic store in all of Sacramento. Here are my hands. They are down. Not only is the staff friendly and knowledgable, they also host a space for local artists to exhibit their work. On top of this, they have an amazing selection of comics, as well as collectibles and merchandise. Oh, and they have an Open/Closed sign with The Goon on it. You gotta love a comic shop with good taste. read more