I was surprised by how large Tosche Station Echo Base is. The store is split into two rooms: the…read morefront room is dedicated to toys and collectibles, while the back room is packed with comics. They have a huge selection of action figures, statues, used video games, retro video games, and, of course, comics.
The comic room has a ton of back issues, organized primarily by publisher--Marvel, DC, and independent. There are also several random long boxes without labels, along with a table containing several boxes labeled "Keys." There were also 3-4 short boxes of "key issues" scattered around the checkout counter. Fair warning: these boxes aren't particularly organized. Saying they're "loosely alphabetized" would probably be giving them too much credit.
That said, if you enjoy digging through boxes looking for hidden gems, this can be a fun place to treasure hunt--as long as you have the time and patience. I'm a Spawn collector, and the designated Spawn section only had a handful of issues. However, I ended up finding several more Spawn issues scattered throughout the "Key" boxes on the table in the back. I even found more in the "Key" boxes at the checkout counter.
I think consolidating all of these boxes into one organized area would make the shopping experience much better. It's fun finding unexpected issues, but when you're specifically hunting for something, it can be frustrating when the boxes aren't organized or alphabetized.
As for pricing, the comics are generally priced fairly. Some of the variants and key issues are priced a bit on the high side, though, so it's worth knowing your values before making a purchase.
The back room also has a free-to-play arcade cabinet, which is a nice bonus and adds to the retro vibe.
The staff was nice and very helpful, which made the visit even better.
Overall, this is a great spot for collectors who enjoy the treasure-hunt experience. If you have some time to spend digging through boxes, you never know what you might uncover. Just be prepared to do some serious hunting!
