Never EVER order anything from outside the US. I paid insane shipping for my $140 order, which never arrived (apparently they didn't pay customs). Once I contacted support to clear things up, they never replied to me. It seems like they scammed me. No way to get the books i ordered or a refund? Please please go somewhere where people value your time and money. read more

Absolutely recommend, fully, heartfelt, completely. The employees are knowledgeable, patient, kind and do not pester you. The selection is phenomenal, I could spend so much time there. Prices are great. So well done and curated well. read more

This place is a true hidden gem. I got back into collecting hardcover books and enjoying graphic novels recently so I checked out good comic suppliers in the area. Upon first arrival, I was greeted by a friendly employee who gave me a quick run through of how the shop works. Nice assortment of rare books, comics, and illustration collections. Lots of stuff you won't find anywhere else at very fair prices. Revisiting the shop a few days later I was greeted by the same staff member who remembered me from last time. For one of the items I purchased I was offered a brand new copy in shrink wrap vs the display copy which was a nice touch I appreciated. Give this place a visit. They also have a nice website synced with their inventory you can use for faster pickup or browsing their collection from home. read more

This is the best bookstore I've ever been to thus far. It was a random find while I was in the area. Stepping in here feels like the grown version of buying comic books every first Sunday of every month, except you get to see what happens behind the scenes as well as finding the most random yet completely fitting books in this bookstore. I can seriously fall asleep in here and just wake up then continue browsing. Just randomly flipping through all the books.. sounds like a relaxing few weird days. The prices are very sound or at least appears that way. I would definitely return. read more

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Stuart was super cool and gave me a fair price on several books I inherited. The place feels like a gallery, a museum and a bookstore. So many artists represented. Cool place. I did not experience the owner being rude to his workers. I spoke with several of them and they all were friendly and happy and polite. It's great to know that this place is here. They are kind of a unicorn in SoCal. Check them out! read more

This bookstore is absolute perfection. One could move in and never leave, in some fictional universe. The owner is a subject matter expert and he is a great guy. I'm going back this weekend. read more

This place has a wide selection of books and is very unique! What I really don't like about this place thought is the boss clerk audibly high roading, berating, and whining to his coworkers. I've been to this place 10 times this year. Each time the male Black boss clerk is talking down to his female Asian coworker. He's high roading her using the royal "you" while talking, and instead of asking questions and providing a framework to improve on any actual opportunities of improvement during the appropriate private time, he instead berates her with the royal "you", not only audibly belittling her, but comparing her to other coworkers who he deems equally if not more deficient, while the store has shoppers in it. One time I was in the store for like 15 mins, minding my own business looking at the comic TPBs, and the boss guy walked by a stock boy who was on the ground doing the dirty work, and he comes by and snidely criticizes the way he was temporarily moving the books aside to clean the area. He insinuated that the books were being handled too roughly. Which the stock boy had to assure him they were fine. The stock boy did it in such a way to just write off the guy, as if its just another annoyance the guy just HAD to voice while he was otherwise competently doing his job minding his own business. My god. I've been a shop owner for 20 years and if anyone in a position of authority acting in this behavior in front of customers or in private worked in my shop, he would be let go immediately. How can this type of person get to a position of any sort of supervision and be so unequipped of the the tools to do it effectively. I feel so bad for these other workers. They are in a shop that is unique, having access to literature and a space that probably compelled them to apply in the first place. But OF COURSE there's some needlessly "perfectionist" they have to put up with whom can't see the immeasurable long term damage he is doing to the shop. Its so sad to see these coworkers in real time getting the life drained from them. Just look at their faces, they are miserable there. I hope the head clerk has a chance to read this. Either quit and find a job where he doesn't have to project the dissatisfaction with his life onto his coworkers, or really wake up and see how he's one of the worst elements of the store and why customers like myself who has spent over $1000 there already hesitate to do any return business. read more

great store . very polite and well packaged order . my first book came with factory damage aka a bunch of pages with small rips at the top . seller sent me another copy of book for free to make it right . I really appreciate the great customer service . thank you A++ read more

Absolutely the best, these folks are awesome. Run, don't walk to Stuart Ng Books! Super friendly, honest, and great service. Love this place. read more

A hidden gem for Torrance and Southern California in general. If you are an artist or illustrator, this is your private Disneyland. If you are an avid comic book reader, this is the place to find the curated hidden gems Barnes and Nobles doesn't have. Highly recommend. read more

I sold my husband's extensive comic art and illustration book collection to this shop and felt like I was treated very fairly and offered a good price. Stuart was really friendly and easy to work with. I went to the shop to drop off the last few books and found a lot of great stuff! read more

I drove over an hour to get to this store just to pick up a book that I had placed. Sure I could've placed an order to get it shipped to me, but visiting this place has been a goal for some time and it did not disappoint. After driving an hour, I wasn't just going to go home, I stayed for sometime looking around the shop. They have so many varieties of books from movies, rare prints as well as original drawings from artists and storyboard art. This store is everything for someone who loves art, behind the scenes on movies and more. I can't tell you how highly I recommend visiting this spot, and if you can't visit, make sure to visit there website "https://stuartngbooks.com" as what they have at the store, they mostly have it on the website as well. Lastly, the people who work at the store are really knowledgeable with what they have, so if you're looking for some type of book, they for sure can help you locate it. They are extremely nice! read more

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This has to be the coolest book store I Have ever been to. Hundred of art books from artists I admire. The staff is so super cool and knowledgeable . I will be frequenting this store more often now. read more

This art bookstore also carries great children's books. Although primarily for artists, cartoonists, and animators, this bookstore also carries some unusual (and awesome) children's books. My space-loving kids have read a number of the "Professor Astro Cat" books, and we've bought a fair number of them. Would you like to tour the human body.... as a cat in a spacesuit? If so, then yes, this is your book. It's a series, and we've toured the human body, outer space, and the deep seas together. I recently found Dieter Braun's "Wild Animals of the South" and "Wild Animals of the North," which are majestic depictions of the wild animals we have in the world. If BOB books make you want to stab yourself in the eyes, then you should find some much more palatable selections here. read more

Wow, this shop is amazing, it carries tons of independent and mainstream animation, art, and cartoon books out there! You can spend hours in here, small shop with great staff. The gentleman at the front really made the experience all the more pleasant, he knew so much about books and his mental inventory of the store is indeed impressive. read more

OMG! I love this book store. Selection is fabulous and quality is amazing. It's small but stuffed with the best stuff.

If you're into comic book art and books about comic book art (and especially if don't make it to San Diego Comic-Con or WonderCon) then fill your wallet with Benjamins and get over to Stuart Ng Books in Torrance. But, be sure to clear some places of h or on your bookshelves before you leave home because you'll be retiring with armloads of new treasures. Without a doubt, the best bookstore of its kind on the West Coast. read more

Don't expect long boxes to paw through. No bins here either. Stuart Ng Books is a neat collection of artbooks, sketchbooks, and original art from graphic artists the world over, situated in a business park. It's quite tidy and organized and it's easy to see why comics artists have praised this shop. Seemed like most of the things there were signed and some are notarized (like the first edition Lemony Snicket novels going for $100 apiece). Several shelves of old books denoted their being fragile and to handle with care. I was pleasantly surprised to see a large selection of those little paper books artists tend to sell at conventions (photo: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/HC_vctAFZwswgkgl7tYRaA?select=8TyOtHWT7AqUZ4Emi7w50g#8TyOtHWT7AqUZ4Emi7w50g). You don't usually see them at comic shops and more often than not these sketchbooks are filled with exclusive work by the artists that didn't make it into their titles or they were experimenting with new styles or characters. Most of those acquisitions were signed as well. Probably the best place in the area to pick up vintage pin-up art and comics that appeared in Playboy. Yep, not really a place to take your kid for their Superman comic after they sat still for a haircut, but more one for serious collectors and those seeking a new comic obsession. read more

Stuart Ng Books - Artist sketchbooks - Bookstores Near Me - Torrance, California

Whenever my mans and I attend WonderCon or APE (Alternative Press Expo) in SF, we make a point to look for Stuart Ng Books. Stuart sells gorgeous illustration, art, comic, animation and artists' sketch books - including many rare, imported and out of print. We usually leave his booth with a lighter wallet and an armful of books. Despite the herds of fanboys and fangirls (myself included) mobbing his stand, Stuart is always friendly, cheerful and kind. When we learned that he had a showroom in SoCal, we just had to visit. Nestled in a business complex, it's a medium sized, brightly lit, unassuming space filled with the aforementioned wares and it's dizzying with all the awesomeness that you can purchase. Examples: - Imported Art Books from around the world (Check out the CFSL.net / café salé artbooks 1 through 4) - Artists' Sketchbooks from all animation worlds (My faves are Shane Glines, Ragnar, Bill Pressing, Monsieur Z, Dupuy-Berberian, Pascal Campion -there's too much to list) - Small self-published art/sketchbooks (Gustavo Duarte, Antonio Lapone, Dustin Nguyen) - Rare sketchbooks (Mike Mignola limited edition sketchbooks) - Illustration magazines / Vintage Magazines (Flirt) - Art catalogs, programs, small collection of artist toys The staff are really chill and cool - You feel that they just love art & animation and want to share. Search on their website if you're looking for something in particular. They ship everywhere and if not, check out their store hours (limited) or find them at the next WonderCon / APE / ComiCon in San Diego / NY / Seattle and other conventions. I love Stuart Ng Books! read more

Stuart Ng Books - Bookstores Near Me - Torrance, California

First, looks can be deceiving, and two, this is a bookstore, not a comic shop, even though some hosted copies can be found on comic shops on the L.A., OC and IE areas. I knew of Stuart Ng via their website (http://stuartngbooks.com), and assumed for some reason for them to be an East Coast establishment for 15 years, until I got driven to what looked like a generic copy shop/law office storefront; still kicking myself for waiting so long to check it out. Stuart Ng is the most awesome Art Bookstore that covers the sequential arts, even though they also carry books regarding Animated Features ("The Art of Zootopia"), sketch books, maquetes, special editions (signed/unsigned), etc. The market is worldwide, carrying books from over the world (Caveat: no so much Manga, unless translate or in the spotlit). It's cool to find a particular issue in English, then turn around and find it in French. Modern titles are the norm, but some classics are present, again, also worldwide. Hard to find, out of print, signed, one of a kind will be normally be found near the locked case display. The sketchbook section takes the whole left side of the room. It is rare not to leave with a couple of books or two or three,... A small friendly staff and Stuart himself mind the store and they are abreast of the latest in any field, so you are covered. Prices are okay to high, but their high still beats other book stores like Amazon hands down. The mecca for the animator, cartoonist, illustrator, graphic designer, pro or amateur. Don't wait 15 years to find this pearl. The Good: Best merchandise ever, plenty of parking, right next to a Mitsuwa for Japanese noodles or curry after the purchase. The Meh: Nothing to note. The Bad: Nothing to note. Highly recommendable. read more

Stuart Ng Books - Bookstores Near Me - Torrance, California

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What a cool place to experience! Lots of great books and art and to top it off Stuart is awesome! Must visit place if you're in the Torrence area. Stuart even gave us suggestions for dessert read more

This is a truly great unique bookstore, especially those who collect comic book related illustration and artwork related publications. Those artist direct sketchbooks by comic book artists J. Scott Campbell, Adam Hughes, Arthur Adams, Sanjulian, etc. that most have to travel far to acquire which are often times signed and numbered limited editions... Stuart Ng Books has a great inventory of those. What's great about that is you don't have to pay to travel and the related expenses, nor pay convention admission fees, nor lug 'em around the whole day. You can park in his spacious parking lot, walk in and the prices are very reasonable, much lower than what you'll often find the material sell on eBay for (and you don't have to pay shipping here either if you visit the store). A very nice selection of hard to find and out of print rarities as well as current material and hot releases. read more

The best of the best when you're looking for a particular sketchbook by your favorite artist. Everyone in store is helpful and very insightful. A great place to find cool new artists, or to brush up on content by your favorite artists too :) read more

If you ever wanted to read truly amazing comics that aren't your normal mainstream comic scripts (no disrespect). There are some amazing graphic novels, by some of the best artists, that can be found here at Stuart Ng. Friendly, and they even have some independent comic artists debuted. This is a rare comic store and if you want to say "wow" from flipping open the first page, step into this store. read more

An all around great online experience. When I visited the Art Spiegelman exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario, I was enchanted by his book "Open Me ... I'm a Dog!". However, it was not available for purchase at the AGO, nor at local bookstores, so I went online. In my search, I found loads of used, "slightly damaged" or mediocre copies for sale for a few dollars to well over a hundred dollars; but there were some sites that said they had New Unused Copies, which is what I wanted. When I checked out reviews of these sites, Stuart Ng Books came very highly recommended. They offered a new copy of the book at a really competitive price, and the cost of shipping to Canada seemed quite reasonable. So I placed my order December 28th, and even with the holidays over New Year's, and standard USPS shipping, I still received my copy by January 7th! Impressive. The book arrived damage-free: very carefully wrapped, padded and sealed. And my copy is indeed brand new, in excellent condition ~ plus my credit card was not charged until the book was on its way. I am delighted with my purchase, and with Stuart Ng Books. I highly recommend them, too. read more

I kept complaining that there's no comic book/ illustrated novel bookstore that is as good as the European ones in California... and I was wrong. Oh so wrong! This one is a monument. It's epic. It's delightful. I talked a bit with the owner, looking for this and that, and he then suggested...my favorite author when I was a teenager. This author isn't even well known in France where I come from. And not only they have most of his albums, but a cool drawing of him on the wall too! Mind blowing. If you are into illustration, this is the place for you. I can't wait to go back! read more

I'm a newbie to Stuart Ng, but this place has got to be one of the coolest book shops ever. Located in the midst of an unassuming business center, you think, "Really? Here?" But man. Every nook and cranny of the store is filled with awesomeness. I love that the owners/workers are very friendly and not pushy. A lot of the books are even signed by the artists! The first time I visited, they were selling original sketches by Peter de Seve. So, so cool. They even have a wall full of awesome drawings by famous artists. The lady said I could draw on it too, but it would have been a sad, sad drawing. But it was nice of her to offer. A great place to get inspired. The prices are reasonable, and the selection is awesome. I used 'awesome' three times in this review because this store is just awesome. Definitely worth making a trip to. read more

I love coming into this store and learning about new artists and art styles. I am always so humbled and inspired visiting. To be honest, I am also sometimes really afraid of coming here because I usually end up leaving with two or three books. On top of that, just down the street, there is a Mitsuwa Japanese market with a Santouka Ramen in the food court!!! read more

This is simply the greatest bookstore ever! If you're into concept art, illustration, and graphic novels from all over the world you will feel like you've stepped into heaven. This is not a comic shop, but stands as a monument to what comic books and graphic novels can accomplish at the top of their form. Don't be afraid to try something new. I have books in languages I will never be able to read but the artwork and the visual storytelling are worth adding to your library. There are so many books and artists you've never heard of who can change the way you see the world. Impossible to find sketchbooks, rare and out of print books on great illustrators. One can definitely spend hours here pulling down masterpiece upon masterpiece. read more

Great, artistic-leaning bookstore. Excellent place to buy any art-related books. Just wish it were closer to me so I could spend my money there more often. read more

This is a gold mine for true comic fans. They've celebrate the art of comics. They've got tons of sketchbooks and signed books. The prices are really good for what you're getting. The staff are friendly and helpful. It's a perfect place to also find European books with some translated into English and some in their native language. They also have a nice selection of wordless comics from across the pond. I'll be back. Just come with plenty of spending money you don't want to leave empty handed. read more

Stuart Ng Books - Bookstores Near Me - Torrance, California

This is an awesome store that contains books devoted to all things illustration, design, animation, and sequential art. This store has a particularly comprehensive collection of titles in the French comic art scene. Most of the stock is in the original French, but you can find some great English translated titles in the far right shelf in the middle of the store. Make sure to browse thoroughly as you will likely find some pretty obscure material. 2nd time I came here, I ended up leaving with a book of concept art for the long forgotten JRPG masterpiece Jade Cocoon. Also this store is my first exposure to sketchbooks of contemporary artists (along the far left wall). I guess you usually find these at conventions, but I don't really go to conventions so this is my first time seeing them. I've particularly enjoyed the Ink and Punky Drawings by Raul Trevino. If you end up finding something you're interested in, make sure to pick it up as soon as possible. I made the sore mistake of skipping out on a concept art book for the anime Denno Coil, only to return a week later and find out the book had already been purchased. Anyways, I can't recommend this store enough. read more

Amazing art book store! I can't imagine that it could be better, especially since they've moved to a more spacious location. Stuart and his wife are very nice and personable and will talk to you about anything art-related. The pricing is fair and reasonable. I rarely have any trouble finding what I'm looking for, and, whatever I can't find, Stuart will order for me. Professional artists frequent this store, and they often have book signings. The original sketches on the wall are really fun to look at. The ONLY negative about this place is that I often spend $100 or more unintentionally! He also has a great online store. Check it out. read more

Both the staff and the art book collection is top notch. Plenty to look at and be inspired by whether you're into graphic novels, film, illustration or anything in between. Hard to find items as well as items not found in other "regular" book stores, Stuart gets them all. Usually signed too. There's a back section for statues and maquetes and a small section for original pieces I drool over every time I enter. Easily laid out for a day of perusing and then I suggest Ramen at the mall down the street (also something Stuart recommended to me) To a serious collector, this is the place to stop by and find, trust me. read more

Stuart NG has a vast selection of hard to find art books, comics and sketchbooks that you wouldn't find in your typical bookstore. Many original artist portfolio sketchbooks line the back walls. There are comics and graphic novels in both English and other languages for those that want to original printings of books. If you love animation art you'll love this store. It's easy to find, park and hang out in. Give it a whirl sometime. read more

This has got to be the BEST Art Bookstore in the West Coast!... Well, at lead in Greater Los Angeles. I've been coming to this amazing place for years, but never thought of writing a review on Yelp! Here's what's great about it: AMAZING ART BOOKS! Specially from France and Other places in Europe. Stuart travels back and forth, attending all sort of Comic Book Festivals and brings back really great books, and I mean GREAT books! I've increased my collection of incredible Artists thanks to this place. It's not too big, but packed! The staff is super-friendly and what's more important: knowledgable. This ain't no Barnes and you know what, nor is it a plain Comic Book store, they sell all sorts of Art books, yes, I said it!... Fine Art Books too! The most impressive area is the self-published books by the back-wall, with tons of small sketchbooks from both local and international Artists. Sculptures, original work and some fantastic pencils, I HIGHLY recommend Stuart Ng if you are an Artist, student or collector!... read more

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A visit to Stuart Ng Books' booths at WonderCon or Alternative Press Expo is usually one of the highlights of my con visits, so finally getting to visit their actual office and retail space in Torrance was a real treat! We arrived thirty minutes before they closed but the staff was super friendly and told us to take our time browsing. This store is ridiculously packed with so much animation, comic, and illustration eye candy that the time just flies by as you go from shelf to shelf. I could spend all day in there if I could! I was really impressed by the selection of European imports and their customer service! I was looking for a Kerascoet sci fi comic in French but couldn't remember the name of it. They looked it up in their inventory and found it on the shelf for me within a few minutes. As I got rang up, it was fun to chat with the staff about some of my favorite animators and comic artists. These guys really know their stuff and are happy to share their knowledge with you. Thanks again, Stuart Ng Books! I hope to see you guys again on my next visit to SoCal! read more

Love this book store! Great selection of artists, don't miss it!!

Great selection of art books. I've found quite a few gems in my visits. Staff is friendly, and prices are acceptable. The only reason why this isn't 5 stars, is the organization. Otherwise, a delight to visit! read more

I just love this store! Hands down, this is the place to go for imported or hard to find art books, as well as sketchbooks that may not be available outside of conventions. The staff is super friendly and engaging. Stuart Ng Books also hosts guests artists from time to time that come into the store to talk with fans and sign books. Some books can get a bit pricey, but these are usually ones that are either difficult to find, out of print, or have been shipped from over seas. Overall, a great place for those interested in art and looking to expand their art book collection! read more