Third Coast Comics is a real gem of a comic shop. I attended the original location a handful of times and although this somewhat newer location is a downsize in space, it somehow works even better. The place is clean and well organized, and has a staggering array of books considering it's modest (think walk-in closet/partial studio) square footage. Terry, the owner, is a friendly character, and Living Legend, if you ask me. He knows the history of comics and appreciates the medium in all its forms, from superheroes, to sci-fi, to slapstick, to slice of life and everything in between. He is also very indie comics friendly. Terry will order anything you want (I think I may be the ONLY person who subscribes to Savage Dragon monthly, crazily enough. GET ON IT PEOPLE!) and is quick to recommend something new. On top of all this, Third Coast Comics offers a shared public space in the back of the shop for monthly meet-ups of various community groups, from local comics creators like the Northside Comic Artists, to comic readers & fans, to tabletop gamers and more! Third Coast Comics is just a great little shop that I love giving business to, and you should too. PS: Insider tip; check out all the cool original art Terry has been collecting around the upper portions of the ceiling. A Gallery of Greats! read more

#34 for 2019 This 250 sq. foot closet deals to an eclectic pool of readers dedicated to good story writing. Terry is a very nice guy educating you on what is good to read. He may not sell your mainstream books in the 100s but he's learned a good array of tricks to get good sales. For one, he is practically located on the grounds of Loyola University. Right under their rooms in the heart of Chicago close to the look offering spectacular views. What did they say were the top 3 factors to operating a business? Location. Location. Location. Terry understands his customers and demographics. In this little shop you will find a wide selection catering to your popular comics of superhero titles, your classic reads like Sandman, your newer classic reads like Saga, independent comics like Umbrella Academy, and so forth and so on. He is very meticulous on what he orders and is a great source of information about the industry and genre. No wonder he has many loyal customers. New comics, comes in every Wednesday, are well labeled so you know what is new. On a rack he has an assortment of collected trade paperbacks. Along the top of the walls, I found this interesting, are original art pages. I wish they were closer down so I could a better look of them. Looking for a good read? Here's where to go. read more

A great place for comics and graphic novels. They even had a graphic novel I didn't know existed and already love. They also sell dice and supplies for D&Ders. Ask for Terry - he literally went out of his way to find something I needed and even helped me find the best way home. Highest possible recommendation. Thank you read more

Nice little comic book store if you are living in the City. Not a big selection of back issues due to the small size of the space. That space which is even smaller I think now due to the Covid outbreak. There is a limit of 2 customers groups in the store at the same time. Which seems like a responsible way to deal with the limited space. The owner seemed very affable and they had a newer book which was sold out at my other comic shop. All in all, good if you live in the area, maybe not worth a trip if you do not, unless you are looking for newer stuff. read more

This is my favorite comic shop in the city and has been for years. Used to shop their previous location too. Great selection and the owner Terry is warm, friendly, knowledgeable and hilarious. read more

A great place to get comics if you're a long-time fan, and a great place to learn what you might like if you're a novice. Terry's a great guy who knows an astonishing amount about comics and stocks a diverse array of comics, from Superman to offbeat indie stuff (my favorite!). This is a highlight of Rogers Park, and just down the street from the movie theaters so you can discuss the latest Marvel movie with the experts! read more

Third Coast and Terry are the absolute best. Talk to him about comics, and he give you a great, well-reasoned, well-informed take on whatever comic subject, with hilarious asides thrown in. read more

You know you're in the right place when the first bit of conversation you hear is on how "Charlize Theron was a bad ass and Kristen Stewart sucked in Snow White", then you jump into the debate as to who would/ should play Wonder Woman in the new movie. Yep, they make you feel at one with your geekiness. Plus, actually have a good knowledge on the issues they carry which also includes a nice indie/ local artist selection. I stopped in for some new bags & backs to redo my recently regained collection from my Mother's dusty attic. I had no idea they were different kinds and I learned that the old school backs has some sort of toxic substance, so they recommended starting fresh on all of them. Prices are fair and they don't just stock the new stuff, back issues are in the back of the store. I have no doubt they will see me again. read more

Fantastic comic book shop in Edgewater. Well organized with a very friendly owner. They also host events from time to time which you can find out about on their website. One caveat is they don't seem to stock back issues. I'm a trades reader so this isn't a problem for me at all. I really hope Edgewater embraces this place. read more

As a mid-twenties-something girl, I cringed when my boyfriend announced that a new comic book store was opening just a block from our place. I've never really been "in" to comics much, so i've never had much desire to spend hours in a comic store, unlike him. I've been dragged to comic book stores all over Chicago in the past with their "no look" policies (would you really buy something without knowing what it's about? Not every one who goes to comic stores are comic-whores), unfriendly staff and their judgmental attitudes when I finally pick up a copy of Scott Pilgrim...hey, it's still a sale and i'm not ashamed to say I like hipster comics! The store, painted in Superman colors, is inviting and takes me immediately back to childhood memories of my favorite superhero, as opposed to the stark-white dullness of many other stores around. The comics are displayed well so that you don't feel overwhelmed when you first walk in, and if they don't have what you're looking for, they can get it for you in a jif! For those like me, new to comics and not sure what to buy, they are more than happy to guage your likes/dislikes to help you find new comics to enjoy. Even if you decide not to buy anything, stay around to chat! TCC is focused on the customers and building good relationships. They even have a beer-garden for comic-book meetups! Yesterday we spent about an hour in there talking with Terry about comics and more. I highly recommend Third Coast Comics to everyone from comic geeks, to people like me who just dabble every now and then, or even to people who just want to chat with the great staff! read more

Ummmmmm what's with all the one-review posts? Suspicion! Saw this place for the first time last night and stopped in. They were hosting a knitting night. (I don't knit, but good to know that they host events.) I'm not a huge comics person, so I can't really speak to their selection, but I did end up walking out with a Chris Ware book. Terry, the guy working there, is very friendly and has a good vibe about him. I'll definitely stop back in. read more

My impression of Third Coast Comics is fairly simple because the store is so new, which is a blessing for you, the reader; if I'd been going there for years I'd be liable to be quite a bit more wordy. The first time I walked into the store I was greeted cordially by the owner, Terry. He offered me a pull list to reserve my comics in advance, he helped me brainstorm some titles to pick up and, get this... he argued with me! This is fantastic, because I am of the opinion that you just can not get a good comic book store experience without being able to argue about your favorite (or least favorite) titles, authors, publishers and storylines. I was already hooked. I came back a couple of weeks later and all the issues I had asked about were sitting on the shelf for me to pick up; most of them were first printings, too, which can be hard to work out with popular current titles. He had also taken the argument one step further by starting up a comic book discussion group to be hosted at the store, which to me is an awesome community excursion. As for the layout, there's newer comics, graphic novels divided up by major publishers and independents, plus other relevant merchandise like the occasional game or DVD; all surrounded by bright, Superman colors. Hopefully, I'll see you there, sometime. If not, I'll probably have no competition to get that awesome graphic novel you wanted. Alas. read more

A great comic book store for those in the Edgewater neighborhood! If you're in the area, stop by and talk to Terry the owner, one of the most knowledgeable and friendly comic book geeks around! read more

Stopped in on a Sunday. There was 1 employee working and maybe 1 other person in the shop. Not a lot of stuff in the shop, really just comics. I prefer when they have statues and other comic related merchandise. I was there for over an hour looking at graphic novels and the 1 employee never even talked to me. read more

I love this place! I have not paid much attention to comics since the mid-80's but have always enjoyed good superhero and related stories. I accidentally found this place while walking off a huge brunch at the nearby Bananas Foster Cafe. So, since the 80's a lot of cool stuff has happened with comics. First of all, there is a massive genre of Zombie comics. It's all even cooler than it sounds - Spiderman Zombies, Jesus vs. Zombies, Ash Williams from Evil Dead movies vs. Marvel Zombies. I had to pinch myself with all of the new awesomeness discovered. Here's the best part, the staff were great with walking me through some good issues to buy. I had basic questions, they were enthused to talk Zombies with me. Very helpful. Good store layout too, and a collection of graphic novels and some other merchandise. My wife found plenty to browse through for the twenty minutes or so I was there. Comics are for adults now, and I can't believe it took me this long to find out! Third Coast Comics is a great place to go, browse and discover some cool new takes on the comics you might not have looked at since the 80's. There was plenty more than Zombie stuff. I stocked up on some Doctor Doom related comics too. I can't speak to how this store responds to the needs of the hard core comic fan, but for a novice it rocks. Make it a full excursion and have brunch at Bananas Foster Cafe which also oozes goodness. read more

Any store painted in Superman colors is a store I'd want to get my books from. The store just has a fun atmosphere to it, something I enjoy as someone who's getting back into comics after a long hiatus. I really enjoy the online subscription features they offer as well. It allows you to manage your books on YOUR schedule while also perusing and getting ideas for new books. The store is easily accessible thanks to the Red Line and the Broadway bus and is also the home of a comic book meet-up once a month. A nice way to find other like minded comic book enthusiasts and to get an idea of what people think about titles you don't read. All in all my experience at Third Coast Comics has been excellent. They have a large trades section which allows me to catch up on any character I've been skimping on as well as access to special orders via Previews. If you're in the area (or even if you're not) I would definitely suggest checking out this comic shop. read more

Admittedly, I have some bias - I know the owner well, but even if I didn't, I can heartily recommend Third Coast. It's not your typical comic shop - no mouth-breathing, misogynistic fanboys work here. (I've only had that happen to me once, but at another, now closed store). What you *will* find is a staff that is willing to help you find the "right" book. Third Coast stocks both indie/small press as well as traditional superheroes; they have an *extensive* collection of trades (I always seem to end up making an impulse purchase when I'm there), and the store also sponsors regular events (including a monthly meet up). This place, quite simply, is a gem. Go visit. Now. read more

I'm fairly new to the comic book nerd lifestyle, as I only started my freshman year of college thanks to an even nerdier friend of mine. I read a few titles that he already had, but then had no clue where to turn from there. I did a little research and had a vague idea of what I wanted, but when I ventured into Third Coast (my first ever comic book store visit), Terry was more than helpful. He let me be for the most part, but when asked for a recommendation he went to town. The guy's passion is finding what you as a person might be interested in, firmly believing that EVERYONE can find a comic they love. While the selection isn't super extensive, it's for a purpose: to make things more welcoming and easier for newbies to get access to. If there's a title they don't have, I've heard Terry is good about ordering. Now, three years later, it is still one of my favorite places in Rogers Park/Edgewater. read more

I love this place. Terry is the best, I always hope he's in when I stop by. I am disappointed when he's not. I stopped by after closing once and he let me in anyway. There are always events and great programming. The Doctor Who meetup group has frequent showings here and it's always a good time. There's an annual chili cook-off in the back courtyard. Free Comic Book Day is a big deal here. I like their selection of books as well. Especially since I'm not a huge comic person. I like them, but I don't read many of them. read more

My first visit to Third Coast Comics was a pleasant one. The owner was courteous, friendly, and was kind enough to make suggestions or give me his honest opinion on books he carried. He even debated my favorite authors with me, which is always fun to do. The selection was what I would lovingly call "minimalist", and I was happy to hear that anything in the Previews I wanted could be ordered. I appreciated that the owner left the books accessible, allowing interested buyers the ability to read or skim books without the hassle of fighting with the bag/board/tape challenge. I always feel weird taking comics out of a bag in-store. I like to get a good idea of what I'm buying if it isn't in my normal subscription and I find pre-baged comics discourage this. For all the shops that do this, I don't usually purchase anything. The color scheme was reminiscent of "pop" art, which was derived from the classic print colors available in early advertisements, comics and comic strips. As someone else said, they painted the store like Superman. The art that decorates the exterior window is all hand drawn in a classic and simplistic style that reminds me of those early strips. What I found most pleasantly surprising about Third Coast Comics was the fact that they carried actual novels, all of which were inspired by, or contained references to, the comic books that line the walls. Comic book based novels are my secret candy and I love that I don't have to comb through one of the massive chain book stores to find them. Thank you Third Coast Comics! Admittedly, my first introduction to Third Coast Comics was from a comic book meet-up. I was new to Chicago and wanted to find people that shared my passion for sequential art story telling - and that was how I met Terry (the owner) and this inspired comic shop. I've been reading comic books for 18 years. I've been to comic shops in NYC, San Diego, San Fransisco, Phoenix, Chicago, and Albany NY. I pick up trades or random comic books that catch my interests or get highly recommended to me by friends or family members. For most of my life, I've gotten my books from this small shop in Schenectady NY. They've mailed my books to me where ever I might go, and they have earned a loyalty that most shop owners probably hope for in their repeat customers. My random pick up purchases tend to go to whichever shop might be closest to me, but my core subscription is and will always be with the same shop I've picked books up since I was 14. They've earn my loyalty. Third Coast Comics has earned it too, and that's where I'll be picking up my trades for now on. read more

The people at Third Coast Comics are the best. I really dig Terry's awesome friendliness. I just want to invite everyone reading this to come on out to Third Coast Comics on January 31st for an instore comic book convention " TABLE-CON!" For more info. please click on the link I am providing here. http://www.myspace.com/tablecon this event is free!!! Please spread the word and come out and support. Have a great day. Nino. read more

Probably one of my favorite little comic book shops on this side of town. I wandered by here when I moved to the neighborhood a couple years back and did a double take at the storefront and I just had to go in. I'm glad I did! My comic collection has certainly benefited from it. Unfortunately the lack of money has made it hard to stop in here as often as I used to. The owner Terry Gant is awesome and super nice, he remembered my name by the second time I went in there and will be more than willing to give you recommendations based on your tastes. Love it! Every comic book nerd on the North side should make a stop in here. read more

One of the best comic shops in Chicago for a reason. When you go in, you're not ignored. The staff is almost always helpful, and the owner is a great dude who knows his stuff. They're also known for hosting podcasts and genuinely caring about contributing to the local community. It's not the biggest shop, but they're always helpful, always enthusiastic, and always knowledgeable. Can't wait to go again! ^_^ read more

The best comic shop in Chicago! (And that's saying something.) The owner (Terry) takes the time to remember your name and tastes, give great suggestions if you ask for them, leaves you alone if you don't, and is always good for a funny quip or a friendly conversation. The shop is uncluttered and tasteful, and very friendly to women and to people with kids (what other comic shop ever has girls - or for that matter, kids - in it?) Plus, for a small shop, Third Coast has quite a few signings and guests, and a big roster of social events in the shop and elsewhere. It's a different kind of comic shop and a very, very cool one. read more

Third Coast Comics is like my home away from home. Terry, the owner, is the KRS-One of comic nerds. So lucky to know this guy and his shop. A very welcoming environment. There are always cool people to meet there. read more

See, what had happened was... I met some awesome folks who frequented this comic shop, see. And so I started stopping by now and then. I even volunteered an hour or two of time to manning a sidewalk sale, because the owners were such good people. Then I started reading the stuff on the sidewalk sale table. Then I started spending money. Money I don't have to spare. Alas, I never feel guilty about it, because this shop is such a damn fine local. The owners are good people, did I mention? And the selection is great. And if you want it and they *don't* have it, they'll order it for you. Plus there's a lounge area, in which signings, knittings, and general good geekery are conducted. And it's completely and utterly lacking in the kind of nerd-boy condescension you'll find at some other shops. You walk in, either Terry or Lisa will greet you, have a chat, point you in the direction of whatever you seek (without judgment) and send you on your way. Third Coast is an *excellent* place to part from your hard-earned cash. read more

I stopped in the other day with an eight-year-old Batman fan that was visiting me. The owner was so careful to suggest age appropriate material. He let me look at one of the comics for my review before handing it over to the child. The owner ended up steering us over to a kid friendly section. How impressive. Someone thought of a little kid's best interest before making a buck. We ended up getting a Batman chapter book. We'll be back! read more

My boyfriend loves this place. Terry, the owner, is friendly, affable, and regularly hosts events that my boyfriend likes to attend, including movie nights, comic book discussions, and comic book swaps. read more

I'm not even sure where to start. Third Coast has trades galore, a manga corner, "cool" books that hipsters like to read, AND good 'ole single issue comics. Their indie selection is still a bit low, but that's just a matter of learning what your clientele want. The lighting is nice and the shelving makes it easy to find what you're looking for (and even titles you weren't looking for). But what is really impressive to me is the diversity of customers at Third Coast -- kids, women, "late middle agers", white, black, Asian, etc. And people talk to each other in the store and not just about comics. It's like hanging out at the cool kid's house (which, as other people mentioned, you kinda can back in the courtyard). Like: Community, Ability to update my pull list online Dislike: I want to hang out there all the time read more

Great neighborhood (though not my neighborhood) comic store! Terry is super accommodating and friendly and special ordered my frothy shojo manga without the withering looks and laughing that I'd get at other comic shops. That's a rare, wonderful thing. If I actually had a car or lived close by I'd be there often. read more

I have been to many comic shops in my day, and I have to say that Third Coast Comics in Edgewater is among the worst that I've been to. Admittedly, it gained 2 stars from me only because I couldn't give it the 1.5 it deserved. I noticed this little hole-in-the-wall shop while I was walking down Broadway near my apartment. I returned with some friends recently to check it out, and was seriously disappointed when I did. The shop is small, barely bigger than the size of my front room. Seemingly, the smallest section of the shop is dedicated to actual comics -- only one wall is dedicated to the three shelving units of single issues, and another on the opposite wall for indie comics. Looking over what little selection they did have on hand, I noticed that most of the comics were not anywhere near current. The largest section of the shop is up front near the door, which doesn't work properly by the way, where the few patrons other than me and my friends were sitting around in some bizarrely-fashioned reading section. We were there for over 30 minutes, and one of my friends had an entire 5-book run of comics in hand to buy, and yet no one said anything to us since we had entered. The staff on hand, which consisted of either 2 or 6 people -- I couldn't tell which, since those in question were all just standing around talking to each other near the register -- were your stereotypically overweight, neck-beard, fanboys who were all wearing varying degrees of Batman paraphernalia. We exited the shop without buying the comics, which was a good choice in my opinion, as I would be hard pressed to give this establishment any of my hard-earned money. I would be willing to pay the $2.25 to take the Red Line to Belmont and walk 15 minutes to the vastly superior Chicago Comics on Clark and School, or, begrudgingly, to Graham Cracker Comics on Broadway and Belmont. I would say that I am surprised Third Coast Comics is still in business, but with it being the only comic shop around, its unfortunately not hard to see why. read more

I can't say enough good things about this shop. A comic shop can be an intimidating place for a woman who never read comics before but Terry has no problem getting you caught up or suggesting a great graphic novel based on the books or TV shows that you like. He also hosts monthly meet ups, which are a great place to meet cool Chicago geeks and catch up on pop culture (and drink some beers). Third Coast also gives 10% discount to Edgecard holders, so what are you waiting for? read more

Wow! What an awesome place!! I'm a lapsed comic book collector who needed some help, and the owner, Terry, asked me a few questions about what I was looking for and hooked me right up! I needed some gifts and wanted something for myself and got everything I needed at great prices. Bonus - everyone loved their gifts, so I was a gift-giving rock star!! And the stuff I kept for myself? Well, I'm super-happy! Can't wait to go back!! read more

Open space, comfy chairs, no pressure, and a full calendar that enables meeting other comics and art fans.

i like this place. a huge part of my liking it is the lack of white boxes stuffed with back issues. it's an open space and it's unintimidating. i'm less a fan of superhero comics and more a fan of independent comics and graphic novels, and this is a pretty good store for that. he's got all the standard superhero comics, though. the owner is super nice and chatty. i saw no microwaveable food, no doritos, no orange soda, nothing weird like that. he knows how to interact with people that think about things other than Magic: The Gathering and comics, which is more than i can say for the guys at the comic book store back home. it's a good place. i'll be back. read more

If you're into collecting current ongoings this is the perfect place for you. He stocks what's new and tries to move old stuff pretty fast. I've bought back issues for a dollar here if they are from a couple months behind. The owner is pretty laid back and knowledgeable, very welcoming. It has a news stand feel to it. This isn't a place to go to find figures or super old back issues, just new ongoing series from all of your favorite publishers. read more

Great comic bookstore in Edgewater! I've only been in a couple times (recently started getting back into comic books) and the owner has been very friendly and helpful. The place is very organized and well stocked. Great spot. read more

I'm not a big comic book reader but my boyfriend and several friends are, and this is the perfect place to get all sorts of comics. In fact, for Christmas last year I gave Terry a list of people I needed comics for, some of their personality traits and a budget, and he came through like a master. Everyone was impressed with their gifts. (Third Coast was only a website back then, BTW.) I plan on continuing that tradition! The store is cool too, it's easy to browse and there was quite a variety of comics, from kid stuff to dark adult trades. It gave me quite the education! If you're like me and don't know the basics but need to, I highly recommend these guys. read more

This is my new local comic book store. They have what you need and the staff are very knowledgable.

Top Notch Shop!! Just wish they had a bargain box for comics. Decently organized and a lot to offer , over I still wish they had a bargain box lol. read more