Absolutely fantastic store if you're looking for older comics, collector stuff, independents, or just plain uncommon titles. Or if you just love comics and want to browse for something cool. You could lose hours in this tiny shop. It even smells like comics.
That being said. If you want popular current titles, go elsewhere. This shop doesn't even stock the whole line of DC's New 52 -- I'd say they carry less than half the titles. They don't order DC Universe Presents, I Vampire, OMAC, All-Star Western, or Hawk and Dove. Those are only the books I specifically asked about when I couldn't find them (this was February 2012 for reference), but there are many more titles that aren't stocked here. There's only one small countertop with New 52 titles on it (plus some on the wall in back) and I'd say maybe 20 or 25 different titles are regularly stocked, certainly not more. And only the most current issues of everything -- no back issues at all.
I originally went to this shop intending to get issue #6 (which was the latest issue) of a few popular books, and also to get #1 - #6 of half a dozen books I wanted to try out. The shop did have #6 of some of the titles I wanted, namely the popular ones Batman, Superman, Catwoman, Supergirl. Not all by a long shot, see above for the titles they don't stock unless a customer asks for a special order. They had no Nightwing, I was told they do usually stock the title but it had sold out (this was maybe five days after the release date for that particular book current issue).
They had no issues of anything prior to the current #6 (with one exception). The owner said he only orders a small-ish number of copies, if those sell out he won't get more in, and the copies that don't sell are usually returned to the supplier. He did manage to find two back issues of Supergirl for me, #3 and #4 I believe, in the stock room and not on display.
He is a fantastic guy, very knowledgable. I was grateful he took ten minutes of his time searching through back room just because he thought he remembered he maybe might have a back issue of Supergirl. Very sweet. And as I said this shop is Mecca for general comic enthusiasts. I wasted a long time in there even though he didn't have most of what I'd come in for, I had to drag myself out, didn't want to leave lol.
It's just disappointing when you visit a comics shop looking for the latest Batman and he hasn't got it, well okay how 'bout the previous issue? Sorry, no back issues at all. Oh well. Last week's Superman then? Aqua Man? Nope, don't have those, sold out the whole 12 copies I ordered and have no plan to reorder more, you're out of luck unless you want something from the 70s.
I've been in half a dozen times over a few years and it hasn't changed. I simply don't understand how a comic shop stays in business when it never has any of the current titles. read more