I've been coming here since I think 2018 when I used to work at the Hospital a couple miles down the street. When covid hit, I had to move to San Bernardino County cuz cost of living in OC got waaaaay too bad. However, I've been happy with this place so I still go. Susan is a great owner to me. She makes herself available by business email which she is great about checking and replying to (It's on the business card on the counter at the shop) and you just tell her what you wish to order and she will order it and not only will she make sure it gets there for you timely but also that it doesn't come damaged before I drop by to pay and pick it up. Now that I'm in my 30s, I don't have the patience to buy individual comics so I just buy trade paperbacks when story arcs are complete so it's all in one graphic novel. Star Trek is a franchise I tend to read these days more than marvel and she makes sure she orders whatever comes from IDW even before I ask nowadays because I have been such a reliable customer when it comes to that. When I ask her to order and it comes, I always pick up my complete order within a week (I'd pick it up sooner but I live over 30mi away now).
Now I think everyone is a tad harsh on Rene. He's actually a good guy. Granted, he's not a very extroverted guy on the outside but he's a cool dude. I think if you're more outgoing and you try to engage a guy like him, he's not the type to respond in kind. And if you press him like some of the people who complain about him have, yeah you're probably gonna force a very insensitive sounding answer out of him. Not excusing that but that could've been avoided too. That's just the type of dude he is and I think I understand how to approach people like that. I wouldn't say I have a pull list because I'm quite an easy customer. I ask Susan to order whatever. She lets me know when it's in. Then when i come in, they're ready. If Rene's there, he knows to get it, rings me up, and I leave to go on my way. I have never had a problem with him. I totally respect that small talk isn't exactly his thing so I think he's not bad at all. People need to realize there are other personality types than their own sometimes and not be so sensitive. Believe me, I am a sensitive type myself but I've never been rubbed the wrong way by him.
Now, since these days I have a very specific taste when it comes to comic theme and types of comics, I don't go around perusing through the shelves and boxes but the store seems to have a pretty good sized selection, given that it's not a really big store. There's two separate rooms in the back. One for back issues of older individual comics and the other is a room set up to rent for those who don't have their own space and equipment for podcasts which is pretty clever in principle actually. I don't know if they have many events like a lot of comic book shops tend to like some will have big sales or even certain artists of certain characters or even strive bigger by getting certain actors who used to be on comic or fantasy based tv shows in the past, maybe they do not certain. Susan is great she seems like a hip regular lady but she understands nerds very well. To me, she understands our personas. She understands what they look for in a place like hers, and she's been nothing but awesome to me. Treats me with such consideration and respect. I could easily have found a place near me because there are at least 3 within a 15-20mi drive from where I live now, but I wouldn't stick to getting any physical copies of what I order from them if I didn't think they were worth it.
Only thing that really sucks is it's in the heart of downtown Whittier so it's a pain in the neck to find a spot right in front of the store. The spots are usually always taken no matter what time of the day or day of the week I go so normally i have to park in the next street then walk over there from that place. Anyway, thank you Susan for taking such great care of me for the past six years and still going. You're amazing. I really thought I already typed a review of your place. This is very overdue. read more