Coolest Places To Buy/Read Comic Books

Aug 27 00:13 UTC 1995

I would like to know what places are the coolest for buying and/or reading
comic books.  Recently, I have started to patronize New Adventures at the
Courtyard Shops on Plymouth Road (not far from my apartment), and picked up
Beavis & Butt-Head #18 and Ren & Stimpy #33.  They also have The Simpsons,
Married..with Children, Rocko's Modern Life, and other cool comics (including
all the Marvel and D.C. kick ass superheroes).  Also noticed among the vintage
comics was a Mickey Mantle (circa 1956) for $75.  Of course, he was still
alive at the time, so it may have gone up in value since his passing.

response 2 of 64:

Sep 3 14:23 UTC 1995

Living in the small town I do we only have one comic shop.  It is called
Stargate Comics.  It has all the AD&D stuff you would need, Magic and other
non-sort card games, books, magazines, and of course comics!  Also they have
AD&D games going on constantly in the back room 
going on all the time on a table in the f
to just hang around too.

response 4 of 64:

Jun 24 13:07 UTC 1996

The best place to get comics in Ann Arbor is Dave's. I say this because I am
the publisher of the Animania Magazine and had to got ALL of the store
within the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area. What's good about Dave's Comics is that it
has the best selection in town, Plus, it has a colection of back issues that
is second to none. Plus, the manager, Joe, is the greatest guy. The
subcription service doesn't cost anything and there is no minimun, plus it's
guaranteed. Even if you are not "pull" custumer, they always give you a 20%
discount. At other stores like New Adventures or Underworld, you don't get
a discount unless your on their subcription service. Plus, New Adventures
charges Tax (which by the way is illegal to charge tax on magazines) and you
end up paying more then you would at Dave's. Sure, Stadium Card and Comics
are good in Baseball cards; Campus Colectibles are good in Magic Cards; and
Underworld is great in gaming, but if you want to get comic, you go to Dave's
Comics

(-PIST- Hey Joe, can I get my money now?)

response 6 of 64:

Dec 16 00:33 UTC 1996

I kind of like underworld just for its friendly atmosphere and cool models
that are set up. Tho the guys at Dave's are cool,too.

response 8 of 64:

Dec 20 18:01 UTC 1996

Yes, I highly argee that Vault of the Midnight Comics kicks ass. They are new,
that's why I said Dave's before... But the Vault is the best place in town.
   First thing is that you know that the vault cares about comics. Just by
looking around the place, you'll see the place is a shrine for comics. They
don't sell anything but comics stuff. Other places like Stadium and New
Adventures carry sports cards. WHY? Comics and sports are two different things
and should be kept apart. Plus a lot of the other shops are corprate sponcered
or owned. Big corporations do not belong in comics. That's why creator owned
books are better. Corp doesn't care about comics, Corp gots to make more
money. Underworld is owned by DawnTreader Books. New Adventures is there
becuace they get their rent free becuace their owned by the mall. These places
it doesn't matter if they don't make money on the comics. Underworld is all
gaming with a splash of comics in the corner. New Adventures is sport stuff
with no idea what a real comic is.  Dave's is good, but has gotten to big for
it's own good. They don't care about the small stuff anymore
   Yes, the vualt rules becuase they don't care Marvel, but it's much more
,than that. They focus on the small press. They care about their comics. They
care about the customer. Their fans theirselfs and they make their own rules.
  I've said too much now...

response 10 of 64:

Dec 22 01:35 UTC 1996

If you look at the Dawn Treader bags very closely, the small print says
"a subsidiary of Megacorp International."  All kidding aside, I agree with
David's response. The guys at Vault care about comics and nothing else.
All the other stores in the Ann Arbor-Ypsi area have become bogged down
with sports cards or Magic. The UNderworld, which started as a comic-book
store with gaming supplies has become the Warhammer and Magic store. They
still care about comics, but they stick it in the back. If they kept all the
shelving they originally had, noone who wandered in would even know they
carried comics. It's not their first priority.
     Does anyone think that a comic store should have it all (Magic, RPGs,
sports cards, video games, etc.)? I for one am glad that the guys at Vault
have finally created a store that carries comics and comic-related
merchandise and nothing else.

response 12 of 64:

Dec 22 09:42 UTC 1996

Yet one more reason to hate Magic...  I remember going to the
Underworld for their first anniversary party, and not even being
able to get to the comic book shelves because the floor was
packed solid with Magic players.  >8(((

response 14 of 64:

Dec 23 22:37 UTC 1996

What do you think would be the ideal comic store? What would it have?
What wouldn't it have? Would it carry all comics or only independents?

response 16 of 64:

Dec 29 04:50 UTC 1996

Oh my gawsh. this is speshal.

response 18 of 64:

Jan 13 12:41 UTC 1997

Re #17: Would you make an acceptance for Frank Miller's Electra stories? Or
Moonshadow (even though it's a Vertigo title now)? How about Doctor
Who magazine? It's put out by Marvel UK.

My ideal comic store would emphasize independent comics. It would promote
titles like Bone, Cerebus, Strangers in Paradise, Stray Bullets and others
heavily. It would have a section devoted to comic related merchandise like
t-shirts, models, action figures and trading cards. I would devote a small
section to mini-comics like Galaxion and Dreamcrashers. I'd make a huge
section devoted to manga and anime, since I think the Japanese make better
comics than any major company. Way in the back, barely taking up 5% of the
shelf space would rest Marvel and non-Vertigo DC titles. They'll sell anyway
so why bother to promote them.

I would not want Magic cards, sports cards, RPGs, or Warhammer supplies
cluttering up the space. A comic store is for comics and related stuff.
The only exception I would make would be for the Animayhem and XXXenophile
card games and anime related RPGs because they are comic-related merchandise.

I don't know any store that is like this. Vault of Midnight comes close, but
I can't find a good source for manga or anime anywhere.

response 20 of 64:

Jan 13 23:55 UTC 1997

You're right! Would you include Marvel and DC's RPGs too?

response 22 of 64:

Jan 17 12:46 UTC 1997

I'd understand if you wouldn't. I wouldn`t allow it. It would promote
what I don`t like about Marvel and DC.

response 24 of 64:

Jan 18 12:32 UTC 1997

I would agree, but we enter a gray area when we talk about comic related
card games. For example, simce my ideal store would have an anime section
I would want to carry the Bubblegum Crisis RPG and Animayhem CCG.
It directly ties in to my interests without bringing in Magic and D&D
after it. (Of course, if TSR decided to market a Slayers world in D&D
I'd have to consider it. Let's hope not.)