Guest Author - Travis Belk

Interested in buying comic books, but not sure where to get them? Comic collecting starts with where you buy your collection. Here are some things to look for and what to expect when hunting for the perfect comic book store.

1) One thing important to a collector is a weekly pull/hold box. A hold box is a box assigned to you and typically located behind the counter. You then tell the store what titles you are interested in and they will put them directly into your box as soon as they arrive. This allows you the opportunity to reserve your favorite titles without fear of them selling out off the shelf. Talk to your local store for details on setting up your box.

2) Helpful and knowledgeable employees are a boon. Feel free to test them and ask them to recommend some titles for you to read. The more questions they ask about your likes/dislikes, the better the service. You should feel like they are genuinely trying to help you find something that fits your tastes.

3) Until recently, comic books have been considered a male dominated hobby. For this reason, women comic book shoppers are likely to encounter some situations that men usually do not. Comic guys are typically not used to seeing women in the store and will, at times, stare. Female comic shoppers say the best thing to do is just ignore it. They are harmless and will leave you alone.

4) The biggest bane to women comic shoppers, however, is the Simpson-esque Comic Book Guy. He is the store clerk that thinks because he can recite the complete Legion of Super Heroes’ roster he is too good to be bothered by an uneducated female. He will barely look up from the monitor, as he chats with his online “girlfriend” to even answer your questions. And he will do so in a curt and dismissive manner. If you encounter this guy, RUN. That is not a store you want to shop at weekly. To avoid this problem shop at comic stores ran by married couples if possible. These shops tend to offer a fair and unbiased shopping experience to all.

So why should you go through the hunt for a comic book store instead of purchasing at one of the other available retail outlets?

First is the selection. You just can’t find the selection that you want while at 7-11 buying a slurpee that you can at a comic book store. From mainstream titles to foreign titles, you are going to find something that you like at the comic book store.

Second is the benefit of discounts. Let Superman save Metropolis and your local comic book store save you some cash. Most comic stores offer discounts of up to 20% to regular customers.

But the biggest reason to go to a comic book store is the atmosphere. The moment you step through the door, you are transported into another realm. You forget the outside world as your eyes are drawn to the TV screens playing episodes of Full Metal Alchemist. Your ears catch Queen’s “Princes of the Universe” playing over the store speakers while you spy Wolverine and Wonder Woman trying to leap from their protective plastic bags on the shelves. The magical feeling one gets when entering a comic book store cannot be matched by any other outlet.