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How close is your nearest comic shop?

murphy

19:19 / 20.02.07

I don't remember if it was here, or in CBG, or some on-line article, but someone wrote about one of the causes of the ever-faltering comic industry being a lack of outlets at which one could buy comics.

The article/posting (whatever it was) reminisced on the days when every Mom and Pop, drug store, convenience store, and market had comics on display.

And that got me wondering: where is your (yes, you) local comic shop?

For me, the closest proper comic store is Aquilonia, in Troy, NY, about an hour away from my home in southwestern Vermont, USA.

Although, right here in town there is the Beverage Den where one can find alcohol in various forms, tobacco in various forms, porn, news, t-shirts, snacks, and some comics (mainly the most mainstream from DC, Marvel, and surprisingly, Dark Horse and Bongo).

How far do you have to travel for your funny book fix?

Benny the Ball

19:26 / 20.02.07

Well - for me the closest was about 2 miles away in Stretham, and then after that it's probably Avalon Comics on Lavender Hill - which i used to go to when I was younger, but haven't been to in years. Now it's all central London - so the one near New Oxford St, on Charring Cross Road? or Forbidden Planet - but FP is too big and not local feeling enough for me to enjoy it.

Mr Tricks

19:46 / 20.02.07

I guess I'm lucky. There's a comic shop a couple of miles from where I work, so it's easy to swing by on my lunch break. There is also an even nicer one just walking distance from my home where I can stroll on over on weekends or evening (they have decent evening hours). This one's also a solid game shop and offers a great selection of DVDs.

Benny the Ball

20:20 / 20.02.07

When Mrs the Ball and I talk about where to live when we try LA out, Eagle Rock is often mentioned, because it has a great comic shop opposite the trader joes.

the credible hulk

20:46 / 20.02.07

There's a little shop right behind my house, but over the years it's become more of a hobby/collectables place, and it hardly stocks comics these days, but they're great for back issues.

For new stuff, there's a pretty great place called Carry On Comics about 15 minutes away on foot.

Corey Waits

20:57 / 20.02.07

My nearest comic store is about 80kms away. My nearest good comic store is about 1000kms away, but luckily they have a great online store, so I can just order my monthly fix.

Sniv

21:07 / 20.02.07

My comic store is across the street from my flat. I moved in this past weekend, and yes, the close proximity of the store was a deciding factor in renting the place. It's the same shop I've used all my comics-buying life, a really nice, scummy geek ridden palace of delights, and now it's practically next door!

Billuccho!

22:18 / 20.02.07

My current shop is about three miles down the road, but that's 'cause it's a college town. There's a crappier one even closer, but I don't bother with them.

Back in the day my closest shop was 40 miles away, so I feel pretty lucky these days.

Make me Uncomfortable

22:48 / 20.02.07

I must be lucky because my nearest comic-shop is just a block and a half away- its actually a comic book store, and then up the street a puzzle/RPG store (same name and owners). Then again, that street is right between the two biggest and geekiest colleges in Pittsburgh, so it makes sense that they would be there, and that they have a pretty healthy business. Yay!

matthew.

01:13 / 21.02.07

My comic shop is far away, other side of the city, and there's hardly any parking. The good news? The owner (and only employee) has known me since I was, like, nine, so he gives me sweet deals. The bad news? Smelly weird guys in the store because it's in a bad neighbourhood. These smelly weird guys run the gamut from silent, to muttering, to espousing on theories about hypertime. Gross.

■

08:36 / 21.02.07

A sort walk up the road (about 5 minutes), but I tend not to buy much there, as it's a Forbidden Planet with "No Reading" signs on the shelves, utterly shit loud music, surly staff and way too many toys.
Instead I get most of my stuff mail order from Page 45. As a teenager, I used to really look forward to the occasional trip to Oxford (about 40 miles) to buy comics and games stuff and really made a big event of it. Having comics on tap has rather lessened the mystique for me. Either that or having to pay rent and becoming an old curmudgeon.

ONLY NICE THINGS

09:17 / 21.02.07

My comic shop is really close. I asked them the other day when Civil War 7 was coming out. They refused to tell me.

Janean Patience

09:34 / 21.02.07

I'm really, really close to my comic shop. We're going on holiday together this year.

murphy

11:34 / 21.02.07

Aww... that's sweet.

TimCallahan

11:55 / 21.02.07

My local comic book shop is only three miles down the road.

Hey Murphy, it's located in Pittsfield, MA, by the way, and it looks like you're in Bennington if you're near the Beverage Den. So my local shop might be closer to you than the one in Troy. You should check it out some time. It's called Fantasy Realms, and (no suprise) the place looks shady, but the owner is a super nice guy who will make sure you're taken care of.

CameronStewart

12:39 / 21.02.07

The comic shop I usually go to is about 2 blocks from my studio (which itself is only 2 blocks from my apartment). There's another one about 15 minutes' walk away.

COBRAnomicon!

13:24 / 21.02.07

South Minneapolis is comic-shop heaven. There's a functional-but-not-great shop about a mile from my office, and a better one maybe a mile and a half away. And a world-class awesome one maybe two miles away, but requiring some annoying downtown parking. It's probably dumb, but I try to spread my purchases out between the three to support 'em all.

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