This episode has was recorded on Sunday, 3/11, and will be posted for download early on Sunday, March 18.
Stevie, Brett and I got in the lesmobile and hit three comic shops in the Chicago area, and discussed what we look for in comic shops. We also post the first two CBQ drunken booty calls we got and discuss them (Jon Suarez, yours will be in the following episode, you sexy motherfucker).
What do you look for in a local comic shop (besides hot geeks)?
I read lots of books that a mainstream store won’t carry so I depend upon a dealer’s reliability in fulfulling my order of, say, Jason Lutes’ BERLIN. As long as my neighborhood dealer is able to accept and fulfill my mlonthly order from the Diamond catalogue, I am happy. My current dealer goes above and beyond the call of duty by, say, fetching me a complete run of THE ALL-NEW ATOM if I give him a call to ask if he has any issues in stock as a friend whose taste I trust recommended it. He got the issues he didn’t have in stock from another store within a week. Now THAT’s excellent customer service.
As someone who’s just gotten back into comics less than year ago, after a lengthy hiatus, I look for staffers who give good, honest reviews of books and answer questions fairly.
For example, a comic book store I used to go to employed this guy who was notorious for trying to get customers to buy only the books he read. He’d trash whatever they were interested in and try to sell them on some obscure title. A wide knowledge base is good, but sometimes you just want a fair critique (if the sales person doesn’t like superheroes, and the customer is interested in Civil War, s/he shouldn’t say “oh that sucks” but rather, “well, if you like superheroes than you’ll probably enjoy Civil War because it deals with how different heroes have different points of view about being heroes” or “well, you might like that, but there’s a great title called Ex Machina that deals with the human side of being a superhero.” That sort of thing.).
I also like when a store is organized, and you can find most titles, back issues, etc. on your own. Receiving a discount for keep a pull list is also a nice asset. And hot employees never hurt, either.
Not having listened yet, I think that exploring different comic shops is really fun. It’s amazing how different each came be considering their primary business is all the same. Techncally, In Havard Square (the hub of my world) there are 3 and a Barnes and Noble. There are many including 2 chains in the Boston area so I’m sort of lucky. In NYC, it’s really interresting to see the differences in the stores.
The store I have my pull list at knows me and pulls extras that they think I might like. They offer a discount, but have to pay a small annual fee for it. One of the staffers is super sweet to me and another I think is HOT. I have had a crush on him for a while.
I am getting to the point economically that I may have to limit my pulls and pursue something like DCBS. I am wondering if people have tried services like DCBS and what they think are the pros and cons versus the LCS?
I look for people who aren’t obviously after my money....I know that’s what they’re ultimatley there for but I hate pushy sales people. One short lived Texas shop I had a pull list at pulled everything they thought I might possibly be interested in and gave me a guilt trip about it if I didn’t want it. I don’t want pressure.
The guys I found here in Chicago have been awesome and everything I always wanted and never got in TX. I get a friendly and loud personal greeting at the door. I feel like I belong. They’ve never screwed up my pull list like others have. When they order things they come so quick I can’t believe it. PLUS they can recommend like crazy. And tell me if something sucks and not even to bother. Which I love the honesty. Coming from a city that had no comic shop that would last this is a dream come true. Poor things feel bad too b./c they can never remember my last name to get my books. Which is understandable...half the time I can’t even pronounce it! ;-)
I’m only halfway throught the podcast but at least my call wasn’t as embarrassing as i thought it might be. and it wasn’t Arvby’s it was K F C. I was drunk on 13 herbs and spices!! HOLLA! I do have to say that it was right after i spent a night at this bar/club called Paradise. It’s close to where I live but it’s a little divey. They have strippers and the older men spend their money on them and the boys only seem to chat the daddy whorebucks. anyway i had been drinking a little vodka and the only guys that hit on me where not one but 2 5 ft tall asian guys. I’m picky I’ll admit and yes I had had a thing for people of many different nationalities and races but neither really doid it for me. So i left and of course as soon as i leave I have to pee. so i realized waiting til i got home was a bad idea, i ended up going behind this Vietamese resturant by their dumpster. Of course the dumpster smelled like day old tuna. hey at least it wouldn’t smell like pee. that’s when i called you guys. AFTER all of that.
K F C.... Paradise.... a little divey… strippers ... whorebucks...5 ft tall asian guys… going behind this Vietamese resturant by their dumpster… day old tuna.... rock star lifestyle IN EFFECT!
With Brett oozing over the Emma Frost figure it made me think about my street corner...you know the one with me, big titties, in an Emma Frost costume....
But, there’s a shop called the Gay-mart on the corner of Cornelia and Halsted in Chicago that this guy HEARTS his action figures and statues and is usually the first one to get the new ones. And if he doesn’t have it, I’ll be damned if he doesn’t find it!
The whole window I walk past every time I go down the street is all statues...phoenix, rogue, emma, dark phoniex....I could go on and on...PLUS he has a layaway plan. And the wife wonders why I won’t ever go in there!
He’s also the only retailer I know who has all the Kingdom Heart figures! Which one of these days I need to collect!
I could go on...but if you’re in town and haven’t checked it out...do. It’s a great little quirky shop as are most in Boystown. And one that I think is worth supporting.
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Also: Chicago Comics is ICK!! I can’t believe you actually went in there. Brett and Steve, I don’t know if it’s a location thing or what but I will walk 20 minutes down the street to Graham Crackers for some decent service as well as good selection. Chicago Comics, yes, has more off the wall, but those people make me feel like an outsider in there which is not a good way to start a relationship. I can’t wait to check out Evil Squirrel and Brainstorm. But again, I love my guys that are fun loving, have read all the books before they barely have opened on Wednesday, and loooove having a girl!!
Well, Chicago Comics carries my work, so I quite like them. :) Also, Evil Squirrel has never gotten around to carrying STICKY so they are on my Coal At Xmas list… The Brainstorm guy was super-friendly when I sent him my “carry my book, please” spam but I haven’t checked in to follow through.
I hear ya Linds. But I kinda like Chicago Comics more and more. Their selection is so awesome. The guys at Graham Cracker are super nice. But, of course, it comes down to my usual deciding factor...boys. I have such a crush on CC’s manager. He’s soooo cute and quirky and twitchy and funny. I just wanna....um, I’ll stop.
But Sean and Robert from Evil Squirrel and Brainstorm were more awesome. Unfortunately they don’t have the tweaked out indy rock thing going on that drives me wild.
I love how you kids were talking like you were working for Nicky Fury himself in Chicago Comics.
BRETT do NOT be mean to Sue Storm. Read, as I have said before, Marvel Knights 4. Admitting, the FF situation was my Civil War gripe. Reed was writen weird and Sue should have had a defining moment in there.
I just got to listen to this episode. UltXavier: I have a crush on you now.
Loved learning about the different comic shops. There are several here in Cleveland, but I think I lucked out with Carol and John’s Comics. HUGE store, super-friendly staff who knows their shit (with a couple of cuties in the mix) and they have a great pull list discount program. I don’t think the usual guy at the counter wears a cock ring, though. He did sip his Snapple rather suggestively once, however.
PS—Stevie—your signature brought a tear to my eye. As it falls slowly down my face, it feels like the touch of your shorn scrotum.
