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Highlights from my Comic Shop Tour
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This past Labor Day, while being in the midst of an extreme TMNT phase, I got thirsty for some new Ninja Turtle material. Needing to get my fix of new TMNT comics without waiting for a delivery, I decided to tour my local stomping grounds and visit some comic shops outside my usual circles. The list of comic shops that I visited is nowhere near exhaustive, but I did discover a few places that, while not catering to my specific needs at the time, were nonetheless good sound establishments that could no doubt serve my interests in the future. What follows are the highlights of this journey.
First, there was the Atomic Comics at 3155 W. Chandler Blvd. in Chandler, AZ. It took me a little while to finally locate the shop, because its actually a part of the grandiose mall there, just west of the 101 and on the south side of the mega-complex. But I persevered and finally spotted Atomic's familiar bio-hazard logo. What struck me at first was the space, of which there was a lot. Oft times comic shops tend to be cluttered nooks in a strip mall with barely any room to breathe, let alone browse, but this Atomic location was nice and roomy. Atomic tends to have an extensive selection of new comics, and little in the way of back issues, and this one too met that standard. Yet I was able to procure a few coveted items that day. Its clean and spacious atmosphere made it a comfort to stroll and peruse.
Next, there was Samurai Comics with its two locations: 5024 N. 7th St. and 10720 W. Indian School Rd. The thing that stood out for me, at the 7th St. location at least, was that it had tile floors. I don't know why, but I liked that. Gave the place a trendy ambiance that isn't often associated with comic shops. I went to the Indian School location on a Saturday when, unfotunately, the store was hosting an RPG card game. I understand this group makes up a good percentage of their business, but it was very cramped that day and made it difficult to browse the shelves. Fortunately, the manners of the young man that rang up my items more than made up for the crowded atmosphere. A good place to shop, if you can avoid the card gamer crowd.
On a whim, I stopped at an unassuming little shop called Greg's Comics at 2722 S. Alma School Rd. in Mesa. I wasn't really sure what to expect from this establishment, since it appeared to be one of those cluttered strip mall nooks I mentioned earlier. But I was delighted to discover that it was a plentiful and accessible resource, though, yes, a little cluttered. One can be daunted at first by its arrangement, because everything appears to be thrown slapdash on large folding tables, but the proprietor has a wealth of back issues and maintains a good selection of new comics. Greg's, by far, yielded the best results in my TMNT hunt, and the service was extremely polite. I highly recommend giving Greg's a stop.
Lastly, I have to give the Barnes and Noble at 4847 E. Ray Rd an honorable mention. Not usually an establishment I turn to when I need to find a comic, but I can't help but be impressed by their selection of trades. More than just the hot items from the Big Two, this B&N location must have a savvy employee that understands the sequential art medium because somebody's taking the time to spruce up their selection with more diverse titles. Whatever the case may be, a shopper can find some interesting material here.
I had a great deal of fun touring the Valley of the Sun and finding out what was available to us comic readers. As I explained, my stops were not exhaustive, and there's still a great deal of comic book stores to check out. In the meantime, if you find yourself in the areas that I mentioned above, give these establishments a chance and perhaps score some choice reading material, not to mention helping out the local economy a bit. Happy reading to you all!
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