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Best Comic Book Shops In Los Angeles
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Los Angeles is, among other things, heaven for geeks. Nerdvana. Back in the dark ages before the Internet (ask your parents), if you lived in a small town, you were screwed, blued and tattooed when it came to finding comics. But if you lived in LA, you had a wonderland of choices.
Today, of course, geeks are celebrated at massive blow-outs like Comic-Con, you can find vintage comics within seconds on eBay, and grown men and women go to movies about Batman and Spider-Man without embarrassment.
But there are still some pretty great comics shops in LA. This top five isn't for anyone looking for the kind of place catering to the graphic novel afficionado, the hipster who looks down on capes and tights. These are the places you go to get your grubby paws on a mylar-wrapped treasure, where they appreciate the difference between the Silver and the Golden Age, where DC vs. Marvel still means something. This is the authentic comic-book world of LA. Enjoy.
5. Dreamworld Comics -- 12400 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles -- Sort of off the beaten path, but Dreamworld has new and back issues, trades and hardbacks. They even have a vintage ROM toy under glass. Where it really wins out, however, is the decor. They have a Batcave. A frigging BATCAVE. That adds a lot of points.
4. House of Secrets -- 1930 W. Olive Ave., Burbank -- This place takes its name from classic DC comics series, which totally ups the geek cred. It also has a good selection of new and recent releases, as well as some hard-to-find back issues.The staff is almost ridiculously friendly, willing to throw in bags and boards and offer suggestions and help for both newbies and experts.
3. Golden Apple Comics --Two locations: 7018 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles and 8967 Reseda Blvd., Northridge -- Maybe the best known shop in LA. Features lots of demi-celebs shopping, along with regular movie nights, signings and guest appearances. Selection is a little thinner at the new Melrose location, however.
2. Meltdown Comics & Collectibles -- 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles -- Big, well-lit, and filled with toys, Meltdown might have the biggest collection of trade paperbacks in town. It's also a good place to go to find multiple copies of the hot new releases which tend to sell out at other spots. Comic-book movie producer Don Murphy shops here, and the store's mascot was designed by indie creator Dan Clowes.
1. Hi De Ho Comics and Books With Pictures -- 525 Santa Monica Boulevard , Santa Monica -- Somehow, Hi De Ho always manages to get overlooked in most "best-of" lists, which is a crying shame. Maybe the geeks are trying to keep this one to themselves. But a sizable back-issue collection, tons of mainstream and rare graphic novel collections, and plenty of weird stuff tucked away in corners make it the clear winner for selection and quality. The staff is friendly and helpful, industry professionals get discounts, and if you stop by on Wednesday, you might see King of the Nerds Joss Whedon taking home his stack of new comics.
Your mileage may vary. Check them out for yourself.
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