Where do you get your comics, etc.?

[dlw66]

I have a couple of shops I frequent.

In the past I have used Westfield, Mile High, and M&M to get my comics shipped to me -- I had pleasant experiences with all three companies.

[Bored Yesterday]

I used to go to comic shop, but since I quit buying new comics, I mostly shop for my Avengers back issues on eBay, but have recently been scowering a local antique mall for 1980s Marvels of all kinds. If I was going to start buying new comics again, I would probably order online because I've seen some really good discount plans. Too bad about local business and all that - -but new comics cost too much as it is.

[dlw66]

My discount is only 10%, but then I only buy 5-6 books a month and the occasional tpb or action figure. If I bought more it would be a higher reduction. The shop I go to is convenient, as it is only one mile from my school.

[Tone-Loc]

I have been meaning to ask this question for a while. Since rekindling my love of comics over the last year or so, I have finally decided to take up a regular title(s) again. But I wasn't sure of the best way to do it, or which titles I would be most pleased with.

When I was younger, mid-1980's, I had two direct mail subscriptions from Marvel for Avengers and G.I.Joe. If I ever wanted to get something else, or pick up annuals, etc... it was either the drug store in town, or the flea market.

I have never frequented comic shops, there weren't any in my hometown growing up, but there are a couple of shops in town that don't do comics exclusively, or at least not anymore from what I gather. I tried checking out Waldenbooks or Barnes&noble and the seemed to only be good for major TPB's.

I am thinking about picking up Captain America, and the Omega Flight LS (unless that is USAgent ... who I hate... and not Cap). I won't be partaking in New Avengers (Dissassembled and the first 12 NA on my Avengers DVD-ROM, have pretty much ruled that out), but I am considering Mighty Avengers.

Any suggestions?

[dlw66]

As I said, the three firms I've dealt with are all nice folks with whom to do business. I particularly had a good experience with M&M, but then they are only 45 minutes north of me so I could go in and pick up my books sometimes. I would also see Mike (the owner) at the Chicago Con each year.

To me the only drawback to Internet ordering is that you do it on a charge card. I found the "buy now, pay later (and later and later... sometimes "caused" me to buy more than I should have.

[Doctor Bong]

toneloc: even though I haven't read Captain America's current run (I'm one of those people who like as a rule like him better in the Avengers than in his own title...), I've read many members of the board expressing their high regard for it so, If I were such a big fan of Cap as you seem to be, I would start there.

[thew40]

Land of Cran comics here in Canton.

~W~

[Shiryu]

"I download them from the internet, check if they are worth it and then buy them" is not among the options, eh ? ;D
Skipping stage 1, I get them from a Forbidden Comic comic shop.

[dlw66]

Shiryu = wise consumer

-OR-

Shiryu = scoundrel

Debate!!!

[Tana Nile]

We have a pretty good comic shop nearby that we go to (much better than the one I worked in as a teen, but that's a whole other story). I get my new books there, as well as occasional back issues and TPB. For recent books I can't get at the shop, I will sometimes use Mile High. I find they do not gouge on the new stuff, only the older stuff. Sometimes if MH is having a particularly good sale, I'll get some older stuff from them. But I have used Ebay a lot for older books, both as a buyer and seller. You take your chances for sure, but for the most part, it has turned out well for me.

The one thing that I really have to look out for is those 70's Marvels with the infamous Marvel Value Stamps. I've been burned a few times on books where the stamp has been cut out, taking a piece of story with it!

[daned]

Quality Comics, the best (and only) shop in WA. The owner may be an accountant, but all the employees love comics and enjoy gabbing.

[redstatecap]

Two ways.
First, I hit the local comic shop once a month or so. I'm not buying any current books, but there are one or two titles I browse for discussion purposes. When I do that I usually pick up a back-issue or two to make it worth the shop's while.
Second, I hit the local Half-Price Books stores. Back issues are cheap, and if you get to them before they get rummaged through too much they're usually in good shape. I've picked up the majority of Vols. 2 and 3 of Cap as well as the Avengers that way.

RSC

[Black Knight]

I used to go to a comic shop, but it is over 40 miles away, more then an hour round trip, and so I found an internet place to buy my comics. I know save 38% one each comic, and sometimes up to 50%, with the occasion special like Fallen Son: Captain America for only .74 cents.

It is a nice deal that has let me expand into more independent comics like Red Sonja, and Star Wars, will still spending less then I did at the comic store.

[shandon]

I get my weekly fix from my local dealer. At least, almost weekly. There are occasional weeks that none of my titles on hold are in.

For back issues, my local dealer again has a room filled with "previously viewed" comics. I also hit local comic conventions and toy shows. Ebay as a last resort.

I don't consider Shiryu a scoundrel. I've been known to do it once or twice myself if I'm not sure a new title will be good, or if there's a crossover and I don't really want to buy the title I don't normally buy. It's led to spending more money than it has saved in the long run.

[iastagehand]

I get my weekly fix EVERY week at a local shop called Big B Comics. They are cool guys and have a in-house sub. service (pull list). i get a discount of 25% only because I am a huge geek and get over 50 or so titles a month. Starting to scale back though

[tonythor63]

I used to go weekly to my LCS. There are several really good ones here in town.
But I decided that I liked the tpb format better so I just order mine online from instocktrades.com. They give you a 35% discount and free shipping if you buy up to a certain amount.
So every other month or so I just go online and order a bunch of tpb's.
This past week I bought:
Avengers Galactic Storm #2
Champions #2
FF (john byrne) #6
FF(george perez) #2
New Teen Titans Archives #3
Astonishin X-men #3

I still do have a pull at one of the LCS just so I can buy my statues and other comic realted stuff at a discount.
They are really good to me over there.

I only have DC's 52 on my pull list right now.


Tony

[Yellowjacket]

shiryu said:

&Skipping stage 1, I get them from a Forbidden Comic comic shop.

Why "Forbidden"?

[Yellowjacket]

I buy my regular titles on my local comic shop. As I´m reading 95% percent US books nowadays (I´m still buying the German editions of Avengers books, too) it is clear I have to go to a comic shop, as no normal shop will have US books over here.
I´m told that you still can buy US books at international newspaper kiosks (railway etc.), but they have ludicrous high prices.
I only get about 5 to 10 percent discount from my dealer (and that only thanks to the Euro/USD rate), but these international kiosks take 6 Euros and more for a USD 2.99 book!

The backissues (70s/80s) I´m buying sometimes on German eBay or German internet dealers, but the majority of them on eastcoastcomics.com and newkadia.com. Both dealers have high quality books for often very low prizes. And very fair shipping costs.

[Nutcase65]

I do most of my shopping with impulsecreations.net since I live an hour from the nearest comic shop. Postage is cheaper than gas
For back issues I have just started getting into the scanned dvd collections that are available. I really like the format. I've always been more of a fan of having the stories to read and don't have to have 'perfect hard copies' of everything.

[Shiryu]

yellowjacket said:

shiryu said:

&Skipping stage 1, I get them from a Forbidden Comic comic shop.

Why "Forbidden"?

Ask whoever came up with the name of the store
It's actually a pretty famous chain of comics store over here, do they have stores somewhere else in the world to anyone's knowledge ?

[The Night Phantom]

shiryu said:

I get them from a Forbidden Comic comic shop.

yellowjacket said:

Why "Forbidden"?

shiryu said:

Ask whoever came up with the name of the store
It's actually a pretty famous chain of comics store over here, do they have stores somewhere else in the world to anyone's knowledge ?

Is Forbidden Comic related to the chain Forbidden Planet? Allegedly the Forbidden Planet chain is split among two separate proprietors; between them, they have stores throughout the United Kingdom, as well as in Dublin and New York City. The Forbidden Planet stores are named for one of the great science-fiction films of all time—perhaps one of the great films of all time from any genre, period.

[Shiryu]

It's more than related, it's them !
I'm getting old (-_-) and I confused Forbidden Planet with Forbidden Comic. Thanks for refreshing my memory.