An Ode to the LCS...

[markpoa]

One of my favorite Internet columns right now is ReTales by Jud Meyer over at Comics101.com. It's also featured as a regular column over at Comic Book Resources. It's a great look at the behind-the-counter operations of a comic book store. But more than that, Jud writes several heart-warming stories about his regular customers, comic book fans

Comments

[angelophile]

I guess I've been lucky in my comic store experiences. I always used to pick up reprint titles when I was younger and, eventually, graduated to a store, Wonderworld, which was based in the nearest decent sized town. On occasion I'd pop across with my parents. I never had enough disposable income to really get into comics at the time, though, and although the store was just down the road when I was at college, I didn't spend much in there.

I ended up going away to college and used to keep up with my comic book reading by visiting the library, which had a large graphic novel section. I wasn't a regular reader of anything and, on occasion, used to pop into the local store (Alan Moore's local as well, apparent) and pick up the occasional graphic novel or collected volume (mostly Cerebus the Aardvark).

I can't honestly remember what got me into comics again. I think it was when I was working again, had disposable income and popped into the local store near where I worked and picked up an X-men trade. I know I got into Chamber as a

[axolotl_lan]

There were three in my area, one made you drop your back pack and generally treated you like a thief and technically anyone under 11 wasn't allowed in the store (I had c's at that age so I got in - my friends not so much). The second was more a used bookstore with ocmics. I only went there one year because my friends worked there. The owner was terrible

[melisus]

Comic shops are rare in my area. There's just the one that I know of, Planet Hobby, that I frequent every week. It's a small shop placed a bit out of the way inside a mall, which means it gets rather crowded if there are more than five people inside the store... and a lot of things are stacked upwards in order to make more room, which is a disadvantaged for someone short like me. But it's a good store, and the owner is a great guy. I had a lot of reservations venturing into the store because of stigma I'd experienced in the past being a girl into traditionally "nerdy guy" things, but he's always been cool and nice and eager to chat.

That's about the only shop I frequent, though my uncle lives just down the street from The Blue Snail (I think that's what it's called) which is supposed to be the largest comic shop in the GTA, so I've wanted to head downtown to his place and check it out for a while. Mainly because I'd really like some Watchmen figures (I NEED an Ozymandias!) and my local shop doesn't really have anything.

[axolotl_lan]

(It's the Silver Snail - that was my first comicbookstore ever. Great place- heroes painted on the wall outside right - Plus they do have all the recent watchmen figures there and even have a life size rorschach in the front display window right now)

[melisus]

Yeah, that's the one. *is an idiot*

I hate living out in Mississauga sometimes; I've really got to get down there. I've heard they carry Doctor Who stuff too sometimes.

[axolotl_lan]

When I was there last week I saw a sonic screwdriver, and some action figures including one from sarah jane adventures. I am back in comics exile though no silver snail or LCBS world's collide until May for me.

[kali921]

I've patronized Rory Root's Comic Relief for years and years. (RIP, Rory.) Given that it's one of the most well-stocked comic bookstores in the entire world (and Rory referred to Comic Relief as a "comic bookstore," not a "comic book sore") and given how well known Rory was in the industry, shopping there was (and is) always a wonderful experience.

Rory was well known for making his store welcoming to women (and kids!) and also for hiring female staff. He really, really took care of his customers, too; I remember walking in the Thursday that Captain America #25 came out, knowing that the store would likely already be sold out of it, and while I went to pull the rest of my weekly haul from the shelves, Rory came up to me and handed me an issue and told me that although the issue had sold out hours ago, he'd set aside an issue for me because he knew that I'd want it. He was absolutely wonderful that way

[axolotl_lan]

Wow, sounds like a fantastic place, I'm glad you'd had somewhere so good for you and it's customers!

... and I really get the emma frost thing. Took me a bit to realize it was the same one I read at the library and enjoyed, but had been repelled from in the store... because my local library removed the covers giving it a laminate protector.

[ashezfanficrecs]

I remember when I was about 10-11 I was only getting Star Wars comics and Generation X, but the comic store owner kept recommending Impulse to me.... No, this doesn't end with me buying it and having a life changing comic book experience. I looked at the cover once, thought Bart's hair looked stupid, and went and bought another Star Wars comic.

Have you ever wanted to go back in time and smack yourself in the back of the head really hard?

[badficwriter]

I read Sandman #1 when it first came out and went "Hmm..ho hum." Put it back on the shelf.

Next month, the poor lonely thing was still there. It had been kinda mystical, so I read the second issue. When I realized John Constantine would be showing up, I immediately picked it and the first one up.

Got lucky there. ;)