My favorite comic book store anecdote:
Back a few years ago, I was in Dallas, visiting Chris Maka, and we went to Titan Comics. I was still at the tail end of my accumulating-back-issue days, and I picked out a few very early LSH stories, including (as I recall), an Adventure Comics #300, a couple of random tattered Marvel Family, a few other things.
The store owner saw what I was buying and asked if there was anything else he could help me with.
Just offhandedly, I said, "I don't suppose you've got any Brave & Bold #28?" [The first appearance of the Justice League of America.]
He said, proudly, "Of course we do" and proceeded to pull out a very nice copy.
I've always regretted that I had already exceeded my budget and decided not to get the book. 'Cause how can't you love a guy who, when you ask for a rare, key book, is almost amused that you'd think he wouldn't have it.
What's your favorite comic book store anecdote?
Posted by Greg at August 17, 2007 11:07 AM
My favorite comic store anecdote was when I was browsing in a store, and a couple of guys were huddled over a copy of Giant Size X-Men #1, in a very nice display, and the one guy was saying that he had just made his last payment on the issue. I looked at the guy, pointed at the 35 cent cover price, and said "thats what I paid for mine".
It's not always that great getting old, but you got the cool old stuff when it was new...
Once I checked out at a comic book shop and I WASN'T INSULTED BY A FAT SMELLY GUY. Amazing but true.
I was browsing through some miscellaneous back issue bins and stumbled on Dazzler #1. It was encased in a hard mylar envelope and priced at $20.00. Curious, I took it to the two guys behind the counter and asked why it was priced so high.
They just smiled and one told me that I could have it for free. Apparently, they just wanted to see if anyone would comment if they threw in a conspicuous item like that.
I always thought that was pretty funny. Although if I'd just purchased it without comment, maybe they would have just taken the money? (I doubt it, they were pretty good guys).
Still have the issue in its fancy package.
I once ordered a Bulldog Cafe cookie jar (from the Rocketeer movie and comic).
6 weeks later, I asked about it.
7 weeks later, I asked about it.
8 weeks later, I asked about it.
10 weeks later (I missed a week), I asked about it.
"Oh, that came in last week and I sold it. Was it for you?"
So I slit the *%##@)(*&^%'s throat and I have been on the run ever since.
(A true story...except for the throat slitting. The following week, I found a different comics shop, even though it was 15 miles out of my way.)
Best comic book store anecdote: In 1994 or 1995, I went to a small comics convention in Portland, ME to help out a friend who owned a comic shop. The guest of honor was Dick Ayers and, since none of the little fanboys were interested in life before McFarlane, I got to have a nice long conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Ayers.
Worst comic book store anecdote: A dealer--at whose store I'd been shopping for a few years--sold my reserved Superman and Justice League titles to another customer (who normally only collected Marvel) because they were "Death of Superman" issues. He promised to get more copies in for me, but never did. The speculator probably never even took the books out of their bags. I had been buying and reading those titles monthly for a long time, but had to wait for the trade paperback collection. Sure, the Death of Supes storyline sucked, but that's not the point.
I had a great relationship with the owner of Metropolis Comics in Normal, IL. Good guy, so I don't mind plugging him, although I have no idea if the store still exists. He did a lot of small favors for me, and we had some good conversations on stuff. But my favorite memory was bringing in the Wall Street Journal that had a front page article on the Spider-Clone disaster. Four guys in a comic shop discussing the WSJ was a unique experience.