You Got Questions? I Got Answers.
Here are my answers to the questions that ADD asked upon his triumphant return to the blogosphere.
1. Do you tend to go to the nearest store, the best store, any store, or does it matter?
I usually visit three stores in town. Borderlands which is about 5 minutes from my house, Gotham City Limits which is about 10 minutes from my office, or The Old Book Shop which is about 5 minutes from my parents house. I go to each for different things. Borderlands is probably the best place for new books. Gotham City is the place to be if you want eclectic 80's and 90's back issues or a ton of old toys, plus they have new comics and carry some stuff other stores don't. The Old Book Shop, which i've been visiting since I was 8 (I bought my first comic there) is going out of business, but it was the top spot for old back issues. You want something they most likely have it. Between those three I'm pretty much set. There is also Jerry's Book Shop located about 5 minutes from my house, but they are pretty high priced on back issues. It's like they think the collectors boom of the 90's is still in effect.
2. Ladies, what books do you tend to purchase, or what kind would you like to purchase (if you are a male please leave blank or supply what a girlfriend reads)?
3. What one thing would you add or change about your most frequented store (i.e. What is the worst thing about the store)?
Well Borderlands doesn't carry many older back issues, just recent stuff. They also don't stock any AiT/PlanetLar, Top Shelf, or Drawn and Quarterly stuff so I would change that. You can still order stuff, but they don't keep any on the shelf. Gotham City is a new store and it doesn't have a lot of new issues it can stock yet so while it has the main Marvel and DC stuff, but it sells out fast. They do stock a lot of SLG stuff though. Borderlands has a more welcome looking storefront, but both stores could do with some rearranging to maximize the walk in buy.
4. What one thing would you not change (i.e. What is the best thing about the store)?
Well like I said before Borderlands has lots of every new Marvel, DC, and Image book you want as well as recent back issues of the books. They have a healthy stock of trades and also package collections of arcs and sell them for 10% off. Gotham City Limits has an old school comic store flavor, friendly people, can get you anything you want, including keeping an eye out for old toys and other merchandise. They both have their plusses.
5. Do you read any small press comic books currently? Which one(s)? (examples: Lone Star Press, Avatar)
Depends on what's small press. I read D&Q stuff, Top Shelf, Oni, Image, occasionally Avatar, my tastes run pretty wide.
6. What back issues do you buy?
Right now I'm mainly buying old DC stuff. Looking for cheap reader copies of all the old 80 Page Giant stuff. Buying a lot of runs on E-bay. Recently bought a run of Hex, so I'm concentrating on getting some eclectic stuff.
7. How do you decide what comic book to buy? Writer, artist, character, word of mouth, etc?
All of the above. I buy X-men because I have the entire run of both main series if you count reprints like Classic X-men. So thats character. I also will buy anything Ed Brubaker or Robert Kirkman write so thats following writer. I pick up things that I hear friends or others talk about. I'm stilling looking for a copy of Street Angel #1 to read on everyone's recommendation.
8. Do you buy strictly current age comic books or do you buy older comic books? What kinds?
Both, listed my back issue purchases above. New stuff I read just about a little of everything.
9. How do you feel about graded comic books?
Couldn't care less about those sealed graded 9.0 copies. Comics are to read not look at the cover and speculate on how much it's worth. I collect because I like the stories.
10. What comic book related merchandise do you buy?
Whatever hits me at the time. Other things besides comics are usually impulse buys. Heroclix and the recent Upper Deck Vs. game were impulse buys and I've enjoyed both. I also occasionally buy figures. I enjoyed the recent Ashley Wood Spawn figures and own a couple of the Marvel Legends figures as well.
11. What do you read if you are not reading comic books?
Books. Sci-Fi, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Essays, give me anything. I'm looking forward to Dave Sedaris' new book. Other than that I read a few magazines occasionally and I enjoy perusing news and information sites online.
12. What do you buy at comic book conventions?
Artwork, Sketches, Signed books, and half price TPB's. Occasionally I'll look for that elusive back issue that I can't seem to find or I'll buy a toy or sculpture on impulse.
1. Do you tend to go to the nearest store, the best store, any store, or does it matter?
I usually visit three stores in town. Borderlands which is about 5 minutes from my house, Gotham City Limits which is about 10 minutes from my office, or The Old Book Shop which is about 5 minutes from my parents house. I go to each for different things. Borderlands is probably the best place for new books. Gotham City is the place to be if you want eclectic 80's and 90's back issues or a ton of old toys, plus they have new comics and carry some stuff other stores don't. The Old Book Shop, which i've been visiting since I was 8 (I bought my first comic there) is going out of business, but it was the top spot for old back issues. You want something they most likely have it. Between those three I'm pretty much set. There is also Jerry's Book Shop located about 5 minutes from my house, but they are pretty high priced on back issues. It's like they think the collectors boom of the 90's is still in effect.
2. Ladies, what books do you tend to purchase, or what kind would you like to purchase (if you are a male please leave blank or supply what a girlfriend reads)?
3. What one thing would you add or change about your most frequented store (i.e. What is the worst thing about the store)?
Well Borderlands doesn't carry many older back issues, just recent stuff. They also don't stock any AiT/PlanetLar, Top Shelf, or Drawn and Quarterly stuff so I would change that. You can still order stuff, but they don't keep any on the shelf. Gotham City is a new store and it doesn't have a lot of new issues it can stock yet so while it has the main Marvel and DC stuff, but it sells out fast. They do stock a lot of SLG stuff though. Borderlands has a more welcome looking storefront, but both stores could do with some rearranging to maximize the walk in buy.
4. What one thing would you not change (i.e. What is the best thing about the store)?
Well like I said before Borderlands has lots of every new Marvel, DC, and Image book you want as well as recent back issues of the books. They have a healthy stock of trades and also package collections of arcs and sell them for 10% off. Gotham City Limits has an old school comic store flavor, friendly people, can get you anything you want, including keeping an eye out for old toys and other merchandise. They both have their plusses.
5. Do you read any small press comic books currently? Which one(s)? (examples: Lone Star Press, Avatar)
Depends on what's small press. I read D&Q stuff, Top Shelf, Oni, Image, occasionally Avatar, my tastes run pretty wide.
6. What back issues do you buy?
Right now I'm mainly buying old DC stuff. Looking for cheap reader copies of all the old 80 Page Giant stuff. Buying a lot of runs on E-bay. Recently bought a run of Hex, so I'm concentrating on getting some eclectic stuff.
7. How do you decide what comic book to buy? Writer, artist, character, word of mouth, etc?
All of the above. I buy X-men because I have the entire run of both main series if you count reprints like Classic X-men. So thats character. I also will buy anything Ed Brubaker or Robert Kirkman write so thats following writer. I pick up things that I hear friends or others talk about. I'm stilling looking for a copy of Street Angel #1 to read on everyone's recommendation.
8. Do you buy strictly current age comic books or do you buy older comic books? What kinds?
Both, listed my back issue purchases above. New stuff I read just about a little of everything.
9. How do you feel about graded comic books?
Couldn't care less about those sealed graded 9.0 copies. Comics are to read not look at the cover and speculate on how much it's worth. I collect because I like the stories.
10. What comic book related merchandise do you buy?
Whatever hits me at the time. Other things besides comics are usually impulse buys. Heroclix and the recent Upper Deck Vs. game were impulse buys and I've enjoyed both. I also occasionally buy figures. I enjoyed the recent Ashley Wood Spawn figures and own a couple of the Marvel Legends figures as well.
11. What do you read if you are not reading comic books?
Books. Sci-Fi, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Essays, give me anything. I'm looking forward to Dave Sedaris' new book. Other than that I read a few magazines occasionally and I enjoy perusing news and information sites online.
12. What do you buy at comic book conventions?
Artwork, Sketches, Signed books, and half price TPB's. Occasionally I'll look for that elusive back issue that I can't seem to find or I'll buy a toy or sculpture on impulse.
