Biggest Comic Book Stores?10749
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| Are These The 25 Biggest Comic Book Stores in the USA? Posted on December 14, 2019 | by Rich Johnston clickable text  The other month Diamond Comic Distributors accidentally leaked the names, contact details and a series of figures for over two thousand of their accounts. Dubbed Marvel.xls it has been interpreted to reflect each and every store’s Marvel orders on average for the month and for the year as a whole. There are inconsistencies, the list only has one store listed for some chains, every store listed for others, and we have identified many stores – such as those in the UK – are missed out entirely. And some order numbers posted are glitchingly small, such as the well-known comics retailer who is only meant to order $7 of Marvel comics a month. Nevertheless, given all those provisos, here is a look at the top twenty-five stores on the list, in order of amount.. ordered. Possibly no surprise, it is the big online operations that take the top. Midtown who, as well as their multiple stores in New York, also manage Marvel direct subscriptions and comp copies sent out to creators, reviewers, and other individuals – though whether that goes through Diamond and gets picked up on this list is unknown. 1. DCBS – online comic store. 2. Midtown Comics – Times Square, New York 3. Lone Star – now online store MyComicShop 4. Graham Crackers/Naperville, comic chain 5. Distribution Universe -online store Universal Distribution 6. Newbury Comics, comic c*hain in Newbury 7. Unknown Comics – online store. 8. Michael J. Lerner, owner of Pulp Fiction comic book store in Long Beach 9. Things From Another World, Portland comic store with large online presence and tied to Dark Horse Comics. 10. Coliseum Of Comics – Florida based chain. 11. Third Eye Comics – Maryland based chain 12. Comics Elite – online store 13. Bedrock City Comic Co, Texas comic chain 14. Comics-N-Stuff, San Diego/Nevada comic chain 15. The Westfield Company, online store 16. C. P. Klop Holding – Owner of Cheap-Comics online store 17. New England Comics, comic chain in New England 18. Carolina Comics, – Ultimate Comics in North Carolina 19. Specialty Distribution Inc of allied bookstores under Beyda And Associates 20. The Comic Mint, online store. 21. Painted Visions Comics & Cards or Woodbridge, Virginia. 22. New Dimension Comics – Cranberry, comic chain in Pennsylvania. 23. Kinokuniya Bookstores, Japanese-based retailer chain across USA. 24. Sci-Fi Genre – now Atomic Empire comic store in North Carolina. 25. Double Header – comic store in Arkansas. |
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 I hear their hourly rate is outrageous!
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sportshort private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Interesting... no Mile High...? I always figured they were among the largest in the country. | ||
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etapi65 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Mile high would have to be on this list. I also think online stores should not count. They need a physical location. Edit: Ah, I see now. This is based only on data for current comic orders from marvel. So it's the 25 largest month-to-month Marvel volume buyers of current comics. |
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GanaSoth private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Hey! #18 - Carolina Comics aka Ultimate Comics (in Chapel Hill & Raleigh, NC) are the shops frequent. #20 - The Comic Mint - Great Job! |
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manfred_spain private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Since it is based on the ordering of Marvel products "...on average for the month and for the year as a whole," I suppose these all order more new product than Mile High. I totally agree, though, that the list shouldn't include online only stores. |
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 I had no way of knowing that 9.8 graded copies signed by Adam Hughes weren't what you were looking for.
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drchaos private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Been to both of these. Not only do they have huge stores but multiple locations as well. 2. Midtown Comics – Times Square, New York 11. Third Eye Comics – Maryland based chain |
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manfred_spain private msg quote post Address this user | |
| I've been to Mile High, and it is like Disney World. It has to be the largest single location for a comic shop - by square footage anyway. | ||
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 If the viagra is working you should be well over a 9.8.
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xkonk private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Dudes, the first paragraph of the story tells you that the data are complete garbage. No use in reading past it. | ||
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OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user | |
| The title is a question... "Are These The 25 Biggest Comic Book Stores in the USA?" I sometimes look for new stores to shop at. This article simply throws out some larger places to check out. Enjoy! |
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GanaSoth private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @xkonk it's still a good conversation piece. | ||
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 -Our Odin-Rest in Peace |
Jesse_O private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Anyone ever use Universal Distribution? I have never even heard of them. While I love the fact that a few of my favorite stores are on there, it's far from being an accurate list. In regards to it counting online stores, they pretty much have to. MCS is totally online now I believe. If I recall correctly, they shut down the last Lonestar Comic store about 3 years ago. And The Comic Mint is in the process of moving to a larger building so they can hold all their inventory and have the room needed to do orders. This is the third or fourth move for them since they opened. Just counting brick and mortar stores is unrealistic in this day and age. Mile High is the largest brick and mortar comic book store. MCS is the largest online comic book store. |
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Doc_Cop private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Heading to Austin next month, anyone have a suggestion for a good LCS? | ||
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-Our Odin- Rest in Peace |
Jesse_O private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Reading what I posted, the point I wanted to make about online stores isn't clear. So, simply put, large online stores still need a building for their business. TCM started out with just Steven and maybe a helper or two, but it has quickly grown in size and scope. Calling them, or MCS just an online store is kind of misleading. I kind of like "comic book warehouse" as a description for those stores. | ||
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Quote:Originally Posted by Doc_Cop The pickings have gotten slimmer over time here in Austin, but for sure you would want to hit Austin Books and Comics (https://www.austinbooks.com/). In one strip center, they have a comic store, art store, gaming store, and currently a sidekick store with a bunch of reduced priced stuff. They have the biggest back stock in town. Another large store is Dragon's Lair, but they are mostly new stuff and tons of gaming. |
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Doc_Cop private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @Manfred. Thanks for the info. I'll be sure to stop. | ||
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gmellos private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Comics N Stuff on El Cajon blvd in the San Diego is an amazing store. I have my pull list there! | ||
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Jabberwookie private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Jesse_O That sounds about right. There were a dozen or so Lonestar Comics for the longest time. I always had good experiences. But, for at least 10years, they were the only game in town for my basic area. Now, I can count about 10 places within 20 miles of me. I wish I knew what that meant for the future of comics. I've had great experiences buying from MCS, though. |
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 Masculinity takes a holiday.
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EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by OGJackster I have to take a minute to point this out. When I met him 15 years ago he was sitting all alone in his tiny little store playing with his navel. But to his credit, the dude decided to do something about his predicament. Started selling heavily discounted new subscriptions online and in store. Works on tiny profit margins but now has two locations with several employees who just pack and ship constantly. For a while they had to shut the store down on Tuesdays to handle the logistics of new comic day. I had no idea he was number 8 for Diamond. I appreciate an LCS that finds a way, against all odds. |
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AndyRexia private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by GanaSoth I never realized you were so close. I used to frequent Ultimate Comics in Raleigh. |
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Arak private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Doc_Cop Hey Doc while I am a big fan of Bedrock and Lonestar - arent they called mycomicshop ebayseller and Jesse?. I thought that they still have the one BIG lonestar and the online is MCS anyway doenst matter DOC . IF I was only going to reccomend ONE in Austin for and out of state visitor it would be Austin Books and Comics Address: 5002 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78751 Phone: +1 512 454 4197 Hours: 11AM–7PM Huge selection of TPB comics graphic, toys , models You will have a good time .. wish you were coming to Houston we would take you for a steak and tour some of my favs here I just scrolled up and saw manfreds rec. He is absolutely correct. The Dragons lair is an OK second more slanted toward gamers... Stick with Austins Books . They have everything |
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Doc_Cop private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Thanks @Arak! Will be sure to check out Austin's Books & Comics. Next trip to Houston steaks on me for a tour of your haunts! | ||
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Arak private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Doc_Cop NO SIR ... Hell no.. I see what your trying to do.... go back home , start talking down about them Texans. " I haul my butt there and that Arak couldn't even cook me a steak and a cold one with a side of Barbecue corn on the cob, grilled sweet onion and grilled Portobello mushroom .. Not on my watch and just FYI that steak is going to be a 1.5 pound 2 inch thick T-Bone cooked medium rare and seasoned to perfection aka Hardly at all. edit- the tour is part of the package- damn man , This aint Oklahoma. in fact just do like you do for one of those all inclusive packages. pay to get here. leave your wallet at home. OH and I forget there will be hot peach and blackberry cobbler for desert top off with Texas world famous BLUE BELL ice cream |
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-Our Odin- Rest in Peace |
Jesse_O private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @Arak I wasn't 100% sure of Lone Star, but I just googled it. According to wiki, Lone Star closed their last store in 2013. So it's been longer than I thought, but they only sell online now. | ||
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Jabberwookie private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Jesse_O I knew it had been awhile, but was too lazy to look it up. Plus, it makes me kind of sad. I probably bought most of my comics from Lone Star for about 20 years. |
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 I live in RI and Rhode Islanders eat chili with beans.
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esaravo private msg quote post Address this user | |
I made many a purchase from them, back in the day of personal checks and snail mail. |
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 I'll probably wake up constipated.
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Pre_Coder private msg quote post Address this user | |
| What was Lone Star Comics on Cooper street in Arlington TX is now called Wild West Comics. I don't know if the new owners bought all LSC shops or just that particular location on Cooper. | ||
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Arak private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Jesse_O damn it has been a minute since i stood at their counter thanks yall I feel like the last guy to know ... I would have bet money I was just in there the other day...but your right ...its been at least 6 years |
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 To answer your question, no, this is not where the comics go to die.
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MutantMania private msg quote post Address this user | |
| My favorite was Mile High Comics on Harbor Blvd in Garden Grove. It was a huge store back in the day. | ||
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I hear their hourly rate is outrageous!
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sportshort private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by MutantMania I went there only once as it was too far to visit often, the next time i wanted to go, i found out it had closed. It was huge! but there were very few customers so there was no way it was going to last. too bad, at the time it was the only "comic book store" that I new of. |
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