How do You like your Comic Shop?

          I was lucky, the first comic book shop I went to was voted the best comic book shop in Chicago. My comic book shop of choice is Challengers comics. I know many people say the first comic book shop is their personal best,but i been around many comic book stores in Chicago and there a couple of reason why Challengers have the right stuff  that many other comic book stores get wrong or is missing. Click Read More on how comic books shops should be.

      

First thing many comic book places get wrong, the lighting. A comic book store should not look like a dungeon. It should be lighted bright so you can see all the artwork on the covers, the trades, etc. Also if it looks like a dungeon, its looks like the store is trying to hide the fact that they sell comics. That should be nothing to hide; it’s something that should be advertised big and boldly. Also the store should be welcoming, when you take a non-comic book fan they should want to stay, time should be non-existent for them as it is for you. Challenger’s comics have big red comfy chairs to sit in if you want to quickly look through something or if you just want to take a seat.  Every time I take someone in there they usually sit in the chair and look around. The point here, it should be a place that caters not only to the hardcore comic book fans but the people who not really in comics that decided to step in. It should welcome not repel new customers. That what Challengers do, it welcomes.

           Its obvious that for a comic book shop to be called great, it should have a wide variety of comics. Not just Marvel and Dc, but Image, Icon, Vertigo, Dark horse, etc. Challengers have those plus neighborhood comics from creators who are looking to sell their stuff.  Challengers also have a big amount of back issues, all for a buck! Its more than likly that you will find a comic that you been searching for in the back issues bin. So with a wide variety of trades and variety of companies,a big selection of back issues, Challengers paved the way of what I feel comic book stores should have.

What put Challengers ahead, well beside the fact that they have many artists signing (Stuart Immonen-artist of Fear Itself will be there tomorrow), is one, the wall, and two their art gallery. The wall (pictured to the left) is a place where you ask for a marker and if you can draw, then you draw something up there. It really connects you to the store, like you’re now a part of the store itself. Many famous comic book artists drew pictures up there too, so the fact that your work is up there as well is a really great feeling. Second is their recently opened art gallery. Comics is an art, too many people and comic book shops forget about it. So I love the fact that Challengers have a gallery showing off said art.

       Well Challengers have everything I think a comic book store need and more. That why it is my comic place of choice. So leave a comment below about what you think a comic book shops should have, and tell me about your comic book store of choice.