| rev:text
| - I would like to respond to Jetta's description below. I like AABC for all the reasons he doesn't like them. Yes, they may only sell comics and toys but they do that better than anyone else. It's about quality not quantity. He asked how they stay in business when there are so many comic stores in the valley. The truth is the other stores are garbage. Read on
(1) They don't pilfer through the comics before putting them on the shelves. The owner even unloads the comics from the boxes right in front of you and lays them out on a glass table. So if you are guy who is trying to acquire that CGI 10.0, you will have a chance at this store. At Atomic Comics and the other stores, they go through the comics before the store opens and selectively remove the comics in the very best condition for their employees.
(2) They leave the comics on the shelves longer. They are not greedy. They don't pull a comic off a shelf and mark it up a $1-$2 a week to two weeks later. They only do this if a comic is ridiculously hot which is rare. It's nice to know that you can find a comic a month after it arrived on the market selling at cover price. There is not another comic store in Phoenix that does this. Take my word for it. I've been to everyone and they pull them off the shelves quickly
(3) They don't stuff their shelves and the comics are in great condition. I have been to every comics store in the valley and AABC is the only store in which the comics are consistently in great conditions on the shelves. You will not see bent corners. You won't see shelves being overly stuffed so that the first few issues and the last few issues in a stack are damaged.
(4) Inventory- If its not at AABC, I go to the internet because it's not going to be at any other store in the valley. I have too many stories of walking into other comic stores and requesting an issue and they are out or don't have it only to find 2 or 3 copies at AABC.
(5) Sales: there is not another store in the valley that gives you 25% of everything in the store on Jan 1st and July 4th every year. That includes the high priced collectors items like Incredible Hulk 181. They also have a graphic novel punch card much like a Subways sandwhich card.
(6) Service: It has a mom and pop feel so you get to know the actual owners of the store. The employees actually work and are helpful if you ask questions. They are not just standing around chatting with each other like you find at Atomic Comics. They are also humble and are not condescending. This is a great place for collectors and readers of all experience. They are also not pushy. They don't push any comics on people. I love how you can stare at comics for 45 min in peace without someone hassling you or making you feel guilty. They will help if you need it but they will leave you alone.
(7) Ambience: I feel like I'm walking into a Comic store not a Nine Inch Nails museum. It's colorful, clean, organized and easy to navigate. it doesn't look like some cheap strip mall store like Heroes or god forbid Stalking Moon in which it seems like some Geek bough a collection on Ebay and decided to pay rent next to some Chinese buffet and open a comics store.
(8) JUST COMICS: This is exactly why I come here. I was at Atomic Comics in Chandler and I couldn't even check out some comics because the shelf was being blocked by a card table.
(9) Clientele: Look, I'm not a typical comic collectors. I don't wear tight black shirts, I have no facial hair or piercings, I'm not up to date on all the independent "alternative" comics, I love Marvel and DC. I can't stand "Goth." Yeah, I'm a regular guy who also happens to like comics. If you are one of these people, you will feel comfortable here. If you haven't read comics in ages and just wanna check out the scene, this is your place
(10) KNOWLEDGE: The employees are educated about comics but are not pretentious. Phil is a comics' genius but he isn't intimidating. Eddie is very up-to-date on all the latest indie stuff but he will tell you honestly what he thinks about an issue and if a series is worth collecting. No pushy sales people
To show that I'm not the owner and to be fair, I do think their prices can be steep and I don't always think their older items are accurately described. I also think they can charge too much for variant issues when they first arrive. Their toy prices are pretty fair and you can get steals in this
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)