Publishers Who Have Their Own Comic Book Stores

You might be surprised but there are a number of major comic publishers who maintain their own comic stores. We're not talking about DC CCO Geoff Johns' ownership stake in California's Earth-2 store or the Marvel comics store inside the Islands of Adventure theme park… we're talking run by the publisher themselves. It's a unique set-up and offers a unique experience for visitors. While most publisher's offices are off-limits to tours, you can visit these bastions of comics retailing for the next best thing.

Things From Another World: Owned by Dark Horse, this five-store chain stretching down the West Coast was founded seven years before Mike Richardson ever started the comics company. Originally dubbed Pegagus Books and operating out of a sparse 400 sq. feet space, TFAW has gone on to be a sizeable chain on the western seaboard and a sizeable online retailer as well. And TFAW is not a one-publisher set-up, as Dark Horse products are one of many features in the stores — DH competitor Boom! currently graces the featured spot on the store's website today.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery: Opening in late 2006, this Seattle store acts as defacto gift shop and gallery extension of the long-time publisher's comics line. The store boasts a complete repository of everything Fantagraphics has in print — as well as a number of rarities you wouldn't find most anywhere else. They also have exclusive merchandise related to their comics, as well as the enticing "Damaged Room" — featuring heavily discounted books that were returned to the publisher from their distributor. The store shares an eclectic space with the vinyl record shop Georgetown Records. It also carries a sellection of alternative comics from other publishers, but I wouldn't expect to pick up Fear Itself from here.

Amazing Fantasy Books & Comics: Operated by pulp comics bastion Moonstone, this store started life in Illinois way back in 1978. After bouncing around the region for a few years, it settled into it's flagship Calumet Ciy location, with three more locations opening up in the neighboring area in the mid 90s. It's a full-service comics shop carrying comics, graphic novels, toys and even some Sanrio products.

New People: Without argue the most unique of our listing, Viz's New People is more than a comic store — much more. Nestled in the asian district of San Francisco, New People is less a comic store and more a cultural center — with a threatre, cafe, boutique, nail salon and gallery space. It's the closest thing the U.S. has to Japan's Harajuku, and definitely a place to visit when you're in the Bay area.

Art Boutiki & Gallery: As eclectic as the publisher that started it, SLG's space in San Jose, Ca. is a swanky, tiki-inspired spot carrying comics, graphic novels and associated merchandise. SLG publisher Dan Vado also hosts some exciting openings and events in this space, and even participates in the city's South First Friday Art Walk and is the home of the San Jose Comics Festival.

Which ones have you been to — and which ones are we missing?

Comments

  1. Drawn & Quarterly have their own shop here in Montreal

  2. If it’s not a Marvel store, it don’t matter!

  3. Does New People have comics? I didn’t know that.

  4. @KickAss  PREACH ON!

  5. @JohnVFerrigno  preach what?

  6. @rottenjorge  I was seconding his post. It made me smile.

  7. Does the comic shop in Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando count? All they sell in there is Marvel stuff.

  8. Oh damn, didn’t catch the mention in that first paragraph. Nevermind.

  9. @gobo I love the D&Q store in Montreal. Great selection above and beyond what’s in their own catalogue.

  10. Great stores all.

    I wonder if any of them would want to open a store in my town, so they could lose a lot of money and have only one customer.

  11. Slave Labor Graphics used to have a shop in here in San Jose.  The shop is where the company was born, really… and the shop became secondary and then just kinda died.

  12. No New England Comics shout out?