Okay, my turn.
I'm otherwise displaced for school and get my comics somewhere else but I need to represent my hometown of Vancouver, BC (and besides, I spent eight years buying my comics there and only two where I am now.)
First, let me mention the stores I have frequented with links for anyone interested in learning more about them. Comic books have always been available in Vancouver - most shops claim they have been around since the 1970's (one even from 1946) but pretty much its a good town to be a comic enthusiast.
1) ABC Comics and Book Emporium
To be honest, I've only been in here a few times - not the friendliest of places if you aren't a regular but then again, that's just me. They have a great selection but mostly push their other stuff like toys, science fiction and what-not although they do have an extensive collection of back copies. Plus -- I couldn't help visiting it once in while just to see the new knick knacks that would appear on their shelves. :)
2) The Comic Shop
Now these guys are amazing and have been around so long their history reads like a classic comic store success story (which I've linked). Just their beginning and hilarious photos documenting it is worth looking into and since its located along a well travelled tourist area (Kitsilano Beach - West Side), it's always filled with people both comic serious and not so much. I didn't go here for my comics but like above, it was worth visiting every once in a while. Very friendly and well stocked. If you can't find something here, you pretty much can't find it anywhere.
3) Golden Age Collectibles
This store is pretty popular because of its location in downtown Vancouver. This out of every shop listed on here was the closest to me growing up but I had a nasty first interaction with a creepy guy working there (I was ten so most guys were creepy to me anyway) and avoided it for a long time. My story should in no way prevent anyone from visiting this store -- lots of comics, friendly-enough staff and clean with a great selection.
4) Rx Comics
This store is the youngest of the lot but probably the most enthusiastic in terms of the people who run it. It's not the swankiest or the most extensive in terms of in-store stock but just the genuine affection for all things comic makes you want to make them your comic book store of choice. I have to be honest, I didn't know about this store when I first got into comics but they are most definitely my second favourite now. Could be that I am all for the little guy but hey -- why not, right?
5) Comic Land
How do I even begin to describe this place? This is the most furthest store from where I grew up - the smallest, the plainest and well -- not the first when it comes to customer service -- but this MY comic store. Discovered by me looking up "comics" in the yellow pages (it was the first business I found, lol), I gathered up my courage and took public transportation across town to what was (and still is) an area not considered the ritziest of neighbourhoods if you know what I mean. Clutching my twenty dollar bill in my left hand, I walked in there and approached this older gentlemen reading something or other behind the counter and placed that Queen Elizabeth in front of him.
"X-Men," I managed to mumble, staring at him.
He looked down at me for a few seconds and if he was surprised to see a kid with messy braids alone in his store, he didn't show it. Taking his time, he sauntered off and began compiling a bunch of comics for me -- lots of recent issues and lots of not so recent issues of X-Men related books. One thing for sure, my folded up bill in no way covered the cost of all those comics. No way. But at the time I had no idea and just nodded my thanks unsmilingly and left clutching my bounty in my arms, barely hearing him call out to me that I should try to show up once a month. All I can remember was the rush of joy splashing through me and my inability to get rid of the grin on my face on that bus ride home. I went there every last Thursday of every month for the next eight years after that and I miss it something awful.
**sigh**
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