Robot Man Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Was down in my local Antique Mall area in Orange CA today and stopped into Big Red's Comics. I was surprised to see the sign had changed to Torpedo Comics. The owner wasn't there and the employee was a little tight lipped. There was a massive row of comic bins installed and things were changed. I asked, like I usually do, if they had any "older comics" and was told that they would soon. Looks like Torpedo is branching out from it's Las Vegas store. Never been there. Do they have a decent selection of vintage comics? Might be nice to have a local store that stocks vintage books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmehdy Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 bucking the trend, more power to them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakman29 Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 John is spreading the love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBE Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 I've been to Big Red's a couple of times in the last two years. Not much of interest. I'll swing by this summer and see if Torpedo is any better - here's hoping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aszumilo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Torpedo has a large selection of back issues. Their prices are a little high. If you go, you need to check out the Vault. Pretty impressive collection of some high dollar stuff. Torpedo also bought out one of my regular stores. Looks like they are going to get bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WolverineX Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 So Torpedo is moving to california stores? Any new stores in Las Vegas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aszumilo Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 18 minutes ago, Wolverinex said: So Torpedo is moving to california stores? Any new stores in Las Vegas? They are not moving, just looks like they are opening a California location. There is a new store, on the NW side of town, but, they just opened about a month or so ago so they don't have a huge selection yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatlab123 Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) I was by the new store in orange . I think it’s a bad spot big red comics never seemed busy. I though torpedo was going to open somewhere in la . That is what some were saying last time in Vegas Edited January 5, 2019 by fatlab123 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Man Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 I never did really like Big Red anyway. They just never seemed to care or help customers. I once talked to the owner about vintage books. He told me he had a few boxes in the back but said he was too busy to bring them out. Guess he thought I wasn't serious? I finally opened up my wallet and flashed a bunch of Franklins then walked out. The employees were always looking at their phones. Torpedo might be a good change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatlab123 Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 I hope they are...the Vegas shop is full high grade books of all years. The orange circle is getting new restaurants but the antique business is almost dead so hope that brings more people to the area. The college kids close by don’t support anything but the bars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoMan Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Robot Man please give address to this Big Red/Torpedo comic shop. thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakman29 Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 12 hours ago, fatlab123 said: I hope they are...the Vegas shop is full high grade books of all years. The orange circle is getting new restaurants but the antique business is almost dead so hope that brings more people to the area. The college kids close by don’t support anything but the bars. Do you live around by the Orange Circle? I live about five minutes away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Man Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 4 hours ago, NoMan said: Robot Man please give address to this Big Red/Torpedo comic shop. thanks. 162 Glassell Street, Orange CA 92866 By the way, Google is your friend... BlowUpTheMoon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatlab123 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Yes I live about the same 5 hours ago, oakman29 said: Do you live around by the Orange Circle? I live about five minutes away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockMyAmadeus Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 (edited) Torpedo Comics in Vegas has a nice selection of back issues, but they are all very, very aggressively priced. They have raw books priced at CGC 9.8 prices. Their books, they can do what they want with them...but if you're going to ask 9.8 prices, you should have them in 9.8 slabs. The selection is stellar...full runs of 80s and 90s books...but they are all very, very aggressively priced, and negotiating is a hassle. There's a british/australian man who works there who has negotiating ability, and makes things uncomfortable for prospective buyers...subtly insinuating that the buyer is trying to take advantage of them. I would recommend NOT dealing with him, if at all possible. Otherwise, store personnel were polite, the store is well designed, and the selection is amazing, relative to what exists now... but you WILL pay for it. Edited January 6, 2019 by RockMyAmadeus mysterio, WolverineX and 1950's war comics 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bumble Kitty Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 On 1/4/2019 at 4:32 PM, Robot Man said: Was down in my local Antique Mall area in Orange CA today and stopped into Big Red's Comics. I was surprised to see the sign had changed to Torpedo Comics. The owner wasn't there and the employee was a little tight lipped. There was a massive row of comic bins installed and things were changed. I asked, like I usually do, if they had any "older comics" and was told that they would soon. Looks like Torpedo is branching out from it's Las Vegas store. Never been there. Do they have a decent selection of vintage comics? Might be nice to have a local store that stocks vintage books. I frequent Old Town Orange from time to time. Here's another reason to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicquant Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 (edited) On 1/5/2019 at 8:26 PM, RockMyAmadeus said: Torpedo Comics in Vegas has a nice selection of back issues, but they are all very, very aggressively priced. They have raw books priced at CGC 9.8 prices. Their books, they can do what they want with them...but if you're going to ask 9.8 prices, you should have them in 9.8 slabs. The selection is stellar...full runs of 80s and 90s books...but they are all very, very aggressively priced, and negotiating is a hassle. There's a british/australian man who works there who has negotiating ability, and makes things uncomfortable for prospective buyers...subtly insinuating that the buyer is trying to take advantage of them. I would recommend NOT dealing with him, if at all possible. Otherwise, store personnel were polite, the store is well designed, and the selection is amazing, relative to what exists now... but you WILL pay for it. I've never bought anything from Torpedo (nor have I met any of them) but a good friend of mine had planned on purchasing a grail from Torpedo at a con last year. This same guy was so rude they decided to hold off and buy from another dealer. Lost out on a $50k+ deal and any future business with someone who spends 6 figures a year on their collection. It certainly pays to be a professional in this business and can be very damaging when you're not. On the flipside, its good to see the hobby is doing well enough for them to open another store. Edited January 7, 2019 by comicquant mysterio 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Campbell Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 On 1/5/2019 at 5:26 PM, RockMyAmadeus said: Torpedo Comics in Vegas has a nice selection of back issues, but they are all very, very aggressively priced. They have raw books priced at CGC 9.8 prices. Their books, they can do what they want with them...but if you're going to ask 9.8 prices, you should have them in 9.8 slabs. The selection is stellar...full runs of 80s and 90s books...but they are all very, very aggressively priced, and negotiating is a hassle. There's a british/australian man who works there who has negotiating ability, and makes things uncomfortable for prospective buyers...subtly insinuating that the buyer is trying to take advantage of them. I would recommend NOT dealing with him, if at all possible. Otherwise, store personnel were polite, the store is well designed, and the selection is amazing, relative to what exists now... but you WILL pay for it. All this. I've browsed their CGC selection on occasion and for some 9.8 graded issues I was interested in, the going rate was close to double the current going ebay rates or more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortboxed Posted January 7, 2019 Share Posted January 7, 2019 20 hours ago, comicquant said: I've never bought anything from Torpedo (nor have I met any of them) but a good friend of mine had planned on purchasing a grail from Torpedo at a con last year. This same guy was so rude they decided to hold off and buy from another dealer. Lost out on a $50k+ deal and any future business with someone who spends 6 figures a year on their collection. It certainly pays to be a professional in this business and can be very damaging when you're not. On the flipside, its good to see the hobby is doing well enough for them to open another store. My experience is similar. However, the Torpedo shop in Las Vegas is gorgeous, and their convention booth is also a thing of beauty. Unfortunately that also means charging double with a straight face. RockMyAmadeus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Man Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 But, John knows how to do a convention. The Torpedo Con the week before SDCC was off the hook. He managed to convince most of the big dealers to set up for a one day show that was epic. It felt like an early SDCC. Plus he partnered up with someone else and had a great original art show right across the hall all for the same cheap admission price. shortboxed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
