My Comic buying trip Once or Twice a year 1 1

[fastballspecial]

Once or twice a year I get to take a trip for a day and buy from comic shops that are around 200+ miles from my area 
I do this to help the shops, make some profit and increase inventory, and to get a feel for the industry. 

First Up
Fox Comics Marion, IL

They had the best inventory of any shop that I went too. I could have spent $1k in this shop and still not got
all the books I wanted. They do it all sports cards, indy books, and a large selection of back issues. Owner is 
friendly and knowledgeable full of stories. Has been in business for a long time. The comic shop portion is in 
the basement and has a separate alley door entrance. Its well organized and clean. (He does have a kitten.)
The only bad thing about the shop is the owner uses Ebay for pricing all books which takes some time and 
means you aren't going to find fantastic deals. I am not going to call it a negative, but be aware it will slow you
down and you are not going to get steals. That being said he is fair when he prices and buy enough he will cut you a 
deal as well. That being said if you are looking for a book from late 70s and up there is a good chance they will 
have it.  Spent about $200.00

Edited July 16, 2020 by fastballspecial

[fastballspecial]

Next Campus Comics in Carbondale. 

This shop has changed hands as the original owner retired a few years back.
(Thank god he was difficult to deal with.) This shop has a large $1 box inventory
that I bought about $50 in $1 books easy. They carry a small amount of new issues
and a decent back issue section of about 10 boxes. Large selection of trades as well. 
The owner is a great guy who has struggled financially due to medical reasons and covid>
I spent as much money as I could in his shop and probably spent the most time there 
just talking. Spent $120.00

 

[fastballspecial]

Next Stop Castle Perilous Games and Books
Carbondale, IL 

This shop is a little different it has a large inventory, but it caters to more
role playing games, action figures and other related items with comics. 
Shop is well organized and they seemed busy which is nice I hate lazy 
shop owners. I spent around $20 here only because there inventory level
is smaller then other shops. They do have a large selection of newer comics
, but I struggled to find enough books in their back issues. They do have a 
quite a few SA and BA books on there wall so I assume they have more in 
back inventory somewhere I just couldn't find it. The only negative I have is
the parking. Its downtown so its very limited. 

Edited July 15, 2020 by fastballspecial

[fastballspecial]

Crash Comics Paducah, KY

This shop owner I will owe for the rest of my life. I was a broke college student setup in the 
early 90s at a flea market selling comics. First time I had every sold any of my comics I was 20 at
the time. This shop owner from Paducah came in and bought somewhere around $1k in comics
from me in cash. I was floored and it paid for an entire semester of college for me at the time. 
I go back to this shop whenever I can to pay him back. 

There inventory is massive. Everything is priced which I like. I spent about $150.00 total and 
bought a Wizards Variant of Young Avengers I have looked for a long time for fun. Carries new issues
and quite a few TPBs. Might rival Fox Comics for the largest inventory of back issue and might have 
more unsure as I didn't have as much time as I wanted. 

 

Edited July 15, 2020 by fastballspecial

[fastballspecial]

Infinite Collectibles Paducah, KY

Newer shop in town. Owner is nice greets everyone when they come in. 
Shop has comics and video games. Decent back issue selection to 80s.
Ton of $1 books which I bought probably 50 of. Some nice back issues
that I wanted but couldn't afford. All in all I think I spent $125 and hated
not buying a few of his nice back issues. 

Edited July 15, 2020 by fastballspecial

[fastballspecial]

Knights Comics
Henderson, KY

I stop in here every other month to see what the owner picks up. I usually spend
$50 or so every trip. Its a game shop with comics. I think it started as a comic shop
with gaming, but now I think its the other way. Well organized back stock to late 80s
then the back issues are on a display that has some SA with some late BA. About 10 boxes
of $1 books and all books are prices. Has plenty of supplies and I like his bags because
they are 3 mill SA bags which give you more room. Shop is run with him and his son as
I think he works full time. He seems to really enjoy running the shop. Its a nice conversation
everytime I go in. 

[Real Elijah Snow]

Love it. Any way you could show the books you bought from each spot as you go? 

Edited July 15, 2020 by Real Elijah Snow

[fastballspecial]

Archives, Bowling Green, KY

This guy is all back issues. He has TONS of them. 10 boxes of $1 books
A few boxes of new issues from past year and then the rest are all back issues.
I bet he has 30K of books in this store. Great to talk too cuts you a discount
first time you come in from out of town. Runs some local shows periodically
in that area. 

 

[fastballspecial]

1 minute ago, Real Elijah Snow said:

Love it. Any way you could show the books from each spot as you go? 

I am not that organized lol.

That and I don't want to highlight what I am buying. 

[Real Elijah Snow]

I get it. Secrets...We all know you piled up Hulk 181's from the $1 box

[davidtere]

Enjoyed all the write ups. Very cool that you took the time to do this. 

[WeR138]

Get out of here you Hoosier!

[thehumantorch]

I enjoy seeing pics and information on comic stores I've never been to..

[fastballspecial]

27 minutes ago, WeR138 said:

Get out of here you Hoosier!

Was waiting to hear the hate from the Southern Illinois poacher.

Still hating you missed that big estate sale. 

 

Edited July 15, 2020 by fastballspecial

[WeR138]

3 minutes ago, fastballspecial said:

Was waiting to hear the hate from the Southern Illinois poacher.

Still hating you missed that big estate sale. 

 

Nice write up.  I do enjoy a nice trip down to Crash Comics. It's amazing how much it's expanded from its riverfront days. My favorite of all of them.

 

[Ken Aldred]

It’s great to see that you can find comic shops with such large, restocked, older back issue inventories like these, as it’s become a rarity here in the U.K.

Edited July 15, 2020 by Ken Aldred

[Keys_Collector]

Very cool, thanks for sharing!  Always enjoy seeing shops i'll probably never go to and makes me want to get out to as many shops in my area as possible.

[podochigae]

Very nice writeup, thanks for sharing!  I'll have to check out some of those shops.

[manetteska]

4 hours ago, fastballspecial said:

Once or twice a year I get to take a trip for a day and buy from comic shops that are around 200+ miles from my area 
I do this to help the shops, make some profit and increase inventory, and to get a feel for the industry. 

First Up
Fox Comics Marion, IL

They had the best inventory of any shop that I went too. I could have spent $1k in this shop and still not got
all the books I wanted. They do it all sports cards, indy books, and a large selection of back issues. Owner is 
friendly and knowledgeable full of stories. Has been in business for a long time. The comic shop portion is in 
the basement and has a separate alley door entrance. Its well organized and clean. (He does have a kitten.)
The only bad thing about the shop is the owner uses Ebay for pricing all books which takes some time and 
means you aren't going to find fantastic deals. I am not going to call it a negative, but be aware it will slow you
down and you are not going to get steals. That being said he is fair when he prices and buy enough he will cut you a 
deal as well. That being said if you are looking for a book from late 70s and up there is a good chance they will 
have it.  Spent about $200.00

 

Initially I saw Illinois and your description and said, "Yeah, maybe I'll give that one a go." Then I looked it up on the map and, damn, IL is a very long state.

Hope you found good stuff.

[comicstock]

Thanks for the write-up.  Fun read!