I essentially grew up with the Acadiana Book and Comic Shop. Since I was twelve years old, just about every time I had a little money in my pocket, I would head there to browse what was a veritable treasure trove of comic goodness, all priced for my limited budget. It’s the kind of shop that invites you, through its atmosphere, its layout, its whole feel, to take your time and explore. They still have the longboxes stuffed with carefully bagged and boarded back issues, where you can hunt for that missing piece to your collection. The walls are lined with graphic novels, toys, gaming supplies, art books, anime and manga merchandise, and memorabilia – all the essentials for the comic and sci-fi lover. They also have a great selection of used paperbacks, balancing best sellers and popular titles with some real rarities. Comic shops have come and gone in Lafayette over the years, but the Acadiana Book and Comic Shop has remained a fixture. Teresa Moran, the owner, just plain gets it – she’s a fan herself, and she knows what fans want and how they want to be treated. When I go there now, she often seems like a den mother, overseeing the bunches of pre-teen gamers playing the card game du jour, giving them a safe, fun environment to hang out in. This is a great comic store, and a great place for Lafayette kids to be themselves. Find more great places where you live with globalYP.net, a searchable online directory.

If you are ever looking for that long lost comic book you wish you never lost, a great new game to play with family or friends, or even a tournament opportunity for you World of Warcraft or Magic: The Gathering players, then A-1 Comics in Roseville is definitely the place for you. With a wide variety of inventory and a very helpful staff, A1 is the perfect place to browse, shop, or even just hang out with friends. Their location is convenient (just blocks off I-80), and their store is large and stress-free! One thing you notice when you step into A-1 is their tremendous variety of comic books. From classics of yesteryear to today’s favorites, you can find them all at A-1. On the off chance that you are looking for that hard to get item that they happen to not have, they can usually track it down at their other location in Sacramento. If it’s even rarer than that, their staff will help do whatever else they can to get that comic book in your hands as soon as possible! Another great aspect of the shop is that they have lots of fun items related to comics and gaming. From stickers and stuffed animals to toy sets of the Simpsons or Star Wars, A-1 Comics is a great place to shop for that comic enthusiast in your life. Maybe while you are there you will find a t-shirt, obscure candy bar, or even a compact disk related to something you find interesting as well! Find tons of local listings online at globalYP.net

A Comic Shop is the best comic shop around in Winter Park, FL. Located at 114 S Semoran Blvd, they have a staff full of people who love what they do and who enjoy talking to you about comics. They always are well stocked with the latest comics and graphic novels, and they are up to date on the latest issues coming out. If you have a particular favorite, they will set them aside for you till you come in. The shop also has movie nights, where I’ve personally gotten tickets to the best summer movies like Batman and The Watchmen. At the movie nights you can see the diversity of customers and feel the energy of the crowd, who are just as excited as you. Many times they have illustrators or authors come in for signings, which is so cool. The shop is always clean, making it easy to find something to buy, and the staff knows where everything is. They also have some great posters and range targets that are zombies, which I get a kick out of. When you’re at A Comic shop you feel great and not like you have to hide you comic appreciation. When you visit globalYP.net, an online directory, you save time.

There are a few excellent comic book stores in Los Angeles, but Meltdown Comics is by far the best. In recent years comics for grownups have gotten a lot more attention in the mainstream media, with books like Daniel Clowes’ “Ghost World” and Chris Ware’s “Acme Novelty Library” getting rave reviews and attracting a whole new audience. But Meltdown was focused on adult comics even before it was considered cool to do so. I remember visiting the store around 1999 or so, and being amazed at all of the challenging, adult work on display. Most stores of the era focused a lot more on the superhero stuff, with comics by artists like R. Crumb and Art Spiegelman displayed as an afterthought, if at all. At Meltdown, it was closer to the opposite. Sure, they sold the superhero comics, and if that’s what you were looking for you’d find plenty of it. But the emphasis was definitely on comics for an adult audience. There are other things to bring you to Meltdown, besides just the comics. The staff is wonderful, really thoughtful and nice, without that sneering, stand-offish quality that some comic store clerks can have. They have a wide selection of toys – both new and vintage – and a really excellent section of items for little kids, everything from children’s books to clothes and stuffed animals. They also offer great, original art shows in a little gallery towards the back of the store. I can’t recommend this place enough. To find more wonderful places like Meltdown Comics, visit globalYP.net, your local directory online.