You are reading the words of a man who loves his back-issues. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll buy collected graphic novels when they’re something special, but for every graphic novel I own I guarantee you there’s a complete run stored away in one of my comic boxes. But what if I poke around in there and notice that something’s amiss? What if HOLY FRICK I’M MISSING AN ISSUE?! What if right now I’m missing issue No. 6 of Sale / Loeb’s Batman: The Long Halloween or issue No. 7 of Gaiman / Kubert’s Marvel 1602? Okay, try to calm down man. These things happen! Especially when you’re trying to collect entire runs from days of yore. So what’s the solution? Well you can go on eBay and get absolutely JACKED on the shipping costs, or you can do what fanboys have done for 70+ years. You grab that telephone and you frantically call every local comic store you can think of and you FIND THAT ISSUE even if Death herself is sure to find you on your pilgrimage. So this week I’d like to do a little Top 5 for the panic stricken: Best Places to Find that Lost Issue!
1) ABC Book and Comic Emporium (1539 West Broadway, Vancouver)
Pros: I always, always, always call ABC first. Not only do they have a great big selection of back issues, they also sell the majority of their older issues at half price. If the book you’re looking for came out in the last five or six months, you can expect to pay full price, but for anything else it’s half off. Do you know how many comics you can walk out with when everything is half off?!
Cons: Most of their back-issues are bagged, but very few are boarded so you might have to search around for a copy that doesn’t have a dinged spine. Luckily they tend to have several copies of each issue, so finding one in good condition is usually not a problem. Also, parking on Broadway sucks.
2) Rx Comics (2418 Main Street, Vancouver)
Pros: Like ABC, they also have a remarkable selection for such a small store. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly, and if you don’t see what you’re looking for you’ll they’ll take you right to the spot. Super nice dudes.
Cons: Back issues are always full cover price, and the store can be a little overstocked and difficult to navigate at times. But those are very small points. Rx has saved my ass on countless missing issues, the most recent being Daredevil No. 107 which I promptly hoo-rahed Greg Rucka into signing. Thanks guys!
3) The Comicshop (3518 West 4th Street, Vancouver)
Pros: With their cute new location and a great selection of older books, The Comicshop really is a fun place to go and visit. The staff are friendly and their set-up is a very welcoming environment to just geek out for a while. If not for them, my seven-issue run of Marvel Knights: 4 would be mortifyingly incomplete.
Cons: Full-price back-issues. And the store is somewhat out of the way to get to (especially if you ride transit because you sold your car to buy more comics). It’s a vicious cycle.
4) Big Pete’s Collectibles (149 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver)
Pros: Big Pete’s is the alpha and the omega of comic hunting destinations. I flipped out about their store in an article posted a couple of months back, and since then I’ve returned on several occasions looking for lost gems. My most recent acquisition being 52 No. 11, the first appearance of the new Batwoman. Nice!
Cons: Located in North Van, it’s a real road trip for most Vancouverites. And their back stock is full price. But if you’re Jonesing for that missing book you’ll pay just about anything, amirite? Just be glad that none of the stores in this list go in for the dreaded gouge.
5) Tazmanian Comics (4702 Hastings Street, Burnaby)
Pros: Taz Comics is run by some of the friendliest and nicest people you’d ever want to meet. Their back-issues are well organized and they’ve come to my rescue on at least two occasions I can think of. The most recent being Blackest Night No. 2.
Cons: Full price back-issues, and North Burnaby is a bit of a destination as well. What are you gonna do? Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Well folks, there you have it. Another amazing article in the bag! This writing gig is easier than ol’ What’s-His-Face said it would be before he buggered off on one of his “special vacations” to Thailand and got arrested for OH WAIT A DAMN SECOND! I actually AM missing a copy of Marvel 1602 No. 7! Hold on a sec while I call around and see who’s got it . . . annnnnnnnnnnndBOO-YAH! Rx Comics once again saves the day! Oh Rx, I know you love me even though you never say it when your friends are around.
– Ian
