Unpopular opinion: The vibe at my local comic shop totally changed in a year

Honestly, I walked into All-Star Comics in Philly last week and it felt different. A year ago, it was mostly older guys debating continuity, but now there's way more people my age and younger. The owner told me he started a 'new reader' shelf and a weekly book club for recent series. It's not just about back issues anymore, it's about finding a place to start. Has anyone else's shop made a change like this to get new fans in?

3 comments

3 Comments

sanchez.kevin2mo ago

Honestly I was one of those guys who hated the idea of shops changing, thought it would ruin the old school feel. But seeing more people actually excited to be there, picking up a book for the first time, that's the whole point. If the shops don't do this stuff, the hobby just gets older and fades away. The change is kinda necessary, even if the vibe is different.

jesse9942mo ago

Yeah my shop did something similar, they put up a big display for manga and graphic novels. It's way more crowded on weekends now, feels like a different place. You think this is a good change for comic shops?

the_nina2mo ago

Remember when every video store had that weird back room? Comic shops are just doing the same thing now, making space for what people actually want. If they keep acting like a clubhouse only for the regulars, they'll end up like those empty stores with dusty windows. The crowd might be different, but a crowded shop beats a quiet one that's about to close for good.