In the off hand chance that someone reading this article will visit a town where I've had the pleasure of frequenting a comic book store, I'm leaving a brief snapshot of each store in which I've shopped for comics. Naturally these are merely my opinions, and don't necessarily reflect the views of this FANZINE or its publishers. (I had to write that last sentence or else Derek would revoke my article-writing license.)
Summation of my experiences:
Gecko's Comics in Kailua, HI. I had a great time catching up with the Spider-Man soap opera. It was there that I began collecting DC. The best part was my conversations with Craig (the night sales clerk), regarding the possibility of a Barbie/Venom crossover. 'Lo and behold, Archie/Punisher crossover appeared. The store eventually tended more toward cards and games, which led me to my next store.
Pogo Stick in Kailua, HI. The most wonderful management that I've yet to meet. Les, one of the owners actually gave me a comic to take home just to check it out. "Have you read anything about Batman of the '70's? No? Here, take this book home and read it. If you like it you can come back and buy it. If not, just give it back when you are done." It just doesn't get any better than that. It was a great store with great people.
ABC Comics of Oceanside, CA. It had good selection, but wasn't the friendliest place. Welcome to southern California.
Comicopolis/On the Corner of San Clemente, CA. Ouch. This store was run by a guy who couldn't care less about comics. He was a gamer and card dealer. He didn't even want the patrons to leaf through his books. What's up with that? Naturally, that lead me back to Oceanside.
Big Steve's Comic Kitchen of Oceanside, CA. I found it was better to drive 20 minutes to a good store than to suffer at a lesser one. This was ABC Comics under a new name (not owner), and location. Steve warmed up pretty quickly as did his staff, thus becoming my new haunt. We talked comics, but more the business aspect of the what was going on. Not as good as Gecko's or Pogo Stick, but it fed the need.
Hey Look Mom, Comics! in Morehead City, NC. This dingy little hole in the wall was hard to find, but it is a great place to buy and talk comics.
As most of us know we should expect to find gamers or card collectors working the shops. Take heart, if they don't know that there have been three (in current continuity) Robins there are alternatives. If the store is good you don't necessarily need the counter clerk to make conversation. Seek out and talk to other patrons. The older ones usually have a lot of information regarding history, and would love to trade it for updated knowledge of what is going on in the lives of their favorites of the past.
These older patrons usually use the excuse of taking their off-spring to the store to show them what comics are all about. (This happened to me at Gecko's Comics.) Often the child heads off in one direction and the parent in another. The oldsters may feel inhibited to talk to a youngster in asking about characters and plots. Put them at ease and teach them. As I said, they have their own storehouse of knowledge that they haven't been able to show off for years (be it for unsympathetic spouses, etc.).
If you are rusty, you will know. It is a bad sign when you feel self-conscious talking about the characters and stories even when you are in a comic book store. This situation worsens if you aren't able to find anyone in a comic book store to talk with about the characters and stories without being ridiculed. How can you avoid these pitfalls? To counter the first, just keep at it. Talk to people you've seen and eventually you will feel more at ease. As for the second, find another store if possible. If you can't, count your blessings that at least you have a store in which to visit. There are some poor unfortunates that have to go to the corner market, or worse yet have to order their comics. If all else fails, use the internet to express your views on message board, chats, or even in FANZINE articles.
You may ask, "What does this have to do with comic books themselves?" Nothing directly, unless you can talk to a writer or artist and influence their work. But this rarely, if ever occurs. Indirectly it helps the reader build on the fantasy started by the story. We discuss implied motivation; events not covered; and how characters out of the spotlight might be reacting in the story. There are those of us more grounded to this reality who prefer to talk about where the writers came up with their current story arc; or how this book fits in with other books in the comic universe. Somewhere in these groups are the collectors. They collect action figures, cards, games and books. Finally, there are readers on the periphery interested in the business of comics. They are the ones who can recite the hierarchy of their favorite publisher, and the latest dirt in the comic book world. As you can see, there is a wide variety of the type of people one might find in a comic book store. Rousing discussions normally ensue when any combination of the aforementioned groups gets together.
Visit with your local comic book dealer. Chances are he/she will either be a wealth of knowledge, or at least and interesting conversationalist. A comic book store is more than just a place to buy things. It is a place to talk and escape this plane of existence. Take your time, saunter awhile, chat and browse. You will probably be in a better mood when you come out compared to when you went in. Remember however, when you are making your weekly pilgrimage to the local comic book store be sure to buy something during your visit. These are lean times out there, and the difference between going belly up, and squeaking by for another month might be the profit from one comic book. Let's give them a hand.