While visiting Annapolis this weekend, I came across this shop, great location on Main street of Annapolis. This shop is spacious and has a good feeling when you walk in, the owner (I think) was friendly and he was welcoming when you first walked in. The current issues were in organized and laid out in a way that were protective and easy to access. The back issues however, were not bagged or backed, they were organized, and in alphabetical order and not crammed into boxes. The back issue selection, was limited to more current age with a very limited selection of older issues. The shop has a very large selection of graphic novels, including Anime and manga, again they were well organized and had good placement in the shop.
The shop has a wide selection of collectibles ranging from Action figures (current Hasbro Marvel line including some of the wonderful Diorama figures, DC direct, and Mattel lines), Collectible statues, and t-shirts. The collectibles were well laid out and easy to see and access if you needed to view them.
My Likes: Well laid out, organized, friendly and knowledgeable Dislikes: Back issue selections were limited, not bagged or backed.
Overall: This shopped seemed to be well run and organized. The owner seemed to know his books and what was going on in the industry. I would go back while visiting Annapolis again, which maybe possible.
This is my local, the I go once a week to comic shop, so to say the least I am a little biased on this one. Every week I am happy to come to this shop, it is well lit, the people are friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming (even to new people who come in). They have tons of back issues that are properly backed and bagged with a solid inventory that's not overly stuffed into long boxes. Major Characters sit in the top boxes, while lesser titles are still bagged and backed in lower boxes. Needless to say if you are looking for a back issue and they have it it would be easy to locate. They have a large selection of action figures ranging from old McFarlane Spawns to new releases (DC Direct/Marvel/ Diamond Distributors), as well as, some of those harder to find Wal Mart/Target/Toys R Us exclusives. They carry a large selection of current titles and will order the more obscure if requested, I might not like the placement of the new books but needless to say it's smart placement (they are located at the back of the current titles, meaning you have to walk past all of the last few weeks to get to them). TPB and Graphic Novels take place front and center of the shop, they also have a small kids section located far away from the more adult/teen books. They have about 200 wall books to choose from and will gladly help you pick them out. Other things that make me like this shop as much as a I do, is that twice a year they have a huge sale on their floor inventory, upto 75% off on graphic novels, action figures, wall books and back issues, it's a nice contribution. They continue to have weekly magic the gathering games and pull in a solid crowd during free comic book day, where they offer other incentives other than the free comics. One other thing I would like to note about this shop is this, if you have a pull list of 5 books or more, they not only hold those books for you, after you reach $100 in spend they give you a $10 coupon to use against your pull.
My likes: Well lit, friendly, huge selection of current and back issues, all back issues are bagged and back and not cramped into boxes, the sales and incentives of having a pull list . Dislikes: I would like to see a larger selection of collectibles, statues, and the like.
Overall:
There are a few reason I chose this place for my comic needs, from walking in day one (even in there old shop located in Waterbury), they were happy to help you out, and genuinely seemed to care about the experience of your visit to their shop. For me it's like coming home every week, I can easily move through the shop and feel comfortable asking questions to the owners .. even if those questions are about opening up my own shop somewhere else.
As I approached Monkeyhead, I had the feeling of nostalgia, it reminded me of my first comic shop (phantom of the attic in Washington PA now defunct) tucked back away in a little corner shop, actually past it up while trying to find it. It seemed a typical little shop before I walked in. After walking in though I lost that nostalgia feeling quickly. It seemed crowded and cluttered with books sitting on top of boxes and figures/statues/ toys jammed onto shelves. Current titles were in no particular order with little or no organization of them. Newer books were jammed packed on magazine racks that were bending the comics, and previous weeks issues were literally in no particular order. Back issues were setting on top of, the boxes and to find a particular book it would be an undertaking. Some of the nice things were there were a lot of back issue and wall books around (some that were cgc graded) but seemed pricey for their condition. A large amount of toys/action figures, and original artwork from various artist hanging around that was enjoyable to look at
Likes: Large selection of TPB, figures, statues, and toys. Also the original artwork was a nice touch to the place
Dislikes: Crowded/cluttered, back issues (other than wall books) weren’t backed (bagged yes) and literally laying all over the place which added to the clutter of the shop. Use of magazine racks that weren't fitted properly bending the comics which seemed to be jammed with several past issues filling in for spacers. No real organization of the new and week old books (alphabetizing them could of solved that) so that lead to a search so if you’re looking for one title. Good luck!
Overall: if I’m looking for a book I may call (and that book would be scrutinized for damage) but I don’t think I will be visiting Monkeyhead any time soon. The staff wasn’t very talkative but seemed to know where things were in the clutter so I guess that’s a plus.
There is a new place that just opened so I may be visiting that in the upcoming weeks look forward to my next comic shop review….
I went to a "new" local comic shop the other day with a friend at lunch, while looking through the assortments of action figures, back issues, Trade paper backs, etc. I got the general feeling of discontent. Why, you may ask yourself, your in a a comic shop you should be happy and full of joy just to be there on your lunch hour. So after give this some thought, I decided to write down a few things that bothered me. Then after giving it some more thought, I wanted to hear about others experiences in their local shops. I go to a lot of comic shops, if I see one while driving through some obscure town, I will typical stop to see what they have, any back issue I maybe looking for, and just to generally be in the comic book atmosphere.
So what I am thinking is this, a definite rating of 1 - 5, 5 being so awesome you would sell you mother just to go back and 1 being eh probably wouldn't go back, I know we probably all have our locals that we go to but this is for more of the hey look what I found type of thing.... So I'll start with the one I just went to that isn't my local.
Name: Cave Comics Location: New Town, CT Rating 2.5
Likes: Large selection of back issues, Graphic novels/TPB and action figures, great location with a spectacular diner/dive right beside it! Dislikes: Overly cramped, back issues didn't have back boards, TPB's were crammed on to bookshelves with bending and damage. The assortment of action figures were right behind the door so you felt like if you wanted to look you were going to get slammed into, or the figures themselves could get damages by an overly excited person walking in who didn't know they were back there.
Overall:
Overall I would go back looking for back issues or if I just wanted to chat it up, the (I assume), owner was generally helpful and friendly with his two basset hounds (Kerby and Electra). He made you feel at home when you walk in but if it is crowed (like maybe on FCBD), it would be tough to really get through the store. The new/current comics were hard to distinguish from what was just released and what was a few weeks old. A fun little store with friendly people and dogs.
I was going through a few things and came across these images,
So I started to wonder, why wouldn't Aquaman kill Black Manta,however he was able to beg for mercy. I am a father and if my son was ever hurt, or threatened you would find me either behind bars or being honored as a hero. So my thoughts start to wonder, and I start wondering about the other heroes and villains combination, Batman I understand has an oath not to kill or use a gun, however the Joker killed Robin (Jason Todd) shot Barbra Gordan and has done so much to him that you begin to wonder why... why doesn't he off him and make the world a better place, they've danced this dance so many times that it would seem rational to just do it and seal the deal.
What about other Superheroes, Superman Lex Luthor, X-men (excluding Wolverine) Magento, the list just goes on and on... I know the argument that it would just be wrong, they wouldn't be heroes anymore.. etc etc...
But to make the world/Gotham City/Metropolis a better place why wouldn't you..?
5 Comments
So, I'm a big Green Lantern Fan.. and I just got on EBAY the Hal Jordan Wonder Con Exclusive Black Lantern Hal Jordan, and to boot it was Signed By Geoff Johns
Log in to comment