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Post by starbrand on Mar 5, 2009 10:47:00 GMT -5
Drawn To Comics in Glendale AZ was voted best comic book store in Phoenix last year. The owner, Ken Brown, is a good friend of mine. He has enthusiasm for comic books that is unequalled by anyone I've ever met, and that's saying an awful lot. While other store owners essentially sell their soul, and their retail space, to other things like Manga and gaming, Ken is loyal to the great American art form he loves so much, devoting very little of his available space to things that would inhibit his ability to carry comics to the degree he wants to. He's very likable and knows more about the actual stories that have been published in comics since he's been alive, specifically Marvel with some DC knowledge as well, than anyone I've ever met. He will also actually pay a decent price for comics he needs, which is unheard of these days. Other store owners want to put the screws to anyone they can to make a buck, Ken at Drawn To Comics ain't that way.
He's been nominated for an Eisner this year. I hope he gets it. I know no one who would deserve it as much in the comic book retailing field.
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Post by G on Mar 5, 2009 21:00:54 GMT -5
Thanks for a bit of Pacific review starbrand! Now I just need reviews from another 48 states, Canada and the UK to have one of the most awesome thread areas on the internet!  I understand what you are saying about comic stores selling their soul to give space to gamers and other product. I hate that myself. But I also have to rationalize with myself that stores need to stay in business and put their eggs in more than one basket. Sometimes I go into comic stores and it seems like the gamers are what is keeping the store totally in business and the comics just sit there collecting dust. It bites my goat to see this situation as it almost feels like a form of video game clubmanship with the kids. If they aint playing video games, they'll play card games. There aint no sense of wonderment of seeing another kid in school with a comic book and wanting to see it. I know thats how I got into comics. I seen other kids in school looking at them when they should have been listening to teachers and I was like "let me see one!". They just dont have that these days. So it is cool to see a dealer keep straightforward mainly about comics. I find the ones that do that the most are the ones that have been around the longest. Around here, all the newer stores tend to the gamers. Hope this guy wins the award. |
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Post by starbrand on Mar 10, 2009 19:17:55 GMT -5
I can't blame store owners for carrying gaming and Manga and stuff like that in order to stay in business, but I think Drawn To Comics is going to be heavily rewarded for focusing on good ol' American comic books.
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AC
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Post by AC on Apr 4, 2009 17:29:47 GMT -5
Great store... I definitely agree with the Best in Phoenix nod. I'd go to his store before any others in town. I kinda flaked out on my subscriPtion box over there around the time the wife and I lost the house... I'll have to get back intouch with him sometime soon.
Like I said, haven't been to Ken's in awhile... however, I do seem to recall that the back 1/3 of his store are tables set uP sPecifically for heroclix and the like. Nothin' wrong with that or anything... just sayin'.
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Post by starbrand on Apr 4, 2009 19:23:35 GMT -5
Great store... I definitely agree with the Best in Phoenix nod. I'd go to his store before any others in town. I kinda flaked out on my subscriPtion box over there around the time the wife and I lost the house... I'll have to get back intouch with him sometime soon. Like I said, haven't been to Ken's in awhile... however, I do seem to recall that the back 1/3 of his store are tables set uP sPecifically for heroclix and the like. Nothin' wrong with that or anything... just sayin'. There's no doubt he'll help promote Surprising Comics any way he can, and carry our books as well. Maybe he does more gaming than I realized, but he definately is more loyal to comics themselves than any store owner I'm aware of.  |
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AC
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Post by AC on Apr 5, 2009 3:06:11 GMT -5
Great store... I definitely agree with the Best in Phoenix nod. I'd go to his store before any others in town. I kinda flaked out on my subscriPtion box over there around the time the wife and I lost the house... I'll have to get back intouch with him sometime soon. Like I said, haven't been to Ken's in awhile... however, I do seem to recall that the back 1/3 of his store are tables set uP sPecifically for heroclix and the like. Nothin' wrong with that or anything... just sayin'. There's no doubt he'll help promote Surprising Comics any way he can, and carry our books as well. Maybe he does more gaming than I realized, but he definately is more loyal to comics themselves than any store owner I'm aware of. Very true... when it comes to passion for the comics, Ken's second to none. Even when I first met him I'd spend hours talking about anything and everything comics related. |
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Post by starbrand on Apr 5, 2009 11:09:43 GMT -5
Ken and I have spent many hours talking comics also. It's great to have such a staunch ally for Surprising also.
Lloyd never had any stores handle Blue Moon Comics until I got him into All About Comics, and that was the only store that ever handled Blue Moon, so it's not a given.
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AC
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Post by AC on Apr 5, 2009 15:05:25 GMT -5
Yeah, All About's the only place I ever saw any of Lloyd's books. They were placed in a pretty high-traffic area of the store too if I recall correctly. You'd figure that they'd be shoved off in a corner or something... but they were right in the walkway. How did the Blue Moon books do saleswise? I don't remember if you'd ever told me.
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Post by starbrand on Apr 5, 2009 17:25:48 GMT -5
They gave the Blue Moon books a real nice rack. It was a great display.
They actually sold pretty well. One guy bought one of each of them, there were about 30+ different issues, and there were other sales as well.
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Post by starbrand on Aug 4, 2009 11:54:14 GMT -5
Update: Sadly, Drawn To Comics didn't win the Eisner.
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