Our co-founder Tijana Tamburic has been living in Los Angeles for six months and gives us a whistle-stop tour of Comic Book stores in West Hollywood.
Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd
Known as the ‘largest comic book store on the West Coast’, at 9,000 sq. ft. of Comic Books, Graphic Novels, Books, Toys, Statues and collectibles, Meltdown Comics is a unique location in LA.
In 1993, with little more than some Vertigo comics, a run of “The Crow”, and some Spider-Man t-shirts, Meltdown Comics and Collectibles opened its doors. The neighbours were afraid to let their children come in and play the Jokers Wild pinball game, and the pimps would run their girls in to hide from the cops. Constantly gazing across the street at the not-so-aptly named “Syds” children’s store, Gaston Dominguez-Letelier and Ilia Carson-Letelier knew their dream of one day being the largest comic book store. on the west coast would one day come day come true.
After two moves on the same block (and with the help of Francisco Dominguez and Hisami Dominguez-Letelier) in 2002, that dream materialized. Now the mecca for all things comic book, comedy, podcasting, and pop culture related, Meltdown celebrates its 20th anniversary this fall with a blockbuster line-up of events and programs.
Golden Apple Comics
7018 Melrose Ave
http://www.goldenapplecomics.com/
‘LA’s Comic Shop to the Stars since 1979’
Chatting with one of the managers, Pablo, I found them to be very proud of their thirty-five year family-owned history and status as the ‘first comic book store in LA’. He described his personal taste in comics as indie and eclectic and suggested some titles for me.
The owner, Ryan, also took the time to talk to me and I was informed about their Self-Publishing artists that they stock through Author House (www.authorhouse.com) – a very cool idea and great way to help local people who want to publish their work.
The shop was well stocked in a wide range of comics and had a great graphic novels section. They liked the sound of Modesty Comics maybe some day one of our books will be in stocked in Golden Apple!
Melrose Music and Comics
7301 Melrose Ave
http://www.thrillmerchants.com/
‘Open 365 days a year, 7 days a week, Melrose Music & Comics has been providing the surrounding area with its comic book needs for 20 years.’
I walk into Melrose Music & Comics and find myself in the middle of the trading session as people sift through boxes of comics and Magic the Gathering cards. It’s exciting to see so many young people in a comic book store, including two school girls. I am told that there is a whole schedule of events on every week (including ‘Monday night Magic’).
There’s a mix of merchanise, yes comics, but also posters, t-shirts, toys, music and games. I got chatting to the manager, Chris, who gave me the load-down on the store and added the intresting anecdote that the owner is in fact an English man, a Liverpool supporter, his brother is a Manchester United supporter and Chris the American manager is an Arsenal supporter so all three teams flags are displayed around the store.
Family Books Inc
436 N Fairfax Ave
http://www.familylosangeles.com/collections/books
In a very hip part of Fairfax Avenue, across the road from the Supreme store that has youngsters queueing outside, often overnight, sits a snug, stylish store carrying an eclectic array of artsy books, novels, prints, zines and T-shirts. Looking more like an art-gallery-meets-hang-out than a typical comic book shop, you feel very cool and quirky flipping through their artsy titles.
TT
modestycomics.wordpress.com 