LA area FCBD events. This is a mix of stuff gleaned from the web, twitter, and my personal experiences. Nothing is guaranteed. I am also only listing stores I have been to. I hear that Beach Ball Comics in Anaheim has fun stuff but that is behind the Orange Curtain and Bob is your main for that. I also don't have anything from the Westside , sorry.
Collector's Paradise: 2 stores Winnetka and Pasadena
http://comicsandcards.net/
I have been to both stores. The Winnetka/Canoga Park store (my valley geography gets hazy once you leave Van Nuys) is the main store and they recently purchased the Pasadena store (a little over a year ago). Pretty good selection. Been to FCBD events, always have sales and signings. They can be a bit of a hard sell but it doesn't bother me. They have a percentage credit back program that tracks to both stores. Valley store is doing an event this Wednesday for Mind the Gap with 3 of the creators there (who will also be at that store on FCBD). They are making a whole month of it. They frequently have signings of other creators. I would never make it my regular store but I do spend money when the creators come.
Valley Store – 12 – 3 pm
Ed Brubaker
Joshua Fialkov
Kyle Higgins
Jim McCann
Rodin Esquejo
Sonia Oback
Pasadena Store 2 – 5 pm
Steve Niles
Gabriel Hardman
Corinna Bechko
Shane Houghton
Chris Houghton
Matt Whitlock
As I am contractually obligated to stalk the Houghton boys, I will be hitting the Pasadena Store. Not sure about the valley store. They do lots of events at these stores and I recommend hitting those events.
Comics Factory – Pasadena. My first LCS in Southern California and I would argue probably the best selection around. I really like this store. I don’t ask for discounts but on occasion, they have just given me one. Too far for me to visit regularly and sort of used to regular discounts, but I still visit. They have back issues and stuff way in the back that you can't get. Just ask them if they have it and they will get it. I think they might be on Facebook but I am not. If I go to Pasadena I might swing by even though I have no idea what they are doing. That is how much I like that store. If anyone knows what they are doing, please let me know.
Comic Smash – Studio City -
http://www.comicsmash.com/
Despite being close to me, I almost never go to this store any more. Basically Marvel, DC and not much else. I did go last year for the Quarter sale. The selection isn't great but in LA, quarter boxes are getting rarer and rarer. Replaced by the 50 cent and dollar bins. Also doing a sale according to the website:
50% off all Statues
50% off all Action Figures
50% off all Back Issues
20% off all Graphic Novels
I might hit the quarter boxes if my wife is not with me. She is not a fan of the bin diving. Never seen any events there and do not frequent that shop anymore.
DJ's Universal Comics – Studio City -
http://www.facebook.com/djsuniversalcomics
Remember if you haven' t been in a few years, they have moved up Ventura about ½ a mile or so. This is my current regular shop. Not a place to bring spouses and significant others. I am not a pull list guy but if you are buying new, there is an automatic discount. Pretty good selection of indies (Big Dog Ink books, Tarot, Ape, Moonstone) but not the best. Last year Jim McCann was there but I don't there will be anyone there. Seem to be lots of statues but I don't collect so can't judge. Frequently has 50% trades but not sure what is going on for FCBD. I will ask on Wednesday. If you are in town for books, I recommend it but not a party place, just for hard core addicts.
Earth 2: 2 locations, Sherman Oaks and Northridge (The old Golden Apple store). They are not updating their website but they are on twitter and facebook. Pet Peeve, but why leave up a webpage with old information. If you don't use it, take it down or just link to facebook or have your store hours, etc. The Sherman Oaks store is the main one. About 3 years ago, they bought the other store off of Golden Apple. This is the place to take the significant other in Sherman Oaks. Clean, well-light, organized. Not that great for hard core people as the selection is pretty bad. Marvel, DC, and very little else. There is some Image and a little indy wall section. They do a buy 10 trades gets the 11th for free program. They will order books for you. They used to do more for FCBD, but looks like "free sketches for kids," raffles and cos-players. The DC book will have their logo on it (making it exclusive). The store is too small for big events. Last year they had Geoff Johns and Jeff Loeb and the line went up the block. I don't see any names there but definitely safe place to take the kids/significant other. "See Honey, not all comic shops are filthy dens of mouth-breathing social misfits." Probably will skip it but might swing by. This used to be my main store when I first move to the valley.
Emerald Knights – Burbank – I just noticed these guys a few months ago when they started doing in store signings. They have had a bunch of Image people, the Womanthology people and others. It looks like Mark Waid on Monday May 14th. Selection is not that good. This is primarily a gaming store but any place that hosts in store creators is good with me. Of course it is rough as they have to content with House of Secrets.
Golden Apple - what are we going to call this, Melrose and just the other side of Hollywood? Not sure the neighborhood. People can poop on this store all they want but they do it up big. They actually have a parking lot, have a play area and it will be madness. This is the place where the TV station will send the crews.
10:00AM - The festivities begin!
*1000'S OF FREE COMICS & SWAG!!!
*$5 grab bags with BIG prizes!!
11:00 a.m. Signings:
Dark Horse Creators:
*Felicia Day & The Guild Cast Members
(THE GUILD)
*Andrew Chambliss
(BUFFY SEASON 9)
1:00 p.m. Signings:
Bluewater Creators:
*Burt "Robin" Ward
(BURT WARD: BOY WONDER)
*Scott Davis
(WRATH OF THE TITANS)
3:00 p.m. Signings:
*Marc Andreyko
(MANHUNTER, TORSO, TRICK R TREAT)
*David Schwartz
(IDOLIZED FROM ASPEN COMICS)
*Peter Calloway
(ANTI FROM 12 GAUGE COMICS)
Plus
*BOUNCE HOUSE & ACITIVITIES FOR KIDS
*TONS OF GIVEAWAYS!
*PARKING LOT SALE!
*FREE CINCO DE MAYO TACO BAR (W/PURCHASE)
*LIVE DJ SET BY PDUB!
You may have missed it but that GUILD appearance means it will be crazy. I might stop by. It is a real crazy atmosphere but you have to love how they embrace it. Unfortunately the parking lot will be filled with party stuff so parking will be spotty.
House of Secrets - Burbank. This is a big store because so much of the WB crew works in Burbank so they shop here. You can rub elbows with the powers that be. I have been a few times and the staff is very helpful. Selection is decent but nothing too crazy so I only go for events. They will have Jim MCCann and Rodin Esquejo from 5 – 7 pm for the Mind the Gap. Not sure if I will stop by or not.
Meltdown – Hollywood – You would have to think this is the big one right? I mean, unless you put Golden Apple against it, this is likely the top dog. Partnering with the alt. comedy scene seems to have helped the store. They do gaming as well. Good selection and lots of shirts, toys etc. Parking is bad. This store does stuff constantly. Last year was a good FCBD scene. I haven't been able to find what they are doing this year. Stay tuned, it will be happening no doubt.
I am sure I am forgetting something and I realize this is incomplete, but it is early still. Anything looking good to anyone?
). So if anyone is in the Troy, NY area swing by and see us at