So you want to check out what one of those fabled comic book stores is really like. Like record stores and gaming stores, comic book shops are all over the globe - offering the latest comics from Marvel and DC, popular manga releases, the beloved Dog Man graphic novels, and more. In many cases, comic shops stock decades-worth of older comic books and merchandise related to your favorite characters.
According to industry estimates, there are over 2,500 comic stores in North America alone - that's a network of independent businesses that's sometimes referred to as the 'Direct Market.' That's more than there are Barnes & Nobles, Books-A-Millions, and independent bookstores combined. While in some cases there are regional comic store chains, local comic shops are predominantly owned by people just like you - people that love comics.
In an era when digital comics have become just as readily available as print comics (and in some cases more), comic book shops allow a more personalized experience and direct contact with comic book fans and experts (while observing local COVID-19 safety ordinances, of course).