electricprune

Take @20% off

take @20% off

Take @20% off

Take @20% off

Take @20% off.

Foiled again! This time by my own stupidity.

I just had a book delivered via USPS today (a holiday). It was from MCS. So, I have to give them credit for that. Surprised they are working today.

Chicagoland isn’t that far away from me. You just never know where I’ll show up! As far as the stores having good stuff left, you can see what I buy. There is probably a higher percentage of good books after I leave.😄 Brad and Hector on the other hand... could leave the stores as barren wastelands.

Graham Crackers Comics- Downers Grove, IL Home of the 2002-2003 State Champion Trojan Badminton team. Ok, last Graham Crackers store this trip. Upon walking in, the was the smallest and darkest store by far. They had some decent wall books and many long boxes to look through. This store had the least to offer bookwise, but I would still go here to look through the longs. The Marvel area was very cramped with an extra table placed there with more longs on it. There were some decent books in them. I'm guessing they still needed to be processed and placed in the middle aisle of books. I did buy a few books. Brad even bought a book. This was our last stop though. Brad headed home and I headed to the hotel for the show the next day. I also forgot to get a picture of the inside of the store. Sorry about that Aside: This was the least impressive of the four stores I visited. I would still check it out if you are in the area though, especially if you're more into moderns. This was the second of the four GC stores I visited that had a sports card shop right next to it. If you're also a card collector, that's pretty convenient.

Graham Crackers Comics- Wheaton, IL Home of the Falcons This GC store is on the second level of a strip mall. We actually took an elevator to get to the second floor. I didn't even see stairs. I'm sure they were somewhere. Upon walking in, you'll notice this store is definitely smaller than the first two. They still have a lot of stock though. Several long boxes right when you walk in. TPBs, etc. line the wall to the right when you walk in. They do have some toys, but this seemed to be a more comic-centric store than the first two. They did have a small hallway in the back of the store that had shelves of cards in binders. So they offer those as well. I looked through the DC boxes, but didn't find much I wanted to buy. I went to the Marvel boxes, and woah! What a mess. They weren't labeled well, they were all over the place, out of boxes, and I didn't know if they were even to be looked though for sale. I didn't want to bother with them, so I didn't even look through them. Although smaller, this is still a store worth visiting. They did have some nice wall books. I don't remember seeing any Golden Age books, but they had a bit of Silver. Aside: Made my first Wall Book purchase of the trip. As usual, just an impulse buy. Brad looked though a lot of longs, but bought nothing.

Graham Crackers Comics- Naperville, IL Home of the Redhawks Just like the first store I visited, excellent selection, even a larger lay out, many boxes to look through, and lots to look through. They had their own card section in the corner and I noticed several people hanging out there. Brad joined me here. I bought several books, but Brad didn't find anything. He did dissuade me from buying a ROM #1 wall book here, 9.4 tops. We did have lunch right next door at a wing place. Decent, but nothing spectacular. If you can, these two stores should be visited if you're in the area. They are well stocked, clean, and easy to shop in. Aside: A pattern has now started, and it may be slightly hard to believe. The last three stores I have mentioned were all run by young women when I was there. This is something I usually don't see, and a pleasant surprise. I'm guessing they were all 20-25 tops. So much for the nerdy guy in his parent's basement stereotype. Not only that, but I have seen women or young ladies in every shop on this trip except one, and no other customers came in when I was at that one.

So, can I assume you were suspended by Milo Karhu on several different occasions?

Evidently!😁 Yes. I was going to say Dave’s had a second store in Ann Arbor. That sounds 100% correct. I definitely spent most of my time at CC’s too. I lived about 2.5 miles from it, so I could ride my bike there. Even rode to the Livonia location a few times. Not sure my parents were aware of that. Without GPS we weren’t aware of any subdivision short-cuts. So, it was all main streets. Did you go to RU High or Thurston?

Dave’s on Washington? If so, I remember that store. I actually think the one I went to on Washington was pre-2000s. Solid stock there either way. You are a comic encyclopedia, my friend!

That was right in the middle of my list. So, if I filled it out right or wrong, I’m still alive!

This is good to know. I've known about them, but wasn't sure they had any older books. I will check them out as soon as I can. Thanks!

Graham Crackers Comics- Plainfield, IL. Home of the Tigers. Brad sent me to this one solo. It opened at 10 AM, and I was there shortly after. This store has alot to offer. There are many long boxes to look through. When you first walk in, you'll see the Marvel section, and to your left will be many more boxes of DCs to look through. I spent quite a while here. Found several books. They also have some nicer key type books behind the counter. I even spent a while sitting on the floor looking through long boxes. They had quite a few on their own that were meant for books that are a little higher in price. Silver- Modern books to be had here! Maybe some Gold, but I don't remember them. Some of the walls are also lined with nicer books and keys. The had non-sports cards and may other items here as well. The store looks to have taken up three smaller units of this strip mall that also has a tattoo parlor and a sports card shop right next door. If you're looking for Silver-Modern books, I would definitely check this location out!

First Soul Strangler, First Blizzard. Score! You guys had best be going to a good chop house.

I believe, per the state, Terry said it was 50. I was there from about 10:30 until 1:30 or so. They probably had 20 or so come through by then.

I drove to Chicagoland and got there late Friday. I got to hang out with Brad (sharpcomics) that night and a good part of the next day. I got a room in Joliet. Joliet, like Jackson, MI is well known for having a prison there., The Old Joliet Prison. It is now closed. Since it was built before the US Civil War, I guess it had seen its best days. If you haven't been there before, it's a beautiful part of the country. I checked in the hotel very late Friday night, so no scenery for me. However, when I got up Saturday morning, I raised the blinds to this glorious picture of nature. Aside: Joliet once had a professional baseball team named the Joliet Convicts. I'm not making that up.

Not a brick and mortar, but here are some pics from Terry O'Neill's Mini-Con in Rosemont today. Well worth the trip. I purchased something from each of the 7 dealers, except Harley. I had met up with Harley Thursday and picked up a bunch of books from him so they wouldn't have to make the trip there and back.

Amazing Fantasy Books and Comics- Frankfort, IL Home of the Griffons. So, this is the first out of state visit I've posted. Comic fatigue has started to set in by the time I reach this store about 6:00 PM. When I walk in, I am asked to sanitize my hands, which I gladly do. The store is large, but I really only notice the books, They have some nice books on the wall. I check them out and make my way back to the short/long boxes near the other end of the store. I start to look through them, and most of them are newer books, They're are certainly some Bronze and even a few Silver mixed in, but most are newer than I would usually look at. About half way through the books, it hits me: I have to check out my one book and get to the nearest gas station. I didn't really get a chance to fully look at this store. It was very nice, the had many other things besides books, but I didn't get a chance to look much over. I'll need to go back eventually. The store is in a strip mall, but I did not get an exterior picture evidentally. I thought I did.

Fanfare- Kalamazoo, MI Home of the Loy Norrix Knights This is a very nice store. Large, open, and they carry just about everything a geek might want. I mean it. Check out the pictures. They have books back to Silver, with some Gold even. Keys and wall type books behind the counter for most shoppers. Toys, games, cards, pictures, autographs, 50 cent books, they have just about anything you might want. I forgot to take a picture of the outside, so I had to steal one from the web. I hope this is the updated sign, as I believe it has changed in the past couple of years. Most of the back issues are actually in "bins" that look to likely have been made by them for comics. This are all uniform and made from wood or a composite. They are sturdy and easy to look through. They are filled with books ranging from a little Silver to modern. (I forgot to take a picture of them, so I had to steal one. It might not really show them well enough.) They have a decent amount of Bronze and quite a bit of copper and modern books to look through. Prices are reasonable. This store is located just about a mile north of I-94, so it is simple to get to. If you happen to be in the area, or even driving through, it's worth a stop in. Aside: Yes, Kalamazoo is also a real name. I have had more that one non-Michigander ask me if it was a real name when it happened to come up in conversation with them.

That is possible. I believe he lives in Jackson. I have heard of another store/dealer that used to be in Jackson. People would travel great distances to deal with him because he would get incredible books in quantity. Not sure what his name was or what happened to him.