Comic scene in LA v. NY

[rabidwolf]

Went to the Wizard Con yesterday. "The biggest con that takes place in LA". There were barely any dealers of Vintage books, although the ones that were there were really cool to do business with and talk to (interestingly all the major dealers were from outside of California). Even more interesting the non-comic book booths outnumbered the Comic booths. This is nothing new in the LA scene(even California save the SD con). Further, there are no major vintage book dealers in LA or so cal. I cant think of one dealer of quality silver and golden age books currently oberating in so cal. Correct me if I am wrong though?

 

On the other hand you have NY(and the east coast) where all the major dealers operate, major Golden and Silver age stores operate, and the biggest cons take place year round.

 

These are two of the biggest metropolitan areas in the US but there is such a large discrepency in the Comic Book Scene. Why is that?

[CAP Freak]

Tell me about it.

[shadroch]

I think you have the wrong impression of NYC.

Stores that specialize in major collections of GA and SA are pretty rare here as well.

[arexcrooke]

I think you have the wrong impression of NYC.

Stores that specialize in major collections of GA and SA are pretty rare here as well.

But arent the stores that do that kinda rare across the country?

 

It seems the bigger question is why the LA comic shows seem to be very lackluster.

[shadroch]

Perhaps the same reason the NFL can't make it there either

[TupennyConan]

That's it for me. I'll never go to this show.

[action1kid]

You have the weather and we have the comics. You cant have everything

[Moondog]

Went to the Wizard Con yesterday. "The biggest con that takes place in LA". There were barely any dealers of Vintage books, although the ones that were there were really cool to do business with and talk to (interestingly all the major dealers were from outside of California). Even more interesting the non-comic book booths outnumbered the Comic booths. This is nothing new in the LA scene(even California save the SD con). Further, there are no major vintage book dealers in LA or so cal. I cant think of one dealer of quality silver and golden age books currently oberating in so cal. Correct me if I am wrong though?

 

On the other hand you have NY(and the east coast) where all the major dealers operate, major Golden and Silver age stores operate, and the biggest cons take place year round.

 

These are two of the biggest metropolitan areas in the US but there is such a large discrepency in the Comic Book Scene. Why is that?

 

Hi-De-Ho Comics in Santa Monica

[agro23]

Terry's is in SoCal also. Lots of good Timelys.

 

This is what the show looked like though. In a small corner of the convention center, a partitioned off room even.

 

http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc147/studioqt/?action=view&current=MVI_0934.flv

 

It reminded me of the shows from the 80's. It should have been in a hotel ballroom!

 

[rabidwolf]

Does Hi de ho have a decent back issue selection still? And yes I did forget about Terry's.

 

But I remember up until about ten to fifteen years ago LA had some great silver age and golden age stores (all of which are out of business now), much better cons like the monthly Shrine con (which has now evolved into a porn convention) and Pacific Comic Exchange which had some of the best books in the nation. But then again fifteen years ago when I was in my teens I didnt have the budget to buy the great books available.

 

Some of the old local shops that used to be out here had some great books:

 

one million comics

outer limits

collectors dream

superhero universe

[Mr. Zipper]

I think you have the wrong impression of NYC.

Stores that specialize in major collections of GA and SA are pretty rare here as well.

 

Right... in a metro area of 12 million, we have ONE that has any real backstock of GA/SA and that's Metropolis which isn't really a store at all. It's an office that requires an appointment.

 

And NYC gets ONE major show a year, unless you want to count the National which is debatable... then two.

 

Funny, I am always envious of the CA people who get SD, Wondercon and WWLA and all the west coast show dealers I've never seen before..

 

I guess the grass is always greener.

[shadroch]

Eggxactly.

[TeenTitans]

it seems to me that the east coast has a better history with comic collections and collecting in generel, and also it helps that marvel comics is housed here.

 

the east coast & nyc rule for comics

 

sorry guys, pack up and move to the apple

 

[shadroch]

As if we need even more refugees.

[NewWorldOrder]

WW LA is the least crowded major con I have been to, and its obviously not surpising, and you have to remember CA is the size of all most the whole West Coast so comparing it to the East Coast is huge, plus the East Coast cons out number the West Coast Cons by a lot!

 

Alot of East Coast dealers will not do WW LA because its a dead con and its not worth the travel/expenses like Metropolis for example. They just wait for Wondercon and San Diego and I don't blame them either.

 

They are alot more local 1-day comic shows back east then here out west, trust me I lived in Philly my whole life till I moved to San Diego last year.

 

Girls and weather are great, but local comic cons no so much, .

 

FYI- NY City has alot of comic cons per year.

 

 

 

 

[CAP Freak]

I think you have the wrong impression of NYC.

Stores that specialize in major collections of GA and SA are pretty rare here as well.

 

Right... in a metro area of 12 million, we have ONE that has any real backstock of GA/SA and that's Metropolis which isn't really a store at all. It's an office that requires an appointment.

 

And NYC gets ONE major show a year, unless you want to count the National which is debatable... then two.

 

Funny, I am always envious of the CA people who get SD, Wondercon and WWLA and all the west coast show dealers I've never seen before..

 

I guess the grass is always greener.

Yes but. I its a 2 hour drive at least to SD, and a 10+ hour drive to WonderCon.

[rabidwolf]

Maybe its the fact that a lot of the exceptional books seemed to be housed back east that brings me to my conclusions. But LA comic conventions are really not "comic book conventions" if you look at the assortment of other types of dealers (toys, games, dvds, clothes) that outnumber the comic book dealers at these shows.

[Bumble Kitty]

I tend to agree. However, when Wizard set up in Long Beach a few years ago, that convention was fun and the thought of it growing was exciting. Moving to the LA Convention Center seems to be a big step backwards. There seems to be only half the dealers attending compared to the first show a few years ago.

 

As for conventions, don't forget to include Super Con to the list.

 

As for dealers, there is also SoCal Comics in SD, A-1 Comics in Sacramento, Steve Wyatt and probably a couple of others I can't think of.

[CAP Freak]

looks like its gonna be in LA again next year.

[CAP Freak]