Long Island, NY Comic Book Shops

[killerbass]

Hey Kids--

I am going on the family vacation this week, mostly to visit family and friends. We'll be on Long Island, and when there are days with no events scheduled, I try to hit the road and find some comic book stores. (Doesn't everybody?)

Here are some of the places that I have visited in the past, with my impressions of the stores...

Tor Comics (Holtsville) -- A lone building in the middle of nowhere, Tor is like an oasis in the desert! Tons of back issues, Reasonably priced, and if you buy multiple issues you can bargain a bit. The only downside, sometimes the person working there (the manager's mother, I think) doesn't know anything about comics.

Cool story: I was drooling over a decent copy of Amazing Spider-Man #43, and I was telling the manager that I thought that issue was cool, but what I really wanted was a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #41 (first Rhino), because Rhino was my favorite character from the 1967 animated series. The manager tells a guy who's working there, "Go to the basement, and bring up the first Spider-Man box." The guy returns with a long box 3/4 filled with silver age copies of Amazing Spider-Man, including five copies of ASM #41. Man, it was really hard to pick which copy to buy.

Cool story #2: The manager showed me a very nice copy (F+/VF) of Avengers #4 that he bought off of one of his customers. He was pretty matter of fact about it, too.

Amazing Comics (Sayville) -- A small place, off of Montauk Highway in Sayville. The day I visited the manager was having a bad day; I think he had dental work done. All the guy did was complain -- about sales, about the late delivery of comics from Diamond and so on. But there were a small collection of nice issues there, most of it priced a little bit higher than I was willing to pay, but I did pick up a couple of (more recent) things. It was an average comic book store.

Bailey's Comics (Lindenhurst) -- This was a fun place to visit -- there was a lot of non-comic "stuff" that made this store very interesting. The staff was really receptive to questions and actually didn't mind having a conversation with me, which is the case with many comic book stores. The selection of comic books was decent, and that didn't include the "over 100,000" comics they had in the basement. Prices were pretty good. (I did pick up a copy of Black Panther #23 (the Deadpool crossover issue) for $3.75!)

Fourth World Comics (Smithtown) -- There wasn't a lot in the way of older comics here, but there was an abundance of modern back issues which was nice. Staff didn't interact much with me; I don't know if that's they way they usually are. The store was clean and well-lit. Prices were average.

Long Island Comics (West Babylon) -- Comics in boxes, stacked every which way. The current issues were looking kind of abused. The staff didn't have much to say. I got the feeling that I was in a (small) warehouse. The prices were average.

What other decent places are there? What do you like about those places? What places would you avoid?

Thanks in advance,
Tom

[COMIC GEEK]

I shop at 4th world comics nice store

try and hit collectors kingdom, its in huntington station.

631-549-4336


I been going there since 1980

[Asa]

Another awsome store I get my goods from, Freindly nice guys who run the place.http://www.amoktime.com/
Located Levitown, NY.

[Superheroic]

Fourth World is my Comic Shop of choice. Been going there since at least 1988. Even though I moved to CT I still have them ship my stuff.

[Michael P]

Rocketship is technically on Long Island.

[Nightstar1441]

I go to Collectors Kingdom every now and then - wide variety of product from comics to toys. I usually rack up on when they do the sales :smile:

Fourth World is actually having a sale tomorrow (20% off - but I believe it is invitation only - I'll be making a trip out to the store)

There staff is usually hands off - they like to allow their customers to browse without any pressure tactics.

Cosmic Comics in Oceanside has a lot of back issues and miscelaneous product - it's a small store but packed to the gills.

Serious Comics in Massapequa is a good store if you are looking for back issues modern to bronze age. Though not as organized as other stores, it has a decent inventory

I could recommend several others but you seem to be way out in Suffolk County and most of the other recommendations would be in Nassau and a bit of a drive

[mgs]

Rocketship is technically on Long Island.

All of Brooklyn and Queens are technically Long Island, but one does not consider Nassau and Suffolk counties as the same as those two. ;)Cosmic Comics in Oceanside has a lot of back issues and miscelaneous product - it's a small store but packed to the gills.


That's the one I used to go to for a while. I think they also had another shop elsewhere on LI and one in the city, but I never went to those stores.

[mgs]

There's also this place: Which I've been to. It's technically more of a gamer shop than comic store, but that may have changed since last I've been there.

http://www.grasshopperscomics.com/pg_info_storeprofile.htm

[killerbass]

I could recommend several others but you seem to be way out in Suffolk County and most of the other recommendations would be in Nassau and a bit of a drive

I am staying in Islip, which is in Sufffolk County. I am not averse to going to Nassau County, I just hate going someplace that's a waste of time...

Anyway, tomorrow I am hitting "Friendly Neighborhood Comic Shop" right here in Islip. It's within walking distance of where I am staying.

After that I will start looking at recommendations and hitting Mapquest. (I should have some open days after the weekend.)

Thanks to everyone who's replied so far!

--Tom

[COMIC GEEK]

I am staying in Islip, which is in Sufffolk County. I am not averse to going to Nassau County, I just hate going someplace that's a waste of time...

Anyway, tomorrow I am hitting "Friendly Neighborhood Comic Shop" right here in Islip. It's within walking distance of where I am staying.

After that I will start looking at recommendations and hitting Mapquest. (I should have some open days after the weekend.)

Thanks to everyone who's replied so far!

--Tom

www.mapquest.com to collectors kingdom its about 20 minutes from islip

[Nightstar1441]

There's also this place: Which I've been to. It's technically more of a gamer shop than comic store, but that may have changed since last I've been there.

http://www.grasshopperscomics.com/pg_info_storeprofile.htm

Was in there before Christmas - it's all games and modern comics (very small inventory) and trades only - definelty a pass for an out of towner

[Nightstar1441]

That's the one I used to go to for a while. I think they also had another shop elsewhere on LI and one in the city, but I never went to those stores.

Actually - there used to be one in Commack that was associated with the Oceanside store but he closed it down when the comic market crumbled.

The one in the city is not affiliated with the one in Oceanside.

If you make it into Manhattan - there are some obvious choices with Jim Hanley and Midtown Comics but there is this store on 14th I believe called Time Machine - a small place on the second floor that deals with comics only (it is very easy to just miss it) - I have not been there in a few years but I used to go there regularly when filling in a series as they had a very extensive inventory :wink:

I've never been to Tor Comics (I'm over in Queens) but might have to pop in next time I am out there :cool:

[Nightstar1441]

I am staying in Islip, which is in Sufffolk County. I am not averse to going to Nassau County, I just hate going someplace that's a waste of time...

Anyway, tomorrow I am hitting "Friendly Neighborhood Comic Shop" right here in Islip. It's within walking distance of where I am staying.

After that I will start looking at recommendations and hitting Mapquest. (I should have some open days after the weekend.)

Thanks to everyone who's replied so far!

--Tom

Keep us posted - it's been awhile since I made it out to Suffolk - a lot of the stores I used to visit no longer exist and I'm always open to finding other alternatives

[COMIC GEEK]

Actually - there used to be one in Commack that was associated with the Oceanside store but he closed it down when the comic market crumbled.

The one in the city is not affiliated with the one in Oceanside.

If you make it into Manhattan - there are some obvious choices with Jim Hanley and Midtown Comics but there is this store on 14th I believe called Time Machine - a small place on the second floor that deals with comics only (it is very easy to just miss it) - I have not been there in a few years but I used to go there regularly when filling in a series as they had a very extensive inventory :wink:

I've never been to Tor Comics (I'm over in Queens) but might have to pop in next time I am out there :cool:


time machine, is more than just comics, they have dvds,posters,figures,playboy,mad magazines.

and everyone gets discount

[killerbass]

Fourth World is actually having a sale tomorrow (20% off - but I believe it is invitation only - I'll be making a trip out to the store)

There staff is usually hands off - they like to allow their customers to browse without any pressure tactics.

OK, so I had an hour to kill and I drove to Fourth World. :smile:

It was about the same as I remember it, except that I forgot to mention that they had a huge amount of toys -- mostly action figures, but some statues as well.

I asked about the 20% off sale, and was told I would also get 20% off. (I did mention that I heard about it here online, and they honestly seemed to be happy to have the business.)

So what did I buy? I bought a VG+ copy of Amazing Spider-Man #32. It should go very nicely with my VG+ copy of Amazing spider-Man #33. I also picked up the one JSofA variant I am missing.

I didn't want to spend too much money at the first real comic book store I visited. :cool:

Anway, nice store -- it's an annual stop when I visit the family on LI.

Thanks for the head's up on the sail!

--Tom

[killerbass]

OK, I made one other stop today.

Friendly Neighborhood Comicshop (Islip NY, just off of Montauk Highway on Grant Street.) -- It's a small shop that also sells cards and action figures. The place also hosts card games, and that's where the problems started for me. There were three card tables set up right in front of the back issues, making it nearly impossible to go through them comfortably. After trying to look, I gave up after about five minutes. The guy behind the register apologized to my wife. He said that it would be better if I came by on Monday to check out the comics. OK... I'll probably give it another chance, but I don't expect much. The number of back issues wasn't tremendous.

That's all for today,
Tom

[COMIC GEEK]

what no pics to go with your routine for the day

[mgs]

I am staying in Islip, which is in Sufffolk County. I am not averse to going to Nassau County, I just hate going someplace that's a waste of time...
</p>
O.O then you sir, can get lost for all I care! freakin' elitist from FLA comin' and insulting where I grew up! *grumblegrumble*
Rocketship is technically on Long Island.

hell, if that's his thoughts about Nassau, I'd LOooove to hear what he has to say about Brooklyn and Queens...

[COMIC GEEK]

</p>
O.O then you sir, can get lost for all I care! freakin' elitist from FLA comin' and insulting where I grew up! *grumblegrumble*


hell, if that's his thoughts about Nassau, I'd LOooove to hear what he has to say about Brooklyn and Queens...

didnt you know that queens and brooklyn are part of long island. because there all connected :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

not to knock long island, cause I grew up here, but I think theres more things to do then locate comic book stores.

crap an hr train ride will bring ya to manhattan for one.

[killerbass]

</p>
O.O then you sir, can get lost for all I care! freakin' elitist from FLA comin' and insulting where I grew up! *grumblegrumble*

hell, if that's his thoughts about Nassau, I'd LOooove to hear what he has to say about Brooklyn and Queens...

OK, a couple of things -- I'm not insulting where you grew up. I'm insulting crappy comic book stores -- hence the wasting my time comment refers to comic book stores, and not Nassau County.

(For the record, both sets of my grandparents lived in Nassau County -- one in Westbury and one in Uniondale.)

As for Brooklyn and Queens, I really don't have that much time to travel -- nor do I feel like taking a borrowed car into NYC, especially someplace I have never been to.

Thanks for listening,
Tom

[Asa]

As for Brooklyn and Queens, I really don't have that much time to travel -- nor do I feel like taking a borrowed car into NYC, especially someplace I have never been to.

Thanks for listening,
Tom

There are two really awsome comic book stores in NYC, If you don't want to waste time I suggest hop the train, Don't drive.

In a small town you will find great comic book stores and real crappy ones. There are many on long Island and it is at least 5 hour long drive from one end to the other. Have fun!

[Nightstar1441]

killerbass - thanx for the suggestion about Tor Comics - actually got added to their mailing list - love the inventory and had a nice chat with the owner. Will definetly use when filling in the back issues on collections!