Al’s Comics

Sadly enough, Al has had to close his store. I visited him before it closed on October 28, 2011. He kindly gave me discounts on merchandise being purchased which I felt kinda bad for accepting, but also very appreciative. Now I’ll have to visit his website, but it’s not the same as wandering into the store and picking up a new comic that I’d never heard about and getting interested in the story line.

Stopped by while waiting for a table at Sushi Zone. This place is closing its doors but it’ll live on, online. Might as well, the store is not the most inviting; I think they’ll do just fine as an online vendor.

Popped into Al’s on a trip to the Castro area with the roommate. We’re both in attendance at AAU, her for comic book writing and myself for comic book illustration.
There are good and bad things about Al’s.
PROS:
Al, or whomever was behind the counter, was very knowledgeable and approachable.
Al’s store has in stock many old hard cover comics that I had never even heard of. Including some books of old strips that were published long ago.
CONS:
If you just want to browse. have fun. If you are looking for something in an organized manner, for instance you wish to find something by a specific publishing company, you are in for a world of pain. The store is in complete disarray with Dark Horse mixed in with Marvel and Marvel next to some small self publishing joint. it’s a train wreck. I told my room mate I almost wanted to ask Al if I could volunteer to organize his shelves. it was that bad.
All in all, cool store. has character.

I love Al’s comics.
When I moved to 18^th and Guerrero back in 1993, it was a big move for us. We went from a large house to an apartment. I was quite sad. But Al’s comic was there to help this kid make his transition.
Al is OLD SCHOOL! If you ain’t buying it, don’t read it. Don’t bend the comics, it will ruin the value.
I spent all my allowance at Al’s. I got Spawn #1, Wildcats #1, Witchblade #1, death of Superman issue with the black sleeve… I got my first starwars action figure from Al.
Those were great time.
I still have all the comics cards and toys from Al’s! It has been almost 7 years since I’ve gone to Al’s. One day when I have kids, I will pass on my comics, cards and toys and tell them I bought it all at Al’s comics. I will tell my kids about Al. He might look grumpy but he is a great guy! That was my hang out spot from 7^th grade to 12^th grade.
Thanks for the great memories Al!!! All the best to you and the store!!!

I can always count on Al’s! He has the best selection of new, old, back-​issues, esoteric, you name it!
Locally owned and operated, this place has struggled for years but should be a staple for all of us who love our comics!
Check it out!
We get all our Bongo comics there too (Simpson, Futurama, etc…).

Feels like home in here, smells like home too!
Amazing selection of old books as well as back issue comics and, even some great old monster models and toys!
So much fun on a Sunday afternoon.

A very homey, cozy store. Kudos to Al for keeping the extensive back catalog – that is NOT marked up. Very helpful for the casual reader.
Knick knacks were fun to browse, too.

Al helped me out years ago when the shop was a narrow closet down in the MIssion. I completed my collection of original «Sandman» comics with his help – I started reading them in college starting with issue #12. Nine years later I needed all the previous ones, and a few missing books after 12. He was able to sell me most of the thirteen that were AWOL, and they ones he didn’t have he found. He even sent me to two other shops where they had one or two of the absent comics I needed. Finally, after much work and a few weeks I was satisfied to have the complete collection. I couldn’t have done it without Al. The care and time he took to help me will never be forgotten.
I still shop there for my regular books and find treasures along the way.
No matter who’s working or what mood Al might be in – he is the best and very nice– it’s hands down the best comic shop in the city. Go there and support the community. You’ll never have to enter another Barnes and Noble or log on to
again.

It may not be fair for me to review a comics store, since I have zero knowledge of comics. However, I am HUGE on rating service and so therein lies my confidence to rate my experience today.
It couldn’t be more embarrassing than to go to a comic store trying to find what even I recognize as a lame-​o comic for my 10-​year-​old daughter. She’s going away to summer camp and I need something to put in the camp goody package. Brother got comics earlier in the summer, and during my search for his comics, she spied Veronica of the Archies (please — no haters) and decided that was the book for her. After returning sans daughter to look through it, decided I needed a better role-​model than a scantily clad daddy’s girl who likes to use her «charms» to get what she wants from boys, including daddy’s credit card.
So I asked my way-​more-​than-​knowledgeable-​about-​Supergirls friend what to get, and he told me to look for Supergirl-​Cosmic Adventures. So in I traipse, asking for it. And while he didn’t have it, he also didn’t make me feel like a total nimrod for looking for a comic that didn’t have too much scary stuff or violence, yet wasn’t baby-​ish. Asked me questions, tried to steer me toward some things, made sure to steer 11-​year-​old son away from the adult section, and then left me in peace to browse.
I finally came up with a couple of things I was happy with, and there was no snickering at checkout.
All in all a stress-​free experience, which is what I had hoped for.

Al’s Comics is a lot of things. Here are some aspects that I believe many will agree with when cruising here–
* Al knows where every book in his labyrinth of bins are and has a crazy method to juggling his bins that can only be understood if you see it yourself.
* the layout feels like an adult bookstore but instead of nekkid lady mags you get almost nekkid lady comicbooks
* parking sucks. my trick is parking on Waller, just across the street from Octavia
* pisco (next door) and orbit room are great places to grab a drink and read some of your books or just hang with ur friends being that they will be there while you are on the hunt thru bins
* This is not a comic lounge. It is a comic dungeon– musty, black finger from diggin and just old school baby.
Prices are moderate but the deep 80s and 90s inventory avail is why I come here. Al is still curating the lost art of comics though I sometimes worry that he isn’t finding enough oldies to replenish his heavily shopped through back issues.

After 22 years in existence, Al’s Comics closes tomorrow. If you have a chance, swing by and give Al some love!