Going to San Diego Comic Con last summer renewed my interest in comic books. Back in middle and high school, I used to go weekly to these two local comic books shops that were mere feet from each other. One was run by a guy who was the spitting image of Comic Book Guy on the Simpsons, but this guy was in business long before the Simpsons first aired! The other was run by a bald guy who wore thick rimmed black glasses. For more than twenty years, even though they were right next to each other, these two places had enough business to stay open. If one didn't have a book, I'd go to the other, and it wasn't a problem for either store.

Well, last summer, I went to these shops only to find that one of them had gone out of business three months prior. Needless to say, I was very upset to hear that, so I made a promise to myself that I'd try to buy all my comics from the store that was left.

Last month when the trade paperback for Astonishing X-Men Volume 3 came out, I asked the remaining comic book guy if he had that in stock. He didn't, but he was glad to order it for me. Even though it cost me extra, I felt a lot better about supporting a local business.

Yesterday, I got a call that my book had arrived. I went to the shop today and was shocked to find a "going out of business sale" banner posted at the door. I talked with the store owner, the bald guy with glasses, and he said that the new building owners never really gave him a chance to sign a new lease. He at least got an extension through the end of next month, so I'll be making some more stops there when I can. It's the least I can do.

On a better note, I managed to get both Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men AND the first issue of Buffy Season 8. :)