I’m new here, and while the luster of being in a city like San Francisco is enough to make my head spin, nothing compares to the shrieking fangirl dance I did when I saw just how many comic shops there are within a one-hour radius from my house. I’ve made a point to tour as many as possible — despite the protests from my poor bank account — and rounded out a list of my top four favorites (so far).
Isotope — The Comic Book Lounge
From the moment I moved to the Bay Area, people kept asking me if I’d been to Isotope yet. I figured it was hype until I went there. Here’s the deal: the owner, James Sime, is a sort of institution in and of himself. He has run Isotope for 15 years and told me that he’s worked in the store every day (except Sundays) since its opening. Isotope’s selection ranges from mainstream superhero comics to obscure titles rarely seen in print — like Al Jazeera’s “Terms of Service.” The upstairs loft section houses a huge variety of handmade comics and zines, some of which were the result of Sime’s in-shop “comics university” courses, the listings for which you can find on the Isotope website.
Isotope also boasts the Comic Rockstars Toilet Seat Museum, a collection of toilet seats covered in sharpie art from some of the industry’s biggest names — most recently, Greg Rucka, Jamie McKelvie and Brian Vaughn. Isotope is in Hayes Valley on Fell between Gough and Octavia, conveniently situated near some of Hayes Valley’s bourgiest bars.
Mission: Comics & Art
Snugly located between 18th and 19th on its namesake street, Mission: Comics & Art is a solid neighborhood shop — although I honestly would have missed it if I hadn’t been looking carefully. Despite being hidden, this shop is a surprising gem with a well-curated selection. I found Matt Fraction comics that I didn’t know existed, a hard copy of Fresh Romance — an independently published collection of alternative romance stories that is generally unavailable in stores — and the first volume of Stjepan Šejić’s Sunstone.
Mission: Comics & Art sells $5 “blind bags,” containing five first issues, which allows for a budget-savvy first date with a series. The issues are bound in plastic and sandwiched between two blank boards, so it’s a surprise until you open it. Mine included the first issues of Huck and Another Castle, as well as Just Another Sheep and American Monster, the latter two being new to me.
Cape & Cowl Comics
I’m an unabashed Cape & Cowl Comics fan, and it might be because the store and I arrived here at about the same time. This downtown Oakland shop, which opened in October 2015, has a bit of everything: a monthly book club, an enamel-pin-collection series and an intern who publishes his own comics. With stained-glass superheroes in the windows and the word “COMICS” done in neon and inlaid in the wood paneling, the interior design feels like what your cool uncle would do to his house if he had the cash.
Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff
Concord might be a bit of a trek for some Bay Area residents, but if you’re in the area, make sure to drop by Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff on Treat Boulevard just a few quick blocks up from the BART station. The shop claims to be the original home of Free Comic Book Day, which makes it a must-see for comic and pop culture buffs alike. Owned by former comics-industry professional Joe Feld, Flying Colors may be small, but it offers a great selection and serves a huge community with ease. Given our collective tendency to perceive Concord as a sleepy neighbor compared to urban Bay Area cities like Oakland or San Francisco, it’s cool to see this deep East Bay locale stake a claim in pop culture history.
