The last day I was in Chicago (See this previous post for my thoughts on CAKE, earlier in the week), I had a few hours to wander around Evanston before heading down to the Science and Industry Museum. I got a map from the hotel desk with a list of local businesses and marked down used bookstores, tea shops, and a Blick art supply store. After browsing books, buying some pencils and wandering around deciding where I wanted to go to grab a bite to eat, I found a store not on my map, almost hidden behind road construction. Comix Revolution.
Of course I had to go in. I am a cartoonist, and despite the reports I hear of too many comic shops being unwelcoming and narrow in their selection, I have great love for comics and hope that the industry at large will continue to redefine itself and cut lose from stereotypes about nerd-dom and gender which are only true when people buy into them and construct spaces that support exclusion.
It was lovely. I was thrilled to see so many Indy comics on the shelves–self published, hand made works, including a number from people I saw earlier in the week at CAKE. Though Marvel and DC still dominated, a wide variety of publishers and books made appearances. The employee behind the counter was friendly and helpful, and no one was shocked to see a girl in the comic shop. They were even playing Leonard Cohen, whom I love, which has me truly convinced that this is a comic shop after my own heart.
Of course, I’d like to see more of my favorite comics on the shelves, more books from my favorite publishers. They were represented, but, biased reader that I am, I would have given them much more space. Still, I bought a comic book and this is huge for me–for years now, I have done almost all of my comic shopping online or directly from creators or publishers at conventions. It is all too rare that I give my patronage to a brick and mortar store. There aren’t enough of them, and there certainly aren’t enough good ones. This is one of the good ones. This is a store to go back to. If you’re ever in the Chicago area and looking for comics, check out Comix Revolution.