TOP TEN(ISH) TUESDAY: THE SUPERMAN FAMILY

In honor of the release of Superman (2025) (of which I will post a review eventually), I thought I’d focus my first Top Ten(ish) post in a while on my favorite Superman Family characters. It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that most of the list is characters who debuted in the Silver Age of comics, several of whom were regular features in the much-beloved (by me, at least) Superman Family title (my collection of which I have almost finally successfully rebuilt after selling them off years ago), and several of whom lived on the much-missed Earth Two of the Silver and Bronze Ages. I’ve chose to ignore the “Big Three” (the current Superman/Clark, Lois, and Jonathan Kent) and also to focus on heroes and supporting cast rather than the villains (hence, no Lex, Brainiac, etc. Maybe I’ll do a Superman’s Villains list down the road).

IMAGE: Superman carrying Lois Lane, alongside Supergirl carrying Jimmy Olsen. (c) DC Comics

 

MR. & MRS. SUPERMAN: While the wedding of the Golden Age/Earth-Two Superman and Lois Lane occurred in Action Comics (long before their Earth-One/post-Crisis counterparts tied the knot), most of their 1950s-set post-wedding adventures were chronicled in the pages of Superman Family, and I loved every one of them. The easy rapport between husband and wife, the updates and expansion of the Golden Age Superman’s rogues gallery (including the creation of an Earth-Two Insect Queen and frequent use of the Ultra-Humanite), and the guest appearances of fellow Justice Society members like Batman and Johnny Thunder made my eagerly await each issue. I really need to do a re-read and write a Series Saturday post about the series. DC really needs to give us a nice trade paperback collection.

POWER GIRL: When PG was introduced at the start of the 1970s All-Star Comics revival, I was shocked at how different this Kara Zor-L was from the Kara Zor-El of Earth-One. She was less powerful but surer of herself (or at least, better at pretending she was more secure in her identity). Her three-issue solo run in Showcase enhanced her origin and her supporting cast and further differentiated her from Supergirl. DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths cut all of her background and has resulted in multiple rewrites of her history. I am one of those relatively few folks who didn’t mind the rewrite that tied her to ancient Atlantis (and at least implied that she was the sister of at least one reincarnation of the Golden Age Hawkman, although that was never followed up on), but I’m happy to have her original history somewhat restored now that the Multiverse is back.

JIMMY OLSEN: If you know me, you are not at all surprised that Jimmy is on this list. One of my earliest fictional crushes and examples of my Catastrophic Attraction Complex for redheads, thanks largely to Kurt Schaffenberger’s art on Jimmy’s feature in Superman Family. Jimmy was “Mister Action” then, leisure-suit wearing ladies’ man. He had swagger and he had skills, and that’s still my favorite version of Jimmy. I also have a soft spot for his weird Silver Age transformations (Elasti-Lad, Turtle Boy, Werewolf-Jimmy, and more).

SUPERGIRL: I have an admitted soft spot also for Kal-El’s first cousin. By the time I was regularly reading comics, Kara/Linda Danvers was already known to the world (and bouncing from career to career and city to city, it seemed), so I remember being kind of shocked when I read Silver Age reprints where Clark shoved her off to an orphanage and made her hide her powers. I enjoyed her Superman Family stories and her later (always short-lived, it seemed) solo series. I was honestly devastated when she was killed off during the Crisis. That didn’t stop me from enjoying Peter David’s run on the character trying to make her various post-Crisis iterations gel, but I’m still happy so many aspects of her Silver and Bronze Age existence have been worked back into the character. I’m also a fan of the “she was Kal-El’s older cousin, but space warps got her to Earth after he grew up” addition to her lore thanks to the TV show.

NIGHTWING AND FLAMEBIRD: Originally super-hero identities Superman and Jimmy Olsen adopted when they visited the Bottle City of Kandor (where Supes didn’t have powers), these characters really took off for me when the mantles were passed to Kandorian former criminal Van-Zee and his sidekick Ak-Var – because it allowed the characters to just become a gimmick allowing Superman and Jimmy to play at being Batman and Robin, and there was some real pathos in their stories. There have been a few Kryptonian variations on these characters in the Post-Crisis world, but none of them have resonated with me the way Van and Ak did. (Special Mention: I wish DC had done more, post-Crisis, with Dick Grayson and Bette Kane as Nightwing and Flamebird – but that’s a post for another time.)

MA AND PA KENT: One of the few things I appreciated from John Byrne’s post-Crisis revamp of Superman was the decision to have the Kents still be alive and supportive of their super-son. They are best when written as down-home, loving, supportive everyday people; their post-Crisis involvement in helping to raise or influence Supergirl, the Connor Kent Superboy, and their grandson Jonathan (and presumably more recently, the Super-Twins) has been a great enhancement to their history. To me, they were best personified by K Callan and Eddie Jones on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

KRYPTO: Superman’s best friend (sorry, Jimmy, but it’s true), his stories in Superman Family were always fun. Sure, his super-intelligence compared to normal dogs and his detailed thought balloons could be overdone, but that was half the fun. The current comics mini-series seems to be downplaying it, but I always enjoyed it.

THE LEGION OF SUPER-PETS: Krypto was eventually joined by Streaky the Super-Cat, Beppo the Super-Monkey, and Comet the Super-Horse (not all of whom originated on Krypton), and the occasions when the animals teamed up to save the day always made me smile. Silver Age Silliness, yes. Silliness isn’t always a bad thing, despite what the cynics will tell you.

SUPERBOY (CONNOR KENT/KON-EL): One of my two favorite characters to come out of the “Death of Superman” / “World Without a Superman” storylines. I admit, he annoyed me at first. But the Karl Kesel/Tom Grummet series went a long way to adding depth to the character and endearing him to me, as did his time in Young Justice and the Geoff Johns-scripted New Teen Titans run. I do wish DC would decide how old he’s supposed to be/look and commit to it (I don’t mind the alternating between variations on his first costume and the black tee-shirt/jeans look – but why does he look 13 in one costume and 18 in the other?)

STEEL: My other favorite character to come out of those storylines. It didn’t take me long to get over the co-opting of the name of one of my favorite Bronze Age/DC Implosion-era D-listers (Steel, the Indestructible Man), and I appreciate John Henry Irons for who he is and what he adds to the Superman Family: a character easily as intelligent as Lex Luthor who uses that intelligence to aid the Man of Steel rather than destroy him. I enjoy Natasha Irons as well, especially her appearances in the recent Power Girl series and her camaraderie with Lilith/Omen.

MON-EL: Lar Gand wasn’t the first amnesiac space traveler to be mistaken for Kal-El’s long-lost older brother, but he proved to be the one with the most staying power (thanks largely to Jim Shooter adding him to the Legion of Super-Heroes). Something about the tragedy of Lar spending 1,000 years in the Phantom Zone waiting for a cure for his lead allergy to be discovered really spoke to me. As with Power Girl and Supergirl, I was okay with the post-Crisis attempts to make him a viable character without his connection to Superman but I’m happy to have his pre-Crisis history restored (as seen in the recent “Phantoms” story that ran in Action Comics).

NEW SUPER-MAN (KONG KENAN): I was not reading comics regularly during the New 52 through Rebirth phases of DC, so I’m only just now reading this character’s original solo run (in trade paperback form). I like his origin and his character growth from selfish jerk to someone more aligned with the Super-Family’s code of conduct, and I look forward to seeing more of him.

 

THE SUPER-TWINS (OSUL-RA and OTHUL-RA): Another addition to the Super-Family that I missed the introduction of, having not been reading most of the Super-Titles during the “Superman on WarWorld” storyline. But anything that enhances the history of Krypton and allows Clark and Lois to show off their parenting skills (after Brian Michael Bendis unnecessarily ages Jonathan Kent up to adulthood) is alright be me. I don’t hope the twins, along with Kong Kenan, don’t get lost in the shuffle of so many Super-family characters.

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS: THE OTHER SUPER-TWINS: It is no secret that Superman & Lois is my favorite live-action Superman TV series and how sad I was that it got cancelled after only four seasons (another show I need to do a Series Saturday post about eventually). I loved the work that Alex Garfin and Jordan Elsass/Michael Clive Bishop did as Jordan and Jonathan Kent. I wish there was some way for them both to exist in comics continuity without negating the history established for the comics Jonathan (who I enjoy as a character even after the unnecessary aging-up).

 

 

 

Top Ten(ish) is a feature where I identify my personal top ten (or so) favorites in a given category. The key words there are “my” and “favorites.” My favorites may not be your favorites, and I’m not claiming that my favorites are necessarily the best in a given category. Everyone’s tastes are different, and “best” is subjective. I welcome polite discussion on these lists.

Interview: FRANK SCHILDINER

Today’s interview is with author Frank Schildiner. Frank’s work has been published by Belanger Books, Black Coat Press, Meteor House Press, and others. He writes in multiple genres, including historical fiction, horror, and adventure.

Hi, Frank! Thanks for taking a few moments to chat with me.

My pleasure, brother, it’s been way too long. I hope you’ve been well!

 

As well as well can be! Your current Kickstarter project (through the wonderful Belanger Books) is for Let Loose the Falcon. The Kickstarter ends on July 20th, so let’s start there. Tell us a bit about the book.

This is a book that is very important to my heart. I started it when my late wife Gail was in the hospital. I started it as a way of dealing with how rough that time was for me and hiding how bad I felt from her.

The story is one set in 1751 about a Royal Navy Post Captain named Henry Falconer aka the Falcon. He’s an excellent sailor and a very dangerous fighter with weapons and hands. His unwillingness to follow foolish orders has him forced into intelligence work. He picks up a few fellow spies along the way as he tries to uncover a major danger for the king.

 

What inspired you to write a nautical novel set in the late 1700s, and what influenced the character of Post Captain Henry Falconer?

I love Royal Navy fiction, having become a fan of Patrick O’Brian, Dewey Lambdin, Julian Stockwin, Alexander Kent, and C.S. Forester over the years. I also had an interest in the Georgian era, especially the real Hellfire Club under Sir Francis Dashwood and the 4th Earl of Sandwich. They were an infamous bunch whose stories were both bizarre and exaggerated. It all came together that way and I had fun writing it.

 

Knowing you, this is intended to be the start of a new series. Have you started on a sequel, and can you tell us anything about it?

The second book is also completed and involves 2 cults of killers whose styles are truly nuts, even for me. I also have an idea for the 3rd one involving a pirate treasure and a few ideas for the 4th and 5th. So yeah, definitely a unique series and maybe one I try and write for many years to come.

 

Your previous novel for Belanger Books, Caesar Now Be Still was also a historical novel but set in the late 1800s in New York City, an era I know you also have a passion for. Will there be more books featuring Detective Wilson Hargreave?

Yes, I do plan on doing more with him and old New York. I have an idea about a team of burglars who are tormenting the wealthy. There’s also a group of gangsters hoping they can catch them for…well…reasons…

 

I’d be interested to hear about your writing process. Are you a plotter, a “pantser,” somewhere in between? Do you have a specific daily word-count goal?

I am the living embodiment of a pantser. I sometime start work on something and switch to something else that my evil muse wants written. I have no word count goal but usually do between 1500-2000 a day. I have been known to exceed it when I get going or less when I suddenly go dry. It’s weird.

 

I’d also be interested in hearing about any literary or filmic influences you haven’t mentioned yet.

Oh my, so many.

 Literary: Jack London, Dennis Wheatley, Frank Herbert, Philip Jose Farmer, Louis Cha, Eiji Yoshikawa, Paul Feval, A.C. Doyle, Donald Westlake, Joe Lansdale…the list could keep going…

Film: Yojimbo, the Zatoichi series, Le Samourai, The One-Armed Swordsman, Brave Archer 1-3, Berserk, Alexander Nevsky, Universal and Hammer Horror films, Memories of Murder, The Dollars Trilogy, a few dozen Shaw Bros. Films with Philip Kwok, Lo Mang, and Lu Feng, The Ringu series, The 3 Mothers Trilogy, Devilman Crybaby…

I watch movies and read books constantly, so the list is nearly endless.

 

Finally, what’s on the horizon after Let Loose the Falcon?

I finished the 2nd book in the series, and I’m almost finished with a short story in the series called “The Dancing Falcon”. I’m writing the 3rd book in the Atlantis trilogy as well as a samurai era slow building cosmic horror series. After they’re done, I’ll do either a 3rd Falcon, a 2nd Hargreaves, or start a Fantomas novel. There’s also some non-fiction I might do, so I’ll keep busy.

 

The Kickstarter for Let Loose the Falcon ENDS TODAY (as of when I’m posting this). You can find Frank’s Ceasar Now Be Still and other titles published by Belanger Books on their website. The Atlantis series Frank mentioned, along with his Frankenstein and Napoleon’s Vampire Hunters series can be found on the website for Black Coat Press.

Interview: JIM BEARD

I have my first new publishing credit in quite a few years in Jack of All Comics!, an anthology of essays about Jack “King” Kirby’s work for both Marvel and DC Comics in the 1960s-70s. My essay is about Kirby’s work on the woefully short-lived DC ‘70s series The Sandman. Rather than just blog about having a new book out, I thought I’d chat with the book’s editor/publisher Jim Beard about how it all came together.

IMAGE: Jack Kirby’s head and arms bursting out of an art table, from which an ink bottle is falling. He’s holding a paint brush in one hand, a lead pencil in the other, and the flame from his cigar looks like the Human Torch. He is surrounded by art pages. Cover art by Ron Hill.

First, a little about Jim:

Jim Beard is a writer, editor, and publisher of adventure fiction and pop-culture non-fiction. He is the co-founder of Flinch Books and the founder of Becky Books (which published Jack of All Comics!). His licensed works include Star Wars and Ghostbusters comics, a Spider-Man novel, and Green Hornet and Kolchak the Night-Stalker novellas. Jim’s original fiction creations include the Edwardian ghost-hunter Sgt. Janus and the 1970s globetrotters D.C. Jones and Adventure Command International. He lives in Northwest Ohio with absolutely no pets whatsoever.

 

Hi Jim! First of all, thank you for inviting me to be a part of Jack of All Comics!. It's both a pleasure and an honor to be a part of not just a book about Jack Kirby, but also a book in a really wonderful series of books on "Comic Book Culture." Can you talk first a little bit about the inspiration for the series?

Pleasure’s all mine. Always a good feeling to give a struggling young writer a chance at the big time 😉

“Comic Book Culture” is inspired by my own comic interests primarily, but also by the drive to inspire readers to pick up each volume. That means going places they might not expect, while at the same time appealing to their own interests and passions within the medium.

What inspired you to make this latest volume about Jack Kirby, and in particular his 1960s-1970s work at both DC and Marvel?

A Jack Kirby book needs no other inspiration beyond “Jack Kirby.” The length, width, and breadth of the King’s work is banquet enough for a thousand-thousand books, and I had always wanted to add my own to that stack. The key, as with all my non-fiction books, was to “do it my way,” i.e. come up with something that hasn’t already been said and done a million times over—and with Jack, that ain’t exactly easy, given that’s he’s arguably the most discussed comic book creator ever.

Part of that encompasses just what you say: the parameters of 1961-1978. It always helps me to set a framework down to fill up with thoughts about whatever subject I’m addressing, and the three eras of Jack’s work during that timespan worked perfectly for what I wanted to do, which was have a different writer talk about each one of the series Jack worked on at Marvel and DC during those years.

When putting together a book of essays like this, how do you as an editor decide which writers get which assignments?

Sometimes it’s the easiest thing in the world. Writers say, “Ooh! I want THAT!” and you know you’re gonna get magic. Other times, it’s the most challenging thing because you always have the essays no one really wants to write…but I’ve been lucky because when I’ve thrown down a gauntlet to a writer to challenge themselves on one of those topics, they always find they’re the right person for the job. And then you still get magic.

In particular with this book, was there anyone you immediately thought, “That person HAS to write about THIS series”? Conversely, was there anyone whose interest in writing about a particular series took you by surprise?

A few. Cliff Biggers had to write about Fantastic Four. Van Allen Plexico had to write about The Avengers. That said, many of the other topics just fell into place and in the end, nearly everybody got their first choices. This book in particular was so great in that way for me. It was almost an editor’s dream. The excitement was high across the board.

I surprised myself by being the exact right guy to talk about First Issue Special 😉

Your own essay in the book is about Kirby’s issues of DC’s First Issue Special series, and I won’t spoil here which of his FIS issues was your favorite. But what enquiring minds really want to know is: what is YOUR favorite Kirby series of all time, and why?

Hate to be so mundane, but it has to be the obvious choice: Fantastic Four. Stan and Jack just rocked it out on that one, and over a huge amount of time and issues. It still stands as one of the greatest achievements of a creative duo in comic books to this day. And there’s two reasons why: Stan and Jack. Say what you will, and many of you have, but that was some kind of perfection going on there.

Finally (for now, at least), is there anything upcoming from either Becky Books or Flinch! Books (which you co-run with John C. Bruening) that you’d like people to know about?

It’s Flinch Books’ tenth anniversary this year and we’re releasing the fourth volumes in our signature series, me with Sgt. Janus and John with The Midnight Guardian. Frankly, I’m more excited to return to Union City than Mount Airy….

Both settings, and both characters, are great, in this interviewer’s not-so-humble opinion! I’m looking forward to chatting with you more about Sgt. Janus in August, and with John when the new Midnight Guardian book bows in the fall. Meantime, Thanks again Jim!

Theatre Thursday: Passengers

This past weekend, we paid our first visit to the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City, down by the World Trade Center, to see Passengers by the 7 Fingers. It was an incredible experience.

Description: My hand, holding the program for Passengers, in front of the main section of seating in front of the stage

Written, directed, and choreographed by Shana Carroll, Passengers is an intriguing mix of dance, gymnastics, silkwork, trapeze, juggling, polework, acrobatics, singing, vocalization, and spoken word – truly the “multidisciplinary” show it is advertised to be. The performers (at our performance: Sereno Aguilar Izzo, Eduardo De Azevedo Grillo, Kaisha Dessalines-Wright, Marie-Christine Fournier, Marco Ingaramo, Anna Kitchtchenko, Maude Parent, Michael Patterson, and Will Underwood) were all absolutely fantastic; it would be almost impossible to single any one of them out for praise over the others. They are truly an ensemble, and it appears from looking at the Perelman PAC website that the show might change subtly depending on which members of the company are in a particular performance (for instance, the website includes a photo of a cast member doing high-wire balancing, which was not in the performance we saw).

The loose concept of the show is that the unnamed characters (and each cast member plays multiple roles if I interpreted things correctly) are all passengers on a train. Throughout the performance, they bond, fall in love, separate and reunite (romantically and platonically); they experience the highs and lows of all kinds of relationships. Their emotions run from the comic to the heart-breaking, and most of it is expressed via movement and body language only. There are a couple of compelling monologues and songs and one very funny dialogue about the nature of time travel which serve as breathers from the more physical aspects of the show (even the most talented dancers, gymnasts and acrobats need a break!), but the most poignant moments come through the physical movements. The silkwork and trapeze work were particularly stunning and emotional; the juggling was hysterically funny; the contortionist aspect was mind-boggling, and the polework was mouth-droppingly exhilarating.

The 7 Fingers are billed as “Montréal’s acclaimed contemporary physical theater group” and they absolutely lived up to that acclaim.

Passengers runs at the Perelman Performing Arts Center at 251 Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan through June 29th, 2025, only. I highly recommend seeing it before it closes if you’re in the NYC area. The 7 Fingers website indicates the show will also play in Boston for the month of September.

Description: the lobby marquee for Passengers (a photo of Grand Central Station’s main departures board) behind piles of luggage, a clock, and an empty bench.

 

I’ve always loved live theater, and in the past couple of years I’ve been making a stronger effort to see more of it. Theater Thursday is a new occasional series where I talk about live theater, both shows I’ve seen recently and shows I’ve loved in the past.

TOP TENISH: INDEPENDENT BOOK STORES

Tomorrow, Saturday April 26th, is Independent Bookstore Day. So I thought I’d talk about some of my favorite Indy Bookstores, moving geographically from those closest to me to those further away. (I’ll be visiting all of the first 6 listed, probably in listed order.)

 

Sparta Books (Sparta, NJ) Sparta Books has been my “home ground” bookstore for quite a few years now. Long-time staff members Sue and Linda and owners Jen and Brad are always welcoming and happy to special order anything they don’t have in stock as long as the title is currently in print. The store hosts a monthly Lego night for kids, a number of author events, and a book club that meets the Third Thursday of every month (yes, I’m a member. The group usually reads stuff outside of my normal genres, which challenges me to get “outside my comfort zone” a little bit). Located at 29 Center St, Sparta, NJ 07871.

 

Pyramid Comics (Sparta, NJ) Pyramid is my “home ground” comics shop. Owner Pete is friendly and knowledgeable. The store is well stocked with current/recent comics and a lot of graphic novels, along with some collectibles. Located at 24 Main St, Sparta, NJ 07871.

 

Black Dog Books (Lafayette, NJ) I haven’t been into Black Dog since their change in ownership, so I don’t know what their current stock (new vs. used) and genre distribution is, but I look forward to visiting for the first time today. Located at 103 NJ-15 South, Lafayette Township, NJ 07848

 

Broad Street Books (Branchville, NJ) This is my “home ground” used bookshop. Su and Ethan run a wonderful community-oriented store with stock that is usually heavy on non-fiction but has plenty of fiction, graphic novels, and kid’s books. They also do a lot to support local authors. And their building is a former bank! Located at 1 Mill St, Branchville, NJ 07826

 

Stanza Books (Beacon, NY) Stanza has become my “home away from home-ground” bookstore, located a short walk from where my sister lives. A cozy, welcoming space, owners Andi and Mark run multiple monthly book clubs (mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, literary, “feel good,” and “books in comparison” all get their own nights) plus tons of book launches and author conversations. For my money, they are THE genre bookstore in the Dutchess/Putnam County NY area. Located at 508 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

 

Binnacle Books (Beacon, NY) Binnacle is a lovely, tightly packed, used bookstore on Main Street in Beacon. Every visit, I find some surprise I didn’t realize I was looking for. The staff are always helpful and willing to chat about books. Located at 321 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508.

 

The Mysterious Bookshop (New York City, NY) Otto Penzler’s Mysterious Bookshop has been a staple in Lower Manhattan for decades. The staff is always fun to talk to, so incredibly knowledgeable about the mystery and crime genres. In particular, this is a great place to find long out-of-print volumes and Sherlockiana, along with their American Mystery Classics and Bibliomysteries lines (from The Mysterious Press). AMC reprints classics of the genre by American authors like Cornell Woolrich, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Dorothy L. Hughes, and Ellery Queen. The Bibliomysteries line is a series of novelettes about crimes and mysteries that are book centric. Located at 58 Warren St, New York, NY 10007.

 

The Drama Bookshop (New York City, NY) Co-owned by the great Lin-Manuel Miranda, TDB is a great spot to find all things theatre-related (not just Broadway): play scripts, memoirs, musical librettos, books on theatre history, acting and stagecraft, as well as memorabilia (coffee mugs, key chains, etc.). Located at 266 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018.

 

Sweet Pickle Books (New York City, NY) I mean, what’s not to love about a store that sells used books AND jars of pickles? It’s a very narrow, heavily stocked store, so I’ll admit that I sometimes feel a little claustrophobic in there, but I love the selection of both books and pickles. Certain days of the week, if you donate 5 books you get a free jar of pickles in return! Located at

 

Three Lives & Company (New York City, NY) Another wonderful independent shop in Manhattan. No used books, but well-stocked with warm, friendly staff. Located at 154 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014, not far from the landmark Stonewall Inn.

 

Shakespeare & Company (New York City, NY). There are stores with this name all over the world (most notably in France). Until recently, this was a small chain around Manhattan but now there’s only one location still open, with a small café at the front and a broad selection of titles in all genres. Located at 2020 Broadway, New York, NY 10023, near Lincoln Center.

 

The Eloquent Page (St. Albans, VT) I travel once a year to St. Albans for work and pay at least once visit to this used bookstore every time I’m there. I can highly recommend their Arthurian and gaming sections in particular, but there’s bound to be something for everyone here. Located at 70 N Main St, St Albans City, VT 05478.

 

Studio Moonfall (Kenosha, WI) Paid my first visit to this shop earlier this month and will gladly go back whenever I’m in the Kenosha area. They have a ton of stuff from various small press genre publishers, a small selection of used books, and a nice selection of original coloring books created by the store’s owner. Located at 5031 7th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140.

 

The Inner Child (Kenosha, WI) Another comic and collectibles store I visited for the first time recently after years of hearing about it. The sheer amount of comic book related stuff in this store is overwhelming, in the best possible way. All manner of comics and magazine back issues, along with action figures, posters, DVDs, video games, statues … It was well worth the visit (for my collection, if not for my checking account) and I’m eager to return.

 

Downtown Books (Milwaukee, WI) Another store I’ve only visited once, a year ago, but this multi-room used bookstore will always have my heart because they were willing to dig through a packed warehouse to help me rebuild my paperback Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators set, a fond childhood memory. Hoping to get back there soon. Located at 624 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

 

The Iliad Bookshop (North Hollywood, CA) Another store I get to perhaps once a year but always find a small pile of books to acquire. Like Downtown Books, the store is a bit of a maze, but a fun maze. With cats. And a wonderful façade that book lovers will appreciate. My second favorite place to find Arthuriana. Located at 5400 Cahuenga Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601.

Also, a couple of small chains (meaning only a few stores, usually in the same geographic region):

McNally-Jackson Books (5 locations in New York City) I mostly visit the Rockefeller Center location but have been to several of the others. One of the things I love about these stores is the layout: entire sections dedicated to fiction from various parts of the world. On the second floor of the Rockefeller Center location, there are shelving units (rather than one shelf) not just for fiction from America, Canada, and the UK, but for countries across Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Pacifica. Of course, they also have the usual genre sections, a ton of non-fiction, and a fun pens-and-journals area.

 

The Open Book (4 locations in Los Angeles area) I’ve only been to the location in Canyon Country/Santa Clarita of this used bookstore chain, but I love it. They have great SF and fantasy sections, an ever-interesting stock of vintage paperbacks and hardcovers, pulp magazines, DVDs, CDs, and vinyl. Last visit, I found some vintage hardcovers of Mission: Impossible, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and The Adventures of Spin & Marty.

So tell me about your favorite Indie Bookstores and where they are. I travel a lot for work, so I’m always happy to find new stores to visit!