12 APRIL 17-23, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | CULTURE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS The Best Comic Book Stores in DFW There are plenty of options for comic book shops all over North Texas, including storefronts in Richardson, Plano, Denton and Fort Worth. BY SIMON PRUITT I f a picture is worth a thousand words, how much would hundreds of images with words be worth? It’s the quan- dary that’s haunted the comic book industry for decades. To the snootiest literati among us, comic books are unfairly placed in a tier below standard books. To the general non-reading consumer, height- ened special effects in movies and TV have cornered the market on fantastical story- telling. This is to say that comic books remain firmly a niche, albeit one that’s remarkably self-sustaining. In North Texas, there are plenty of storefront options for comic book readers to shop at. We can’t list them all, but here are some of our favorites when we need to get our fix between the panels. Awesome Comics 8420 Abrams Road In Lake Highlands, Awesome Comics is sort of the platonic ideal of a comic book shop. It’s small and intimate, without seeming cramped, featuring a healthy selection of new and old. Manager Jake Ewing is prime for book recom- mendations and will even specially order cop- ies that the store doesn’t have for you. The shop also hosts bi-monthly warehouse sales at their storage facility in North Dallas. Keith’s Comics 5400 E Mockingbird Lane #118 We don’t know what Keith’s Comics’ hiring process is like, but it’s remarkably consistent. Each time we visited the shop at any of its three DFW locations, the enthusiasm exuded by employees behind the counter was palpa- ble upon walking in. Hearing impassioned conversations about certain new series be- tween employees has actually amounted to purchases from us on multiple occasions. Keith’s has curated the exact environment you’d want at a niche store. Comic Asylum 905 N Jupiter Road #170, Richardson There are mostly big players (DC, Marvel) at this Richardson shop, but it’s a worthwhile stop. The interior is a very clean and quiet en- vironment, where employees take a more hands-off approach to your shopping. They’re around if you’d like, but otherwise, this is more of a choose-your-own-adventure. A few months back, we picked up The Human Target on DC Black Label, one of the best new IP sto- ries we’ve read in years. Ephemera Plants Terrariums and Comics 1208 W Magnolia Ave. #106, Fort Worth The comic book store in question here is just one rack inside a plant and terrarium shop in Fort Worth. But if you’ve ever been, you’d un- derstand why this is included. Ephemera makes their limited selection count. We’re al- ways surprised at the consistent rarities and quirkiness of the books. Last visit, we pur- chased Britten and Brülightly, a beautiful de- tective story written and illustrated by Hannah Berry in an art style we’ve never seen before. Black Cat Records ‘N’ Comics 971 Botham Jean Blvd. Located at the edge of the Cedars neighbor- hood, Black Cat Records ‘N’ Comics is one of the hippest places in Dallas. There’s an out- standing selection of comics that spans the front wall of the store, flanked by freestand- ing shelves of manga. In the center of the room, droves of vinyl records for sale with an equal amount of “I’m too young for this” and “I’m too old for this” deep cuts. Truth is, you’re neither. Give them a try. Black Cat also hosts punk and hardcore shows inside and in their small backyard, making them one of many underground nuclei in DFW. Madness Games and Comics 3000 Custer Road #310, Plano In Plano, Madness is one of the biggest comic book stores we’ve ever been to. It’s like the Josey Records of comics and just as easy (and fun) to get lost in. The comic books reside in four big aisles and a wall dis- play in the shop’s back left corner, sur- rounded by loads of toys, collectibles and posters, with several big folding tables in the back for community board game playing. A recent trip to Madness yielded the hard-to- find Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá’s New York Times Bestseller, Daytripper. Titan Comics 3128 Forest Lane #250 What Titan Comics might lack in aesthetic, it makes up for with selection. We’ve found some of our favorite comic books ever here, based purely on what gets highlighted in displays and employee recommendations. One fateful conversation in 2021 led to the purchase of Jeff Lemire’s Gideon Falls, which, in a roundabout, expensive, and time-consuming way, led to the writing of this article. More Fun Comics and Games 103 W Hickory St., Denton Located on the Denton square, More Fun is a staple for Denton trips, especially after spending too much money at Recycled Books or with a coffee from Jupiter House in hand. . Culture Simon Pruitt Simon Pruitt Awesome Comics is a cozy neighborhood shop nestled in Lake Highlands. The location on Mockingbird is our Keith’s Comics of choice. HAND BUILT NOT BOUGHT. FRANKLINS TATTOO AND SUPPLY TWO LOCATIONS: ...............4910 COLUMBIA AVE, DALLAS, TX 75214 ......................................................... PROFESSIONAL TATTOO SUPPLY FOR PROS ONLY Call for your appointment or design commissions today!
