Mail-Order Comics: The Verdict

In response to obnoxiously escalating cover prices, I decided back in April to take the plunge and switch to a discount mail-order service for my comic book fix. In addition to saving me a bundle of money, it figured it would also save me the time and hassle of going to the comic book shop week after week.  Don't get me wrong...my shop is one of the biggest and best in the nation (Source Comics & Games in St. Paul, MN)...but after 30+ years of weekly comic book visits, it was starting to become somewhat of a chore.

So, I did some research and chose Heroes Corner of South Bend, Indiana for my first order (for comics published in June), finished out the month of May at the comic shop, then waited the entire month of June to read a new comic book...which actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Detached from the "pivot point" of New Comics Wednesdays, the immediacy and urgency of routinely buying new comics gradually faded, becoming one less "errand" to fit into my busy routine.

Then, right on time, I received a big fat package of comics on the final Saturday of June, all bagged and boarded and ready to read!  Of course, since I had an entire month until the next shipment, I've been reading them at a much more relaxed clip, instead of consuming them the first day or two after buying them from the shop. So, in addition to giving me a more relaxed attitude toward new comics in general, the once-a-month delivery has gotten me to slow down and savor the comics I order rather than wolfing them all down like a guy in a pie-eating contest.

Needless to say, Heroes Corner has my business for the foreseeable future...not only for the ease of ordering from them, but also for their top-notch customer service. Polite, professional, responsive, and knowledgeable...all the factors I like in a comic book shop without having to actually visit one. Oh...and the 40% to 75% discounts are pretty nice, too (and, no, I'm not on their payroll.  Just my honest assessments).

Sure, there are a few drawbacks to a once-a-month delivery schedule.  For example, the highly anticipated Wednesday Comics project from DC (weekly "comic strips" in a newspaper-like format) is something I'll have to wait awhile to experience...and the good reviews coming in for this week's premiere issue make the wait even tougher. Don't think I haven't caught the irony...I finally break the "hamster wheel" routine of New Comics Wednesday, and my first regret comes from missing out (albeit temporarily) on something called "Wednesday Comics".  Arrrghh!

Still, that's a small price to pay for paying smaller cover prices, not to mention great service and selection (they have anything you see in Previews available to order).

For those of you looking for the same kind of savings and service, give Heroes Corner a try!  

Comments

[ShadowWing Tronix]

To quote the kid from The Simpsons: Ha Ha! :)

Personally, I didn't pick up Wednesday Comics because only a few of them interested me. Maybe if those comics come out collected (like a number of old comic strips), I'd pick those up. It's not worth the money to me.