Exploring new comic book stores

Recently I had the pleasure of spending a few day's in my country's capital city, Ottawa. Among museum trips, walks along the canal, and an awesome sound and light show at our parliament building, I managed to coerce my best friend into visiting a couple of comic book shops.

Walking into the first one, I realized that it had been some time since I ventured into a new comic store. Having explored those available in my own city and chosen my favourites some years ago, I felt like I had lost the art of finding new comics in an unfamiliar environment. In book stores, I have a general plan going in if nothing jumps out at me from the displays: head for classics/literature, and grab something that sounds French or Russian.

Comic stores usually don't separate their genres quite so clearly, and my taste in comics as opposed to literature isn't so particular anyways. I'm very much a judge-a-book-by-its-cover kinda girl, so I'm prone to grabbing whatever is on display and catches my eye. I have a much harder time when I only have the spines of graphic novels staring out at me. What can you deduce from a name? Often not much - if I had been going on name alone, I'm sure I would never have picked up half of my favourite graphic novels. In my neighbourhood comic store I'm friendly with the owner, so he's always given me great recommendations.

Ultimately I grabbed something familiar, but I felt like I had probably left behind a lot of gems hidden away on those shelves.

How do you feel out new comic book stores? Do you head for your favourite section? Ask the employees for a recommendation?

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