Austin Books and Comics, Austin TX

When you visit the website for Austin Books and Comics they welcome you with an introduction to who exactly they are that really sums it up better than anything I could try to make up on my own.

Credit: Austin Books and Comics

Austin Books and Comics is:

“Central Texas' biggest, longest-running comic store and pop culture retailer. We have tons of comics, graphic novels, toys, statues, collectibles, and more!”

Simple, concise and to the point.

This is a comic shop whose main theme and purpose is to sell comics. In a time when many comic shops need to over stock on Funko Pops and video games, Austin Books and Comics has kept the focus on actual comics books!

Credit: Austin Books and Comics

Credit: Austin Books and Comics

Along with comics books the extensive collection includes graphic novels, toys, figurines, & board games and has been in the same facility on North Lamar Blvd. helping folks discover their favorite comic books and pop culture merchandise since 1977!

When I moved to Austin in 2012 one of the first things I did was explore the local comic shop scene. Austin Books and Comics was one of the biggest, most extensive collections I had ever seen in real life at the time, maybe second just to Midtown Comics.

Credit: Frank Somma

The store is massive and a statue of The Incredible Hulk stands guard over the massive collection of back issues. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and willing to chat about all sorts of weird offbeat comics or mainstream mega events.

I was pleasantly surprised to meet a new type of comic book stereotype in Austin. It wasn’t the passionate comic book geek stereotype from The Simpsons, it was more the artsy fartsy hipster type who read black and white comics about lesbians falling in love.

Meeting the staff and other fans at Austin Book and Comics helped me broaden my understanding of what and who a comic book fan is. It helped me redefine my own expectations of what I want from a comic book. Lastly it made me feel like the comic book community has a real solid future with vibrant passionate fans from all walks of life.

If you are new to Austin Books and Comics the physical location itself is large and the inventory is intimidating, but as soon as you start a conversation with an employee you’ll feel super welcomed and accommodated and you’ll lose yourself wandering the floor for hours.

Along with the main comic book shop the shopping center on North Lamar Blvd. also includes Outlaw Moon Games and Toys and Gozu Gallery which features pop art and cool imported collectibles with a very Asian felt influence to their inventory.

Credit: Austin Books and Comics

Between the game store, comic shop and art gallery all packed together, Austin Books and Comics truly spearheaded an incredible shopping center of stores celebrating nerd culture in the heart of Texas! I highly recommend checking them out if you’re in town.

For more recommendations, check out more of CBC's retailer spotlights!