Read part 1 and part 2 if you missed them.
A few days after the visit to the last comic store, I started wondering what I would do when the third issue of Ms. Marvel shapeshifts into the world. Should I just download it? Should I give that store a second chance? Should I find a store that would require a special out of the way trip to get there?
I remembered a store from my search for local comic shops that was closer to me than the last store, so I found the name again and googled it. Clicking on the link for the website brought up a message that the store was currently closed. So much for that.
But then I clicked a different link and discovered that someone had posted information about new store stock and free comics day. So I went back to the store's website and clicked on the twitter symbol. The last tweet had been posted 24 minutes before. Slightly confused, I realized that I was going to physically drive to the store's location to see if the store was open for business.
It didn't bode well.
After my experience in the last store, I decided to find some other titles so I would have something to ask for help with if anybody actually offered to help me. After digging through several (I admit) Wikipedia articles, reading a review commenting on the propensity for Power Girl's costume to be torn to shreds in every New 52 issue (here), and finding out the 10 longest running female solo series (there), I chose two series in which I was possibly interested.
The next day after work, I ventured forward on the second part of my quest. I started at one end of the shopping center and just as I was getting frustrated at the numbering system in the center (which didn't seem to match the posted address for the store), I saw "Comics" above a storefront. I took a deep breath and opened the door.
It was like night and day. Literally. The other store had been a dark cave worthy of Batman. This store was bright. I'm not sure if it was because there were more windows, they weren't completely covered with posters, the lights were brighter, or the towering collectibles case in the middle was glass and allowed the light to pass through.
The GuyBehindTheRegister paused in the middle of helping the people in front him to say "hi" to me before the door had even closed behind me.
This store did appear to have less stock than the last store, although since I hadn't felt comfortable browsing in the last one I couldn't really compare the two. There were definitely fewer display shelves in this store.
I paused inside the door, with the register on the right, and the shelves on the left. Whether it was my bad experience waiting at the register for help in the other store, the brighter feel to this store, or that the amount of stock didn't appear so daunting, I turned left and started browsing. I quickly found my first title, though since I only found one issue it may have been in the wrong place. I kept going.
I wondered if the GuyBehindTheRegister would offer to help after he was done helping the people in the store before me (which evidently required a long conversation about collectibles). It didn't happen, but it was fine with me because the longer I browsed the more comfortable I became doing so.
While I browsed I found that:
a. The shelves were not too tall, so that I could see and flip through the items on the top shelf without too much difficulty.
b. Each stack had different issues in it, some more than one title, which might mean that the difference between the stock in this store and the other store was not as great as it appeared
I also found:
Amanda Waller-
I was REALLY tempted by this title, but I ended up not getting it. At home, I looked it up and found out that in the current New 52 universe she is younger and skinnier than the original. No thanks, I've had enough of that message. Come on, DC.
Huntress/Power Girl-
I didn't see any torn costumes in the issue I flipped through, but I did see a lot of teenage angst about boys. Completely valid, but thankfully something I've mostly outgrown.
Wonder Woman-
Enough said in part 1.
She-Hulk-
I was also tempted by this series. Looks like she's an attorney and goes out for lunch with friends and all that regular life stuff even though she's green. But I wasn't feeling the artwork.
The Illegitimates-
What? Still haven't figured this one out.
Random Inserted Note:
One of the people the GuyBehindTheRegister was helping when I walked in was a woman, one member of the couple he was helping with the collectibles was a woman, a woman walked in while I was browsing and plunked down on the couch in front of a television (obviously a regular), and another woman walked in with food as I was walking up to the register. In other words, the GuyBehindTheRegister was vastly outnumbered by the number of women, including me, coming in and out of this store while I was there.
End Random Inserted Note!
I finally located my second series as I was almost done browsing through all the shelves. Close by, I also found another series to which I kept returning. I'd pick an issue up, flip through it, put it down. I'd look at something else, go back and pick up another issue, flip through it, put it back. Finally, I thought, "at least I can ask him about something now and see what happens," and brought it up to the register along with my other selections.
"Can you tell me her backstory? I mean, who is she?" I asked.
(Of course, after I hunted down information about her online at home, I found out that she's been around for decades. This question clearly marked me as a newbie, which was pretty much the point, so hey! mission accomplished.)
He told me that she is a famous warrior, gave me some background about her existence in the current universe, and kept stressing that the series is really violent.
And as I stood there wrapped in indecision (and counting the dollar signs if I ended up liking it enough to keep buying future issues),
he said it:
"She's a really strong female character."
Sold.
Next (and the last) time: I discuss Ms. Marvel, the reason I started this quest in the first place
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