Why I Love Austin Books & Comics
Hi there! I’m Patrick the ABC Web Guy, I keep the gears greased and the hamsters on their wheels here on austinbooks.com, but even before that, I already had a strong bond with Austin Books.
I started coming here in about 2009, and have always loved the huge selection of comics, TPBs, and back issues, but even more I loved how warm and welcoming it was. Employees were always quick to check and make sure I was finding what I needed, and were always happy to answer any questions and provide recommendations.
When I started working at ABC in February 2015 and saw the employee side of things, it only made me love the store even more. It’s so fun to connect with coworkers and customers by discussing and speculating on the latest big storylines and events, getting excited about the next big movie or show, and the best part, sharing our favorite series and publishers. I discovered so many new titles, publishers, and creators from discussions with employees and customers, and have had people come back to tell me how much they enjoyed a series I recommended.
That’s the great thing about working in or even going to a comic store: you already have something in common with everyone there. We love making people feel welcome, because nobody wants to go somewhere run by a real-life Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons. Creating that sense of welcoming and community is wonderful because you never know where people are coming from, so having a big friendly comic store is like taking a break from the world where you can relax and dive straight into your favorite hobby without any fear of judgment or anything like that.
Really, it can all be summed up by the iconic theme song of a certain famous sitcom:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they’re always glad you came.
And that, everybody, is why I love Austin Books & Comics.