While the topic of where you can buy comics has been covered on the website before, I was compelled to dig a little deeper into the specifics when I received this question in my inbox from Bree recently:
I’m just starting to get into comics – a friend gave me some of her collection a little while back. I don’t really live close by to a store and am thinking of ordering comics online. I don’t want to read digital, but am worried that ordering print comics may result in damage. Is that just going to have to be a part of the risk or do you have some services/companies that have a good record that you could recommend?
It’s a very valid question. Just like Bree, not everyone has a comic book store close by and digital doesn’t have the same appeal as holding a comic in your hands. But where are some of the best places to buy comics online?
I’ve compiled six online stores which are great places to buy comics from. I’ve based the list on three required criteria which meets the needs of the question asked, but also most readers looking also to buy online.
The criteria is as follows:
- Wide range
- Fair pricing
- Has good mailing practices
I know that the above are objective, but I’ll try and justify my choices where possible.
Mile High Comics
Don’t be fooled by the dated website, Mile High Comics are a big player when it comes to buying comics online. They have a whopping 8,000,000 comics, with 100,000 listed on their site at any given time. (That’s a lot of comics!) As a result, they generally what you are looking for, especially when it comes to back issues. They do sell new releases too, but it’s not the major focus.
In regards to pricing, Mile High Comics can be a bit of a mixed-bag. Sometimes they will be below the average price for an comics, but other times they can be well above. Often this will depend on supply and demand, but also the grade, with comics in better condition going for a higher price. Although, they do like to offset prices with regular sales that are announced on their mailing list.
When I was doing my research I couldn’t find anything in regards to comics being damaged in the mail. Anecdotal evidence suggests that they pack the comics well for shipping, but it can be a bit slow.
Newkadia
Out of all the stores listed, Newkadia is the only online-only option, with all of the other options having physical entities too. Even without a physical store, they still offer a massive 750,000 comics, making them a great option for those hunting for back issues.
They have an interesting price structure, which is based off the condition of the comic, but then slowly discounted the longer it has been listed. On top of that they have regular discounts based off themes to drive prices down further. As a result, you can nab some absolute bargains.
In regards to shipping, Newkadia promise that comics will ship in a sturdy box, bagged and board and with free insurance.
Overall, Newkadia has very positive reviews online.
Things From Another World
If you’re looking for brand new comics, Things From Another World is a good place to start. They offer a wide range of new stock including comics, graphic novels and toys. Regular readers can even set up a subscription to make buying easier and you can even pre-order upcoming releases, making the purchase cheaper the further out you make the order.
Looking through the site it appears that most items are listed 10% below cover price. They also have additional discounts, which can be accessed through their mailing list.
As you’ll see in these photos, the comics are shipped securely in sturdy packaging, as well as being bagged and board.
Midtown Comics
Midtown Comics is similar to Things From Another World, stocking comics, graphic novels and toys. They do have one point of difference in that they also stock a good selection of older comics too. Although, their major focus is on newer releases.
Looking through the store, most items are about 15% lower than cover price. They also have regular sales based on different subjects.
Midtown Comics bags and boards all comics and their shipping is reliable. Based on my searches online I couldn’t find any issues in regards to damages.
My Comic Shop
My Comic Shop is similar to Mile High Comics and Newkadia in that it offers a massive range of back issue and new comics. They’re one major point of difference is that they have an auction house, which is perfect for tracking down the more collectable comics.
Prices seem to be quite reasonable, although I have noticed that the high demand comics can be listed a little higher than on other sites.
Based on the description on their website, My Comic Shop shipping methods appear to be rather sturdy. They protect your comics in custom-shaped cardboard padding, which is then wrapped in thick plastic and then finally mailed in a damage-resistant carton.
Overall, My Comic Shop has very positive reviews.
Discount Comic Book Service
Like the name suggests, Discount Comic Book Service offers comics at a heavily discounted price. The downside to this is if you want to buy recent releases then you won’t find them here as their business model is all about pre-ordering months in advance and subscriptions. If you do subscribe, you have the option of receiving your comics on weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis.
As I have already mentioned, DCBS offers heavily discounted comics that range from 30% to 50% off. That makes them the cheapest option available on upcoming comics.
DCBS ship their comics in a secure manner and I could not find any evidence of it being their fault for damages.
The Verdict
There is no clear winner when it comes to buying comics online. The services I have listed are a good starting point.
Do your research and see what the comics you are seeking are priced at and see which is the best option for you. Keep in mind that they all offer different shipping prices and it’s worth investigating these before you make your purchase. (I didn’t take shipping price into consideration because your location could can vary the cost a lot.)
Happy shopping!
Where Do You Buy Your Comics Online?
Have you bought comics online before? Is there an online store that you would recommend that hasn’t been mentioned? Let me know in the comments below or via Facebook or Twitter.
I have ordered from Mile High Comics (both back issues and new comics through their N.I.C.E. service) for a looooong time. Fantastic service, incredible amount of available material and good people. Highly recommended.
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Regards: deepweb
Amazon sells comics too
The best place I’ve used so far is Atomic Empire. They have a lot of titles, list of upcoming titles months in advance, the ability to subscribe so you don’t miss a single issue, and they package their shipments like they actually think you like to read books in NM condition unlike some who just send your issues in a plastic bag bent and ruined… their site seems a lot more clean and friendly to users as well…
A couple of observations:
DCBS is great for people who order a lot every month and don’t mind waiting three months between order and delivery. They solicit comic books three months before they are actually published, which is why they can offer such great discounts, so you actually receive the comic books within days or weeks of the actual publication dates. But if you are a casual buyer like me (I buy several graphic novels at a time, but I only order once or twice a year), they are not as good. I finally cancelled my last order after I’d waited more than seven months for a $200 order of books that had already been published. DCBS is much more geared towards regular subscribers than the occasional purchaser.
DCBS is extremely careful about how they ship comic books and graphic novels. Again, if you’re a regular buyer, I couldn’t recommend them more, and they make sure that your books are very protected during the shipping process.
Mycomicshop.com is also phenomenal when it comes to shipping. Like DCBS, they use cardboard singles, comic book bags, and shipping peanuts to make sure your comic books arrive in mint condition. Pricewise, they aren’t very competitive, and I personally haven’t dealt with them in at least five years because I don’t like them. But I’ve never had anything but praise for how carefully they pack and ship books.
I have been buying my books from DCBS since 2016 and have not really had any issues. The discount is the main reason I still buy comics today. Mile High is impressive to see in person and have not had anything bad to say about Midtown.
Hi – Could you add our site to the list. We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback!
http://www.scorchcomics.com
I live in india & comics are priced very high,can you put a list which shows sites that ship comics internationally at low prices
I am not a fan of mycomicshop.com when it comes to selling comic books. They do not pay a fair price, and they expect people to accept it since you have to pay to have your books shipped back (I imagine they make most of their money from people who don’t want to bother objecting to their theivery).
However, they are extremely good when it comes to shipping comic books. They use cardboard inserts to prevent packages from being bent and they put everything in plastic bags. I know it sounds odd, since I will never sell books to them again, but I would trust them when it comes to their shipping methods.
I would not order from DCBS. Just yesterday I wrote to them and demanded my money back because I still hadn’t received items I’d ordered more than six months prior. To their credit, they refunded my money instantly. But if you want a comic book, you probably don’t want to wait more than half a year for it.
The worst possible place to order comic books (and I’m talking about TPBs specifically) is Amazon. When I receive books from them, they are usually creased, torn, or otherwise damaged, because they are not packaged securely at all.
I never bought physical comics until the recent end of the Amazing Spider-Man issues #795-800. But the two sites I used to help me find those were things from another world and midtown comics. The pre-order on tfaw are really cheap and midtown always have discounts thank you Trevor Van
No worries, Eddie!
Midtown Comics is a great physical store but when it comes to ordering online they are a nightmare it will take forever to be delivered. I will try the other websites you mention but so far I am traumatized from my experience buying comics online.
I use Milehigh, mycomicshop and DCBS for my orders in Nigeria. Mycomicshop has proven faster to receive over time, then DCBS between 2 weeks to one month, though I have had experiences where they take longer. Milehigh comes between 1-2 months.
In all…satisfactory, especially when you hardly have abundant supply of comics in Nigeria.
My Comic Addiction sells back issues at cheap prices although they don’t have a huge selection. It’s also sells sets which I don’t see much anywhere else. The shipping isn’t bad either. You can also view mobile. https://mycomicaddiction.com
hey dude i am from India and I want to buy justice league new 52 comics so can tell where to buy because in my country the price od comics are very high please tell…..
I am not overly familar with comics in India, but you’ll be able to get them for a good price digitally on Comixology. I believe that they might even be on sale at the moment too.
DCBS or Discount Comic Book Service had a physical location in my city and was a great place to pick up pre-ordered comics at great prices. Recently they have shut down the store in my city and are based out of Memphis Tennessee. Unfortunately, my first order being shipped to my house has been a bad experience. I emailed them asking about my order status and never received a reply back and when my comics finally came, there were 3 missing with no explanation why.
http://www.instocktrades.com
Hands down best place to get cheap graphic novels. At least 40% off and free shipping for orders over $50
I got a huge black Friday deal last year and plan to go there again this year. They primarily sell graphic novels, which suit my needs. https://www.cheapgraphicnovels.com/
I’ve been using DCB for about a year and have really enjoyed it. A lot of the books are 40-50% off which lets you get a lot more bang for your buck. There is downside of having to order two months in advance, but for the most part I’m very satisfied.
Thank you so much for your response, this is so much more in depth than I could have done on my own!! It’s so helpful and I’m looking forward to diving in with this resource to help me 🙂
I’ve been going through Discount Comic Book Service for about 5 years now. I just love how easy it is. I am pre-ordering so I never have to worry about them being sold out of an issue I want. And 25-35% off is awesome. When the monthly solicits come out 2 months before the issues are released, I start to make my list of comics I want to pre-order. Then when DCBS opens up pre-ordering for that month then I already have my list of comics I want. Works out really slick. If I change my mind and don’t order something when pre-ordering is open, then I go through Midtown Comics to get the missing issues I need. Never had any issues with damage at all. It’s the way to go in my opinion.
It sounds like DCBS has really been working for you!