Ahead of its 10-year anniversary, Lincoln Park’s Graham Crackers comic store wanted to shake things up — a power-up boost, employees joked. So, in February, manager Shane Wallace affixed a map of the city to the front counter. Red pins were given to club members, blue pins to walk-ins, he said. They wanted to know where customers were coming from.
“We realized that most people were traveling south to get to us in Lincoln Park,” Wallace told RedEye one day before the new Lakeview location opened at Broadway near Briar Place.
“So we decided to move a little north,” he added. “Not too far, it’s only like six blocks.”
The new location, they claim, is the largest comic store in the city, and will feature a wider selection of comics, graphic novels, figurines, t-shirts and collectables, among other items, and has a basement level for in-store card tournaments, Wallace said. It’s definitely a reward for what Graham Crackers says is the largest comic book chain in the U.S. with nine stores, most of which are in the Chicagoland area.
Wallace attributes the shops’ success to the fact that there are sister stores sharing resources and product.
“It’s kind of like a solo musician verses a band,” he said. “Where a solo musician has to do their own thing … but a band can all lean on each other. That’s how we feel as a chain.”
WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Wallace says folks come in all the time wanting to get reacquainted with comics. So this RedEye writer came in saying he used to read Superman growing up (what journalist didn’t identify with Clark Kent?). But it’s been awhile. Here are Wallace’s recommendations.
1. “Superman Brainiac” by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank ($12.99): For traditionalists, this is where Superman would be now, Wallace said, battling one of his biggest arch rivals and fellow Kyptonian, Brainiac. The storyline surrounds an emergence of “New Krypton.”
2. “All-Star Superman” by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely ($12.99): While not continuous with traditional Superman lore, Wallace described this series as “absolutely brilliant.” It’s a take on Superman if he had terminal cancer and had to reevaluate his life.
3. “Superman Red Son” by Mark Millar ($17.99): An alternative Superman universe. Instead of Smallville, Kan., what if Superman had landed in the Soviet Union during the Cold War? Wallace said Mark Millar, who wrote comic-to-film blockbusters “Kick-Ass” and “Wanted,” has totally revolutionized the comic scene.
WHO HANGS OUT HERE: Music lovers from Reckless Records next door; the young, student crowd frequenting Intelligentia and Argo Tea down the block; and people involved with the forthcoming comedy club Laugh Factory, opening next month across the street.
NEW GAMING CENTER: On Wednesdays and Sundays the basement gaming center will host Marvel and D.C. Comics’ Heroclix card tournaments, like the Lincoln Park shop but with more space. Wallace says Magic card tournament gaming is forthcoming.
STAYING IN TOUCH: Graham Crackers has a big following on Facebook and Twitter with more than 800 followers each. Here, staffers at the comic shops chat with fans, post events and announce new arrivals.
Graham Crackers
3162 N. Broadway
773-665 -2010
