Comic book stores are another type of shop whose disappearance seems paradoxical, given the fact that comic book storylines are better known and more popular than ever before. While comics used to be a niche interest that could get you bullied, the seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of Marvel movies and, to a lesser extent, DC films have popularized the medium to such an extent that you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the United States without at least passing familiarity with superheroes like Spiderman or Captain America. Many people are fans of comic-based stories without even knowing it: the mega-series The Walking Dead and popular movies like Road To Perdition and Men In Black were born on the pages of comic books.

While the Disney and Warner Brothers-dominated industry has blossomed, the places where you can actually go to browse and read comic books have dwindled, even though there are more published graphic novels and comic books than ever. The first comic book stores appeared in the 1970s, but the 1980s and early 90s are generally considered their heyday. Despite opening in 1997 during a downturn in the industry, Midtown Comics has remained an essential presence in the brick-and-mortar comics industry.

Midtown was founded by Gerry Gladston, Angel Chantly, Thomas Galitos, and Robert Mileta, a quartet of teenage friends who grew up together in Astoria, Queens. Their first store was in Manhattan, and to date, they have three shops there: one near Grand Central Station, one near Times Square, and this one in the Financial District. In 2020, they also opened a store in Astoria. Since then, they have become popular in part due to their strong ties to the comics publishing industry – their proximity to the New York headquarters of both Marvel and DC Comics meant that it was quite possible to run into one of your favorite artists at the store. They’ve also been supporters of the community, sponsoring the Artists Assemble! Festival and New York Comic Con. Midtown’s events at both featured fan-favorite artists, writers, and industry personalities. They also produce a weekly podcast where they interview creators, and Midtown Comics was the setting of the National Geographic show Comic Store Heroes.

Visiting one of their locations is a delight if you’re a fan of manga, graphic novels, used comics, or any associated toys, figurines, clothing, and games featuring them. Shelves full of characters you’re not familiar with may seem overwhelming at first. Still, with help from a friendly staff member, they become invitations to explore worlds you never knew existed. For a middle-aged guy who grew up in nerd culture, it’s a nostalgic blast, but it’s also refreshing to see that places like this are now invested in sharing stories that revolve around more than just adolescent male angst. There truly is something for everyone, and that’s perhaps the most hopeful sign of all that the industry will continue to grow and thrive.