Chapel Hill Comics

My favorite shop in the area. It may seem a bit small but they do amazing things with the space. Super friendly staff. I am also impressed that they don’t price gouge on variants like a lot of shops do.

This was the first American comic book store I had ever been to (my hometown has none and the other one I’ve visited was in Paris) and it exceeded expectations! The workers and the customers both were kind and incredibly knowledgeable, and were able to help me find everything that I needed, as well as recommending things I might like more. I purchased 5 books, all from different franchises, and was offered a button pin for free along with my purchase. In my experience, comic books (especially Marvel ones) cost an arm and a leg, but here they were sold at a lower, more reasonable price than is found at regular chain bookstores. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ would recommend, whether you love superheroes, cute graphic novels, or comics based off television and movies, they have exactly what you need here and much more!

Wow, what a cool shop.
I stopped into the store for the first time today, while it’s a bit small, it’s gorgeous on the inside. It’s a great layout with a bunch of cool books.
Ideally I’d like to see more action figures and the like, but that isn’t the basis of this store, it’s all comics all the time baby, and who doesn’t love that?
Staff picks are well thought out, and the staffers I spoke with were very well-​versed in comics wisdom.

A great bookstore for literary graphic novels. It’s very nicely laid out and pleasant to browse.

My 5-​star rating mostly has to do with my experience, which was aided by Andrew, the owner.
I am mostly a novel reader, not a graphic novel or comic book reader; although I have dabbled in reading Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman, James O’Barr, and the Strangers in Paradise series.
I am from the Cary area and was meeting a friend in Chapel Hill, after my friend left I decided to walk around. I used Unilocal to look up bookstores where I found The Regulator (which I didn’t like) and two bookstores that were closed down. I walked into Chapel Hill Comics not expecting to buy anything because I’m usually not willing to buy something unless I know I will love it and because I am mostly unfamiliar with comics.
After I finished browsing the Neil Gaiman and Grant Morrison sections and had already picked up one Neil Gaiman graphic novel, Andrew (his name I learned at the end of my visit) walked over and asked if I needed help. I told him that yes, I needed help and let him know that I’m not a big comic reader, but that I’m interested in Gaiman and Morrison and like Gay & Lesbian literature and the surreal. We then began a 30-​minute conversation that surrounded possibilities of comics that would interest me, the My Little Pony phenomena, and the kind of stories that make us tick.
Andrew left me alone when other customers came in and gave me time to browse, I left with the complete King City by Brandon Graham, which made me crack up on the first page, and the first two The Sandman Overture issues by Neil Gaiman (I have never owned issues and always wanted to) – I had put down the first Neil Gaiman graphic novel in favor of these.
I really enjoyed my conversation with Andrew, he was super helpful and friendly, and I left with three things I will love. I would definitely travel 30 minutes to go back even if it means there is no Andrew in the store with whom to converse. Everything is well-​labeled and there seems to be a little something for everyone – there are even some novels that are in the store because the covers have been re-​illustrated.

This store is the very definition of overrated. I suspect a lot of that is the prime spot right on Franklin St. but the few times I have had the misfortune to enter Chapel Hill Comics has always been a terrible experience. The staff are condescending and rude and the store itself is called a comic book store but in fact has or displays very few actual comic books. The store tries to ride a line between innovative indy titles and mainstream offerings but falls down and is just an uneven offering a little bit of both worlds.
The space itself in small and overcrowded with plush toys, which I am guessing is the true revenue generator of the store as they out number the comics by almost 2-​to-​1. I wouldn’t recommend Chapel Hill Comics to anyone who wasn’t in the market for an Ugly Doll and didn’t mins suffering a rude staff to pick one up.

Another «go to» place in Chapel Hill. I don’t know much about the genre of comics and graphic novels but I am fascinated by them. The staff is knowledgable and they always play cool music.

not a comic fan tho

One of the best comic stores I have even been to in my life. This place had it all: helpful, friendly staff; great selection; neat merchandise. One thing it has going for it that other places do not is that it was not cramped, organized like an old record store, or in some dank basement. This place was bright, big and INVITING, even to non-​enthusiasts, which I think is a huge factor in its success.

Super colorful place.
Comic books old and new. Books of all sorts.
They even have plush puppets. I love their look, it totally rocks!
I am not heavy on the comics but I am always curious about them.
Even with all that’s going on it has a simple enough set-​up to easily navigate through.
I would suppose this would be a top ranking little spot for the fans.

The BEST LOOKING Comic Book Stores I have ever seen! Very Neat, Clean and Merchandise is Displayed with MERCHANDISING Skills! !! !!! I was able to notice more! I stayed in this store much longer than I would have because everything looked so good and was displayed so well!
Comics, Manga, Graphic Novels, T-​shirts and some other cool and New Books!
«Scott Pilgram vs the World T-​shirts… One of «Scott and Romona» and one of just «Romona Flowers» and her statistics!
The Lady working here was Very Friendly and Knowledgeable!

Love, but manga has deceased significantly

I’m having trouble finding words to express how much I love Chapel Hill Comics. Let’s see… for one thing, it destroys all negative stereotypes you’ve ever heard about comic book shops and the people who work in them. With its bright and colorful décor, eclectic displays, and friendly staff, a visit to CHC is always a fun experience. The shop is family-​friendly and TOTALLY NOT CREEPY. Women and children and non-​geeks, believe me when I say you have nothing to fear!
At CHC, you’ll not only find shelves lined with a comprehensive selection of new comics and graphic novels (everything from superheroes to manga to slice-​of-​life indies), but also novels, art and humor books, and a delightful selection of toys (such as Giant Microbes, Ugly Dolls, plush Angry Birds, just to name a few). Best of all, everything is sold at standard retail price (or below). Just because that new issue of Green Lantern has a rare variant cover, that doesn’t mean you will find it marked up to some exorbitant collector price. And don’t forget to check out the back room for deals on books and back issues!
The shop also hosts lots of cool events like local author/​artist signings, 24 Hour Comic Book Day, and the annual Kids Art Show. Sometimes they even have live music.
One minor complaint I have is that subscription holders don’t get a discount on items from their weekly pull list (which generally is standard comic shop practice). They also don’t have much of a selection of games, action figures, or collectibles (although they’d be happy to order stuff for you). If that’s the kind of thing you’re looking for, I’d suggest a visit to Durham’s Sci-​Fi Genre. Still, all-​in-​all Chapel Hill Comics is probably my favorite local business in the Triangle, and the best comic shop I’ve ever been to anywhere.

I’ve been to a lot of comic shops. From Austin, TX, to Salt Lake City, UT I’ve yet to enter a comic shop and enjoy it so much. The staff is most certainly not rude, at all. I’ve talked with them many times. In one instance they talked to me about manga for about an hour. They’ve obviously read almost every piece of work that is in their store. I also greatly appreciate their enthusiasm for the genre.
Quote: «planetary is maybe the best Sci-​fi genre comic to come out in the past thirty years»
Result: I bought said comic and it was excellent
Conclusion: Their recommendations are superb, take some time to ask, and listen if you are looking for something special!

This is not your typical Marvel vs DC, D&D-type comic book store (you saw on the Big Bang Theory).
It’s cutesy, well arranged and will stretch the boundaries of what you think comics are if you’re just familiar with the vanilla comics aforementioned.
It’s definitely worth checking out for anyone wanting to expand on their inner geekness, or if you’re just walking down Franklin and the doors are unlocked.

Very rude staff. New customers be warned, if you aren’t well versed in comics, you’ll be lucky if the clerk looks up from her web-​browsing to answer a question.
To top it off, its apparently a good thing to talk down to customers these days.
The employee I dealt with is definitely keeping score. It is «staff vs. customers,» in my opinion. I’d rather shop at B&N than put up with the snobby condescending attitude at this place.

I haven’t been to a comic store in years — my dad and brother used to drag me into comic stores with them while I was growing up, but I really liked the fun vibe and large variety of products here.
So, since my parents are in town, I’m taking them to places that I think they would enjoy. This was the first stop on Franklin St. It was definitely not the old hardcore comic store that you walk into and see a table of D&D in the corner — it was more like a store for eye candy that even entertained my mother with the stuffed selection of Uglydolls and stuffed parasites. My dad made the comment that it took her back to her teaching years.
Anyhow — the staff was friendly, it was very well organized and designed to throw you, the reader, into a variety of different things as you go row by row. I ended up taking home a copy of «Pride, Prejudice and Zombies.»

There once was a boy named Andrew
Who loved comics and things that cool geeks do
He rescued an old shop
Remodelled thrice; it’s tip-​top
He cares for his love and we should, too
Seriously, people, share the love. This place is as good as it gets. Excelsior.

Chapel Hill Comics is the refreshing antidote to all those dungeon-​like comics stores. Friendly to serious comics fans and newcomers alike — you don’t have to be a giant comics nerd to feel welcomed here (and I say that with all love for giant comics nerds). Especially as a woman, I love that I can go in there without being stared at, leered at, or lectured to. Big points for female-​friendliness.
And you know That Comics Store Guy? The one who hangs out for hours, annoying the people working there and customers by insisting on chatting to them? I’ve never seen That Guy at Chapel Hill Comics.
They sell classic graphic novels, superhero books, non-​superhero books, indie books, manga, and even some more art-​book stuff. Fantastic selection.
The people who work there are knowledgeable as well as being friendly. If you’re looking for something new, they’ll talk with you about what you like, and recommend something for you. I’ve heard about some great stuff that way.
Even though I don’t live in Chapel Hill, I make the trip to Chapel Hill Comics because it’s just far and away the best.

I have not had a chance to read many comics in the last… oh, I’ll say decade or so. I have read some graphic novels, which are all quite good (ie Watchmen, V for Vendetta, etc.), though nothing in the way of regular comics of late.
I will be the first to admit that I’m not an expert. I was first introduced to comics through mass-​market globs that Costco used to sell. These would mostly be about 18 – 20 Marvel or DC comics from the early 1990s, an era that is generally considered the low point in comicdom, where Superman died at the hands of Doomsday, Batman had his back broken by Bane, Green Lantern’s city was obliterated by one of the fake Supermen (not Shaq or Superboy), and every Marvel character was either given massive muscles or a leather jacket (or both). Well, not Spider-​Man, but I think he had to fight a bunch of Venom clones, so that’s bad too.
So basically, I may not have a good sense for what makes «good comics», but I do know what a good comic book store looks and feels like, and Chapel Hill Comics fits that bill. This place is set up with love for comics in mind: the new releases are on one wall, and on the other wall you have an incredible selection of graphic novels and fantasy works categorized by author (Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman, Brian K. Vaughn), and fiction vs. non-​fiction (in case you’re looking for Maus or Persepolis).
All of this, coupled with incredible service, makes Chapel Hill Comics an ideal place to get your comic on. If you’re looking to catch up on the latest saga in the Marvel Universe (I think the original Captain America is still dead), or looking for some more in-​depth graphic novel reading, this is the place to go.