Earthworld

User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

HOLY HUGE SELECTION, BATMAN!!

That’s what I thought to myself the first time I walked into Earthworld Comics. Most likely it’ll be the first thing most people patronizing this store for the first time will think, too. Earthworld is probably the biggest comic shop in the Capital District in terms of physical size and variety of merchandise.

They don’t specialize in any particular niche product, but just about anything you’re looking for they probably have: new comics; back issues; trades and graphic novels; toys; independent comics; t-shirts; posters; discount bins; and even some DVDs too. The only areas they’re lacking in are anime/manga and RPGs, but these products aren’t mandatory to make a good comic shop, in my opinion.

Earthworld has that veteran feel to it in that you can they’re not outsiders trying to cash in on a trend. However, it’s clear they haven’t been afraid to evolve with the times. You can tell this from the store’s hip appearance and wide variety of merchandise. Also consider the fact they employ such a young staff and are constantly playing weird music makes Earthworld seem like a hip mall store.

The actual layout is nice and spacious with plenty of room to walk around and browse the different areas without feeling cramped (except maybe on Free Comic Book Day). It’s easy to find whatever you’re looking for because all the products of a certain type are grouped together. They also have a very friendly staff so if you can’t find something they’re always good at helping you out (thanks, Alicia!). Another nice touch to Earthworld is that it’s extremely well-lit for a comic shop, seems like so many stores have a gloomy atmosphere to them.

Like any comic shop worth their salt, Earthworld carries a variety of new issues from all the major publishers as well as a few indies. Although I find they’re much quicker to file away new issues into the back issue bins than most stores in the area.

New School comic book geeks will most likely be able to find any Modern Age back issue they’re looking for. Their selection is definitely larger than the average store and their prices have always seem reasonable to me. They also have a bunch of key back issues from the Bronze and Silver ages on the walls and behind the counter, which are also reasonably priced. However, old school collectors looking for run-of-the-mill older comics might be a bit disappointed.


The only bad thing about Earthworld is their subscription program. Most stores offer a flat rate of 10 or 20 percent off new issues and certain other items, but they don’t have such a policy here, which is odd. Their discount comes out to be approximately 10 percent off new issues but applies to nothing else in the store, not even off-the-shelf trades. I guess they must have a strong enough customer base of non-subscribers that they really have no reason to push a highly discounted subscription service. However, I think if Earthworld were to simply match or beat the discount offered by Aquilonia or Spa City Comics they could annihilate all the competition in the area. I know it would have kept me from switching to Paragon Comics.

Earthworld is one of the best comic shops I’ve ever been to. I’ve actually seen BIGGER stores but this is definitely the biggest one in the Capital District. Anyone that loves comics and just being a geek will love this store.

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User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Comic book store of choice: They have plenty of back issues, Marvel, and DC. but what I really go there for are their hefty selection of bound collections and graphic novels. They carry lots of non-Marvel/ DC comix and manga. The staff is usually discussing either an esoteric subject or trash talking. ha.

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