I honestly really liked this store. It is a really nice looking store, he has art from people from all walks of life(that are all equally talented works), his store has a great variety, it’s neat, and the guy that runs it treats you with respect. I also like that he did not push sales on me, unlike some stores. He has a good attitude and that alone makes me want to return. On a side note, I am hardcore into pop figures. He had one of the last ones in our city I am looking for. He does not know me, yet trusted me enough that I would eventually pick up the figure and put it aside for me. What a great guy, there was no way of knowing I would for sure pick it up, but he still trusted me that I would be there. Parking is great. It’s easy to find the store. And he likes Alpha Flight, which I am also biased and have liked those characters for years. Chris is a great guy! This is an awesome place. Check it out!
Joey G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Calgary, Canada
I have been a regular customer(and even an employee) of several of the comic stores in the city in the 15 years I’ve been collecting comic books and Alpha is the one I’ve been searching for all my life. Alpha Comics is extraordinarily well laid out and very clean. It’s the most inviting and unintimidating shop I’ve set foot in. Everything is well organized and Chris is extremely knowledgeable about his product. Anyone stepping into the store should feel welcome regardless of the level of their experience or knowledge of the comics world. I’m also a file customer and can say Alpha Comics file service is the best I’ve encountered. Accurate and always ready for store opening on wednesday. Chris’ presence online also has created a real sense of community that I have felt lacking in every other shop I’ve frequented. Regular special in-store events and promotion are icing on the already delicious cake. Alpha is truly the shop I’ve always wished for and we in Calgary are very lucky to finally have it.
Paul F.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Calgary, Canada
For the longest time, I had no idea Alpha Comics even existed as the shop is literally on the other side of the city from me. Where more well known comic stores might have bigger buildings and better locations, Alpha Comics makes up for in something I haven’t seen in a comic shop for as long as I’ve been going: customer service and availability. Alpha Comics deals specifically with new issues which means there is little to no selection of back-issues. I thought this might be a problem at first, until I realized how little I cared to walk into a store only to sift through boxes of unorganized garbage to find the one special treasure. Due to this, Alpha Comics has a very clean and organized display which makes finding exactly what you want a dream. It’s become a necessity these days to focus more on the customer experience; with the internet being a part of peoples’ everyday lives, the world market has opened in a way that puts more power than ever in the customer’s hands. Rather than continue business based on the traditional business model of helping customers when they walk in the door, Alpha Comics has embraced the power of social media and is quickly becoming a strong online voice for the Calgary comic book community. Every time I’ve had a question, they’ve been there to answer me within an hour even on the busiest of days and have even offered me a couple times to put aside some books I’ve been wanting for my own convenience. Chris, the owner, is a fantastically nice guy who is super knowledgeable about what people want and has helped open my eyes to some lesser-known series relateable to my interests. As I’ve said before, I live across the city and I STILL choose to go to Alpha Comics every time I need some issues and am able to. We need more stores to look towards the little guy and see how things can be done right and hopefully one day even Walmart might be considered as good as Alpha has been.
Tiffany N.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Calgary, Canada
As a 90’s Goth kid… hell yeah, I have comic books. I have a good grip of Jhonen Vasquez, Serena Valentino, James O’ Barr, Rick Spears, Robert Tritthardt, etc.,… and also a pile of Marvel and DC to round things out and make me appear more dimensional. Alpha Comics is well laid out and clean, as mentioned in other reviews. Chris and the other guy that was there knew their stuff, and were incredibly friendly and also! Knew about Battlepug, which is five stars worthy all by itself. I came here for Revenge of the Fifth(AKA Free Comic Book Day) and was kicking myself for not visiting earlier. I used to live just up the hill, after all. Just before I left; I started rifling through the button bin, when one of the buttons came to life and darted across my fingertips. A spider had decided to make the bin his home. Chris, rather than play Spider Executioner that day; did the win-a-vegan’s-heart-for-life thing and carried the bin outside so that Spidey could return to the outdoors from whence he came. Thank you for not smashing Spidey.
Blake C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Calgary, Canada
I once had a friend that traveled halfway across the country for hard to acquire comics that he needed and got back home by hitchhiking all the while keeping the comics in mint condition. Not really; He got them off of eBay, but geeks will go to great lengths to get what they want/need to complete their collections or expand them. I was drawn to this shop after reading about it on the site. It sounded very promising. I arrived to find that it was a bit before opening. Nearby is one of those«Card game collecting places» like ‘Majic’ and what not. I piddled around in there looking at some of the things there were, all the while thinking«I’m not even THIS much of a nerd» Oh well, to each their own, I suppose. I wandered back over to find the owner and sole worker in the shop, Chris sorting through his daily work. He greeted me, offered help and was quick to assist in getting the comics I was looking for(and had called ahead for him to put on hold). I decided to ask him a few questions about popular series and individual comics and he was throwing out names I’d never heard of. Wow, this guy knows his stuff, and better yet, loves it as much(if not more) than his customers. I ended up getting a few more that weren’t on the list. Avengers vs X-Men collectors: If you can’t get a hold of a certain issue because it’s sold out, look here. He had a ton of first editions from Round 0 – 2 and I’m sure will be the same with 3 on so on. Great place, great owner. I will return.