Heroes For Sale

This was my comic shop for the last 10 years before moving back to the US. It is a great comic and toy store with lots more interesting pop culture and general comic writing things!
What separates this store from other comic shops is the selection, layout and the owners. Stu and Sue are just good people who love comics and have great advice for kids to well read collectors. I have been to lots of comic stores in the US but this is still my favorite!
They have moved to a new location which features two parks behind the pub and more room with lots of space! Go Heroes!

Heavily influenced by two uncles with a love of comic books, Heroes for Sale is a place I’ve visited a handful of times. I was never really into comic books and only really got into a few of them. For me, Heroes was a gateway to what my family was into, and it was pretty awesome to see. The figurines are a great sight to see, but their comics steal the show. I always enjoy picking up a title I’ve never heard of and just flicking through it.
Fables was my all-​time favourite series when I was younger– not only was it hilarious but the plot was crazy good. I think I almost died of happiness when I saw a brand new issue for the first time at Heroes. I’m far from a comic connoisseur, I can still appreciate a great store when I see one– wish Auckland had a few more of these!

My favourite thing about Heroes For Sale is that it is run by a guy called Stuart, just like the comic book store in The Big Bang Theory. My other favourite thing about this store is how truly happy it makes every comic book nerd in the central city. Picking up the latest Walking Dead comic is a regular ritual at my flat, at which point the brown package will be passed around aggressively fast, with no one offering anyone else any spoilers. Heroes For Sale is moving from its current home further down K’Road to the corner of Ponsonby and K on April 1. Look out for it at 582 K’Road soon.

Heroes for Sale is the type of store we don’t see enough of in Auckland. I don’t want to use the diminutive term «Geek Shop» but «Adult Toy Store» definitely conveys the wrong meaning, especially being situated on K Road.
«Comic Book Store» may be the best description for this shop, and they excel in stocking up-​to-​date comic books, from shiny, plastic-​wrapped comics to ambiguous manga characters. The skillful staff will be happy to help you out. They also stock a great range of games– board games, card games, dice games. Purchasing a good board game is like an investment for a really memorable summer, especially if drinks are involved.
One of the better places, other than a pub, where a guy can spend his allowance in Auckland.

I am no longer the keen nerd which I used to be. Not to say that I have grown out of comic books, I wish I still had the time, but the demands of everyday life have proved too consuming. But when I find myself on one of those lazy afternoons window shopping around town I’ll always stop by Heroes for Sale. They have an impressive range of comics, figurines, and posters. Some of their stock is so obscure that only the most ardent movie/​comic buff would be able to appreciate it, for example they might have a figurine of an extra who made a 2 minute appearance in one episode of a not so popular TV show from the 1980s. Cool staff who know their stuff.

Comic shops aren’t the dingy loser-​filled singlefests they used to be, thanks to Scott Pilgrim and Watchmen and other crossover hits. Normal people go to comic shops, sometimes even girls.
They try to, at any rate. Auckland has distressingly few comic shops. But it does have Heroes for Sale, and Heroes for Sale is excellent.
Partly what makes them so good is their range. All the usual big-​name stuff like Superman and Captain America, but also plenty of less well known, more obscure things. Ever heard of Black Hole by Charles Burns? Neither had I until I found it at Heroes, but it’s excellent.
The other thing that makes them so good is the staff. All of the people who work there know comics inside out, and are obviously enthusiastic readers themselves. Furthermore they’re happy to take the time to help you find what you want. I went in to get my little brother something for his birthday and the lady behind the counter spent a good 10 – 15 minutes recommending things and discussing what books he might like and why. Not because she wanted to make a sale, but because she genuinely wanted me to find something that he’d be into.
They’ll do the same for you. Or they’re happy for you to just pore through the shelves yourself, seeking out gems. Either way, it’s the best place in town to buy comics.