The Comic Book Enthusiast
comic book
SHOP
Since attending university in 2010, I have been going to Njoy Games & Comics located in Northridge, CA. They recently moved closer to campus, which allows me to walk over when I want. I try to come by on Wednesdays since new issues are released every Wednesday. However, I recently stopped by on Friday the 13th of March 2015. One of the many reasons why I continue to come to Njoy is because of how kind the workers are to their customers. Every time I enter the shop, I am greeted and am asked if I am looking for something in particular. The shop is packed with comic books, graphic novels, manga, collectibles, etc. They carry a wide variety of superhero-related items from comic books to statues. At the entrance, there are a lot of action figures on the right from the Batman universe. The role of superheroes within this shop is really high because every comic book superhero title from well-known comic book publishing companies are carried there, such as Batman and Spider-Man. However, Njoy also carries comic books from companies such as Image, Dark Horse, and Boom Studios. Recently, titles such as Silk and Spider-Gwen have been sold out in just a few days from release. For a non-superhero comic, Image recently released Descender, which is a hit with Dustin Nguyen who has done many Batman titles. I think superheroes will continue to be one of the biggest forms of profit for the comic book industry as most comic book readers are so immersed in it. Njoy even has a subscription service offered to customers. This service allows customers to have their favorite titles put aside for them, so that they will not miss an issue of the title they are following. As a subscriber, it is stress relieving to know that I will definitely get the issues that I want. Further, the subscription service is maintained online and there are perks for being a member. For instance, if I subscribe to 5 titles, I will get 10% off every time I purchase comics in the shop, with free bags and boards. Also, they give the subscribers recommendations on titles based on their subscriptions. In the shop, they have an open book reading policy in which a customer can grab a seat and a book and read to see if they like it or not. Also, for new titles, if a customer did not enjoy #1, they are more than welcome to exchange it for store credit. Additionally, one of the best things about this shop is that it carries books for all kinds of readers. They have a wide selection of manga titles on the left wall of the store from the entrance. Also, below that are racks filled with titles for children such as Teen Titans Go!, Steven Universe, and Adventure Time. On the other side, there is a huge book shelf for graphic novels from superheroes to other non-superhero titles. In the middle, closer to the front door, is an array of items such as board games and Pop! Funko vinyl toys. This shop also carries a lot of back issues which are stored in a big comic book storage cabinet in the middle of the store and one right next to the entrance. Moreover, there is also a wall where all new issues can be found. They even have dividers that indicate which titles came out with a new issue that week. There is a lot of stuff in this shop that takes up a lot of space because initially it was only supposed to be an online one. Furthermore, since Njoy has an online store, customers can always know what they have in stock to save themselves the trip if they are out of a specific item. They are one of the few comic book shops in Los Angeles that have an online store. I think it is convenient for customers to purchase something when they cannot make it to the shop. Moreover, their online inventory is the inventory they have in the store, so the item gets removed from the shelf and gets put aside for the buyer. Therefore, every customer gets a chance to purchase an item even if they cannot make it physically to the shop. I check their site quite frequently to see the new comic book releases and to stay up-to-date on variant covers. During my recent trip to Njoy, I was able to sit down and have an interview with the owner. To respect his privacy, I did not ask for his name in the recording. He was very enthusiastic and was more than happy to answer all the questions I had, ranging from the comic book industry to recommendations for new readers. Please click play on the video below to hear my very first podcast with the owner of Njoy Games & Comics, and to learn more about the origins of the shop, etc. Thank you very much for reading and listening!
-Nguyen, Alina
1 Comment
4/27/2015 10:06:10 am
A terrific profile of a (very) local shop! Thank you. I appreciate the addition of photos and of course the audio interview. You've gone above and beyond the call with this one, Alina, thanks!
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