How Comic Shops are Coping: An Interview with Golden Apple Comics

[@ManBatz]

It's nuts when you go from being a Comics youtuber to a frontline correspondent. Good job as always.

[@Chandasouk]

Chris heard people were doing interviews and decided to do it better!

[@jeff_superscript]

Really enjoyed this conversation! They had a great idea to use games as a way to sell comics and engage the community. Also amazing that they did what they could do to help other shops. I’m so sad that they were a victim of the vandalism from the past week, but I’m glad that it didn’t end up being a lot worse. I’m going to be giving them a call later today to see if they have a book I’m looking for!

[@qwetroop]

Thank god for the comics community, seeing how fast people donated to help out not just this shop but the FAMILY whose livelihoods depends on it is beautiful.

[@Factsnotfox]

Comic Tropes is only comics content channel I subscribe to. You have a great blend of history, technique, characters, personalities, and current events. I was big on comics when I was a kid, and I tried to get back into comics about 20 years ago. I went to a local comics shop and bought a Marvel comic. When I went back next month for the next issue I was told that storyline was a crossover involving ten or twenty titles, but that this month's issue only involved crossing over with a couple of titles. I said "F##k that s**t!" So I became an occasional reader of Stray Bullets, which I still love. I fear watching your channel is slowly but inexorably leading me back to comics. I hope the local comics store is still in business .

[@keithr.4645]

Wow that was a great interview and truly captured this moment in time.

[@jerkfudgewater147]

I feel like future generations can look at this interview and see a thousand data points: the nervousness, the change of business operations, the staff not wearing masks around each other, the tiredness and the hopefulness, the guy sequestering his mom to keep her safe, and poor Chris hanging in there as a non essential trying to survive. This too shall pass, hang tight

[@funnypicturescomics]

Wow....that looting bit hit me hard......Insane times we are living in right now.

[@deviousj5868]

"Oh hi you caught me in the middle of a Zoom call."

[@morriscolautti9822]

Great stuff Chris. So sad to hear what's going on in the US. Stay safe guys.

[@hoozle]

Thoughtful as always, thanks Chris. Wishing all of the little guys in the industry well during this difficult time.

[@markbesada]

Going to the Golden Apple on Pico was one of me and my brother's absolute favorite things to do growing up. This brought back really great memories.

[@rudigerkipferl4479]

This is such a great interview and I'm impressed by the creativity the Golden Apple team showed to keep the shop running. It's a pity we cannot participate here in Germany. I wish them all the best 🙏

[@TariOwei]

Great work Chris. That’s the comic book store I go too. Thank you.

[@joejam070]

That's my comic book store. Golden Apple I've been going there about 20 years and I love Ryan and the family and we support them in any direction they take.

[@FIDELOROZCO]

Comics are pointed like escapism for some people. But your broad approach for them, since art critic, creators/medium history, and now these interviews you are teaching them how firm in the tragic reality is surrounded this art form. Great work Chris. I hope you are doing good in these hard days.

[@timvanboening9432]

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, just north of LA, and went to Golden Apple’s location on Rededa Blvd for YEARS!! AMAZING store!!! That and Toys R Us was my playground! They had a HUGE mural on the outside wall with all sorts of comic characters, but it was a painting of the cover of Frank Miller’s Wolverine #1 that is SEARED into my memory. Wolvie’s smiling face with his claws and “c’mere, bub!” finger was able to be seen a few blocks away, and I’d always get excited as we neared Nordhoff St (the cross street where the store was). I love that store, and am so happy they’re surviving. The Northridge store closed years ago, and only went to the Melrose location a number of times, but it still has the love from me.

[@rileystronachart3311]

Ahhhh yes comic man is back!

[@TheJMuise87]

Damage to the store is a damn shame. What a great looking store... On another note, anyone in the U.S please stay safe, with any luck your country will come out of all this a better place for all its citizens.

[@ChrisP58]

Thank you sir! We appreciate it. We usually do bounce back. It’s one of those things I feel we are good at...I like to stay positive lol. Where ever you may reside we wish you the best too. Be safe my friend :D

[@funnypicturescomics]

WHOAH!!! CHRIS?!?! I love this alternative format. EXCELLENT WORK!!!! You just keep producing videos and interviews that are so entertaining and informative. ComicTropes /Chris KNOWS COMICS!

[@johnkeller2669]

I feel really sympathetic to these types of mom and pop shops. I had a store just like this growing up and it's a huge reason why I got into comics in the first place. I great comic shop will make you feel welcomed and it can be a really uplifting experience on a bad day or week. Hopefully the world returns to some normalcy and you guys can be better than ever this time next year.

[@CoinOpTV]

good luck dudes - used to hit that shop up back in the day

[@Dariushellstrome]

Great video, I'm going to give a shout out to my local shop in Chicago Third Coast Comics, I met my wife there and got married there

[@Kizongz]

Really loving the interviews Chris! Keep up the good work :)

[@chriscowgill9831]

I've always loved your tropes videos and these new interview vids are great too! Please keep 'em both coming.

[@taviscaron4192]

Chris! Im loving these interviews! Very relevant and just dang entertaining. Yes to more vids like this sir. Thank you.

[@tonytygrrHI]

Terrific video on how the local comic shop is being affected by Coronavirus. I tried helping by buying lots of GCs to help show my LCS support.

[@fad23]

Golden Apple was the first store I was ever aware of. Back in my teens the original Melrose location was part of my stomping grounds! Haven't listened to the end yet. I hope things go well, but I know that Melrose got hit hard last week.

[@albireoish]

I would love to see an interview with Chuck Rozanski from Mile High Comics in the Denver Metro area. I appreciate his community oriented business. During a card tournament I was attending there a few years ago was my first time in his shop. At the end of the tournament I walked through a pool of comic boxes, and picked out a few dollar books of TASM that I enjoyed. Months later I reminisced on the experience I had there, and decided to complete my childhood comic book collections (of which I only had issues 1-20 of Spider-Man). It rekindled my love for comics. Today only a few years later I have completed over 25 Spider-Man runs. Thanks Chris!

[@toobadmynamewastaken]

Been going to golden apple for over a decade. Good people

[@retrodude5891]

Ive met Ryan he's a really chill dude. I ran a few events with him at Long Beach and it sucks they broken into his place. Wish them the best.

[@SamSepiol1909]

Really enjoy these interviews. Sad to hear about the looting.

[@ericbarnett9864]

I'm glad they are keeping in business. Hope to visit that store next time I visit California.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

We live in dark times with our comic shops. Right now, Heroes and Dragons and Muse Comics are doing pretty good here, in Colorado Springs, but I definitely encourage anyone to help out their local comic shops as well.

[@funkygarcia]

i work at a small comic shop its been hella crazy, we also had to figure out creative ways to still get comics to people, were now open witch is great, specially sense weve rechieve no help from donations or anything.

[@WaypointComics]

Great intereview and I wish them all the best, I hope to visit their store one day, the history!

[@Dabeef64]

wow, that store brought back memories. I love how it is set up. When I was a kid, there was comics & comix in Sacramento & it looked a lot like this store. I would like to check out their E bay store but can't seem to find it.

[@cpttetris5645]

Man, work is freaking crazy rn, but I will check this stuff out. Thanks Chris!!!

[@WhatsReallyGoingOn84]

I met Coheed And Cambria there! Thanks and sorry about the damage!

[@TariOwei]

It’s sad to hear that someone smashed the window. That is unacceptable behavior.

[@seanapple507]

I agree

[@jerkfudgewater147]

The police will do anything to justify their behavior. These are scary times

[@T.R.R.Jolkien]

jerk fudgewater all cops aren’t bad

[@Lomaxxx53]

@@T.R.R.Jolkien if they can't denounce their corrupt partners, then they aren't useful and are just dogs for the system.

[@shabeki]

@@jerkfudgewater147 The police didn't break the window of the comic book store or loot any random stores. Use your brain and stop with this cop-hating nonsense.

[@ericbarnett9864]

You should do Rock bottom comics in Fayetteville Arkansas. Great place, been around since the 70's I believe. Keep up the good work.

[@chrisgoll4853]

Thanks for doing and sharing this. Fans some are ignorant sometimes of the operations and hardships that the brick and mortar shops have to go through. And, in a world of heroes and villains, looting a comic book store is not very heroic.

[@VerdammtX]

I've been reading back issues of The Avengers and I was wondering, have you done or do you plan to do a Comic Tropes video on artist Bob Brown?

[@D-Loop6]

I just can't say a bad thing about this guy. Keep the good work 👍💪

[@logruszed]

Wasn't Diamond getting ready to do something that had everyone super worried/pissed before all this happened?

[@shirleydowning3612]

very enjoyable episode!

[@flip1sba]

Here in Manila, comic book stores have reopened. But social distancing is still practiced.

[@TheGMan366]

Good stuff Chris love what you do and aprcheate it your views are valad good stuff.thank you .

[@Girthon1]

Good stuff Chris.

[@AL-ws5yi]

Fun interview. Thanks.

[@scantronbeats]

21:48 kind of ironic that Wolverine isn't even wearing a mask

[@rideauxbaldwin6071]

You should interview Geoffrey Patterson at Hi De Ho comics.

[@ravindupadmanath2802]

This was nice and informative. Normally some comic book channels will say COMIC BOOK ARE DYING! COMIC BOOK ARE DYING! COMIC BOOK ARE DYING! And that it. But this was a nice insight

[@hoozle]

This is a quality channel, isn't it? Yay Chris!

[@tegamblero]

Already watched the whole thing

[@Vangance]

my god, when I was in Los Angeles Ive been there!

[@obijuancolombi]

The local shop near me opened this week. There were no new comics I was interested in but I went in to buy a TPB anyway

[@benjamink9521]

Because smashing windows will make people sympathetic to your cause

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

Great store.

[@joeyday576]

Here's a good dude making the best of bad situations and a bunch of savages come along and smash his windows. Same nonsense is happening here in my city. It's pathetic.

[@marfaxa]

savages?

[@shabeki]

@@marfaxa Yes, savages....have you seen all the looting?

[@beanieman3461]

Could you do an episode of comic tropes on Alex Ross

[@spendilten]

he has a youtube kzbin.info

[@HydroMaester]

Damn! too bad about the shop!

[@Rometiklan]

If they made a pandemic face mask that looked like Bane's, more people would probably wear one.

[@KutayCoskun]

Hey I'm early!

[@KutayCoskun]

Also, great video as always. Your videos make me appreciate comics even more. I'm hoping to visit Golden Apple someday, they look really passionate about their job! Sad to hear about the looters.

[@alexking358]

Covid Tropes bum ba bum ba dum, bum ba dum ba dum Covid Tropes

[@RigalicReign]

To the person who smashed in that good man's windows... I just want to talk... It'll be a peaceful protest kind of talk...

[@shabeki]

I'm sure you can reason with an angry mob.

[@FuzzySlipprs]

I thought you weren't a fan of Comicbook shops.

[@ComicTropes]

Why would you think that? From my very first episode I’ve talked up and featured comic shops.

[@FuzzySlipprs]

@@ComicTropes ComicTropes I think it was a conversation you had with Sal from Comicpop. It seemed to me you didn't like how that many comic shops aren't adapting to the digital era and that they're pretty much coasting on calls to support local shops without trying to change and adapt. If I misinterpreted you, my bad. That was just my takeaway

[@christophk1526]

#blacklivesmatter

[@mrzack888]

what makes me angry is those right wing comics gate comics pro crowd getting lots of funding from indiegoto crowdfunding their badly written comics. GRRRR!! Boils my blood.

[@pearl-may]

I think it would be in good taste to donate all proceeds from this video to Black Lives Matter causes. Have you considered doing this, and/or making a different video with that intent? Please note the violent, racist comments from your fans.

[@ComicTropes]

I’ve donated. Didn’t feel the need to talk about myself. Some of the comments are very disappointing but I look to address issues on a broader scale.

[@pearl-may]

@@ComicTropes That makes sense. :) Thanks for the reply, I appreciate you