Roaming the Last 1970's Comic Book Store - Clyde's Comics in Rockford IL!

Step into the Nostalgic World of 1970s Comic Books with Me! 🦸‍♂️📚⏰ Join me on a journey back in time as I discover Clyde's Comics, One of the Last Remaining Original Comic Book Stores in Rockford, IL. 🌟🔍🕰️ In this video, I share my incredible 1.5 hour adventure, reminiscing about my childhood and the joys of comic book stores from decades ago. 📹💬📝
Explore the hidden treasures of Clyde's Comics with me, including well-preserved boxes of books from long ago. 💯📦 I sit down with Clyde and interview him about his experiences owning and running a comic book store for over 40 years. 🎤
At the end of the video, I reveal my book purchases, which include early Strange Tales issues, and share why the experience was worth more than any comic grail. 🤩💰
My advice to anyone with local shops like Clyde's Comics still in existence is to record and document them for future generations. 📖🌟 These old stores hold a special place in the hearts of comic book enthusiasts and help preserve the history of the comic book industry.
Join me on this trip down memory lane and relive the magic of old-school comic book stores. 🙌 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content like this! 🤗

[@dngillikin]

No bags, no boards, no pressing, NO SLABS, no hype, no FOMO, no pressure. What you see is what you get.

[@danzigvssartre]

As a child of the 80s, I miss the old comic (and book) shops.

[@idriveabluebox]

Neil is a great guy. I have spent hours upon hours in his store searching boxes. He knows just about every story from every comic ever. So much knowledge. Next time you go ask him to tell you the story about where the name Clyde came from. Fun story. Once I was there and he told me about a random comic that he was asked to pencil in all the story to an already otherwise finished comic. Cheerleaders From Hell. I found a copy on line a few weeks later and took it in and had him autograph it for me. He was surprised I found one and bought it. Can't say enough good things about him and his shop.

[@genxcomics2465]

Interesting i did not even know his real name but it was kind of an on the spot interview where i was in town for a short period of time and we were being paced because he was about to close the store for the day. I am interested to know that side story though..thanks for the tip!

[@markvandervlist8967]

The depth and sharpness of the color on some of those 60's Marvel and DC books are absolutely incredible !

[@robroszk]

Wait until you see the 'Long' version that has few edits which will soon be released...i hid some of these cause i did not want others to go back and buy them before i could -LOL!

[@williamloveless6610]

Great books! Strange Tales #156 is a Marie Severin cover, #162 Dan Adkins cover, #148 Bill Everett cover.

[@arthurtripp6922]

Thank You for this History glad to see how people worked. Only one store

[@dustin6225]

He is amazing! I visited there just last week

[@billykulpa]

This store used to be located on Broadway and 8th in the 1990s. I was nine years old when the "Death of Superman" series started up. This man took the time to explain to me why the series was important, why it was a hot seller, and to recommend which one of the four books I should purchase (since I was NINE and could only afford one). When I came back to the store after reading it, we got into a conversation about Hal Jordan's Green Lantern. He gave me a copy of Green Lantern Corps Quarterly No. 1 and a Green Lantern plastic power ring. What an absolute treasure of a guy. I'm so happy his store still exists.

[@genxcomics2465]

The wisdom that these comic book store owners impart are absolutely priceless to the newbie just coming into the hobby. I was fortunate enough to have a friend by the name of Tom Hendrix that introduced me to Larry's on Devon and Broadway in Chicago back in 1979. Larry's was a brain-trust of comic book knowledge and even gave us kids many a discount due to fact we were basically poor but had a fascination for hobby that kept us coming back to that store for years after this. For those that are not familiar with North Side Chicago that location was right across from Loyola University near Sheridan Road and at that time was a Mecca along with another famous record store that slips my mind near that comic store.

[@stampscapes]

Amazing. Super old school. Love it as it reminds me of a couple stores in the early 80's. Seems like a tough shopping experience for anyone looking for specifics or just browsing with boxes stacked like that but that was part of the fun of those old style stores.

[@matttttt63]

Neal was kind enough to allow me in his store and make some photos of him last Fall. Seems like such a nice, genuine guy. A Rockford gem!

[@genxcomics2465]

I hope this guy stays in business for at least another decade. Can't say enough about his comic and hero related knowledge. I learned so much just from the short time i was there talking with him. I will be back for more!

[@jimchappell2672]

I shopped at Clyde's from 1985 to 2000 every two weeks like clockwork before leaving the hobby completely. Neal is a great, knowledgeable person who was always friendly and was willing to spend the time to explain things. He would also pull comics that he thought I would enjoy, and I usually did. Thanks for the video; it brought back a ton of good memories.

[@genxcomics2465]

I left the hobby after 1998 only to come back. Never too late!

[@greatesttoysevermade3693]

I miss the old comic book stores and the old comic book shows that used to be in shopping malls a few times a year.

[@StanLeeCubeBrick]

Bobs cards & comics in Trussville Al. Legit old school comic store.

[@carlbird2092]

Great store he knows where it's all at I was overwhelmed at first but instantly thought omg so much in there it's great

[@officiallyunofficialgeek]

Clydes is my pied piper, he got me back into comics during the pandemic. Amazing!

[@officiallyunofficialgeek]

You refer to him as Clyde, but his name is actually Neil 😊

[@THEORIGINALTRAVMAN]

I could spend DAYS upon DAYS in that store!

[@quantumleaper]

I haven't been to Clyde's Comics since the early 2000s. I remember 'Toad Hall' (used book store) and 'Tomorrow Is Yesterday' under the new name 'Top Cut' in Loves Park and a few other small Comics Shops in Rockford over the years. Thanks for the trip down memory lane...

[@comicbossone2411]

I love this guy. Took a while to warm up but once he got going he was amazing. Screw ebay, this is what it’s all about.

[@genxcomics2465]

NOTHING beats the 'in person' experience that WE REMEMBERED growing up in the comic genre of the 70s. You went, you talked, and you conquered your favorite comic hero cover of the day! I felt it was MY DUTY to make sure this message got out in this vid now over a year ago. Thanks for the great comment!

[@luckygnome]

I remembered stepping in there once. I bought a golden age sandman figure

[@BrandonBrigance-yp3sb]

Star Comics in Lubbock Texas has been around since the 70’s as well.

[@RonFinchumJr]

just a couple minutes into it and..all i've got to say is It's a beautiful thing. Been a shit night for me...and this made me feel good. I'm thankful. God Bless :-)

[@robroszk]

It definitely brings back memories of a time long gone! I miss those days dearly and the world that once was.

[@alexdabear2805]

Oh, the random mention of Chuck and Mile Hi. I was sixteen and working at the old mile high warehouse on Broadway the summer he bought the second mile high collection. Five semi trucks full of insane comic books. It took days to unload. I've never been more physically exhausted.

[@chrissmithy6930]

Million Year Picnic in Cambridge started in the early 70s, 74 I believe. It is still going strong.

[@Ynot_Art]

So awesome

[@escapingmonday2501]

I'm from Rockford and I recognized this store from the thumbnail

[@SchizoMelody]

I was there last year. He has a lot of good stuff hidden in there but it's really hard to find. I prefer to browse and find things I've never heard of so it's tough for me there. Definitely stopping next time I drive through Rockford though! Fair prices

[@calebleland8390]

Neal Adams' first Deadman cover? Yessir! All of those books looked amazing. And that store looks like a blast. I could spend days (and several paychecks) in there. Great video!

[@steve-ec5wp]

THIS IS INCREDIBLE!!!THANK YOU!!!!😀!!!!!!!

[@genxcomics2465]

Just wait until i post the longer version of this video. Still much more of the store to see plus more comics not shown in the edited 14 minute version.

[@northgardencomics]

Congratulations on those pickups, great finds! That store looks like a trove of buried treasure. You could spend days digging through those long boxes.

[@genxcomics2465]

It was the thrill of a lifetime and an experience i thought was actually lost forever stuck in the late 70's early 80's as i had remembered it. I felt like a time traveler going back to a time where things were so simple. Even the store had that sweet smell of the old comic shops which hits you the moment you walk into the store. Everything about the shop was quite old but this is what made this experience so unique. I URGE everyone to record and document any shops like this if they remain in your area before they disappear for ever and i felt like i had one last chance to enjoy that experience with this particular store. This is akin to the 'Dances with Wolves' Kevin Costner quote about wanting to see the Plaines before they were gone scene! The haul was nice but the experience was basically priceless for me along with talking with someone who was around right during the time i was just starting to buy comic books for myself. Thanks for the nice comment Northgarden!

[@gabesaquatics8495]

This absolutely amazing! As an european I‘ll probably never ever gonna see such thing! Seeing all these Silver age Comics and how affordable are in the US really breaks my heart:( I have tried several times to get some great deals with US sellers but with no avail. I would love to get some DrS like u got there! Great video!👍✔️👋

[@genxcomics2465]

There are some great shops in Europe You just have to put in the effort to find those like i have been doing which is time consuming but well worth it in the end.

[@gabesaquatics8495]

Yep, its no easy task as they keep hold a lot of other languages Comics but I am sure will eventually find some US Comics too..

[@genxcomics2465]

@@gabesaquatics8495 Never give up! It will happen when you least expect it like it has for me time and again.

[@noggincomics]

Being born in the early 90s, never got to experience a shop like this. Thank you for sharing this. Watching this was amazing! Great video

[@robroszk]

Good news...i also have additional footage of a 90's key i picked up the first time i was there but it was only 2 mins long. Will also post the rest of the footage i had on Clyde from this video\s visit which i cut and snipped into oblivion to keep the segment short.

[@frankstrysik1558]

The last time I was at Clyde's shop was in the mid 1980s. Once in a while I would make the trip to Rockford and hit Clyde's and Toad Hall. I remember Clyde loved talking comics and that was the best part of hitting his shop. Nice to see Clyde still alive and kicking. Looking at his shop now reminds me of the old comic shops of Chicago...just tons of long boxes of back issues and no new comics.

[@genxcomics2465]

The OLD long boxes and NO NEW COMICS is the way I LIKE IT LOL! Not sure about you but i miss those old shops so much that it inspired me to make this video as sort of a 'time capsule on how things in the hobby used to be' which was just pure chance at that particular day. How many more chances will we actually get to frequent old shops like this? Thanks for the comment Frank!

[@RememberTheGreatsSports]

Love the video, never realize his comic shop existed in Rockford. It's been few years since I have been to the area but next time I do I might make the trip. Thanks for sharing and Happy Collecting!

[@pbmartin4994]

This is how I remember comic book stores ...Great vid

[@carlbird2092]

I lived out here and never knew he was there omg I loved the place its over welming but he knows where everything is by year its great cool guy

[@genxcomics2465]

He won't be there too much longer. I would hurry and get out there to see this gem of a store! You just NEVER KNOW what you may find!

[@trevorregay9283]

Hey.....another store that has been around since the early 70s is in Pittsburgh PA.....Eides Entertainment.....now, that place does not look like this guys shop anymore as it expanded and diversified into selling records and DVDs, and CDs and other forms of entertainment so to speak and not just comic books.......so, its worth a stop if you ever are in Pittsburgh.....I believe when the owner first opened his store in 1972 it definitely looked a little bit like this guys place....but like I said, it definitely grew and expanded beyond comics....sadly, the owner passed away I believe around 2 years ago.....but the place lives on luckily......RIP Greg Eide

[@comicbookninja5268]

That's definitely an old school store! Luv it. Strange Tales 148 is actually a Bill Everett cover and not Kirby.

[@kbuttstadt]

Awesome. I grew up in Fox River Grove and lived in Illinois until I was 22, but I have never been to this place! A good friend from Fox River Grove I grew up with is actually married to the current mayor of Rockford so I sent her your video just in case he wasnt aware of the significance of the store's age.

[@genxcomics2465]

Awesome. I have a long version of this vid too that will be posted as time permits. Thanks for sharing this!

[@culturefan]

I would love to go to that guy's shop just to browse and talk to him.

[@romuelvaldiviacomicbooksfood]

I remember going into a comic shop just like this. I miss those days. Great video!

[@kjhenry100]

Dragon's Lair in Omaha, Nebraska opened in 1976, I can recall going there as early as 87. Even in 87, they looked nothing like this. I'm not saying this isn't a good representation of a 70's shop but I am saying it is a good representation of a 70's shop that is a little clueless. He obviously does it for the love of the stories and art and that pulp paper smell but come on, even by 80s standards, this became a hoarder with store hours. He seems like a lovely guy but no way, just because you opened in 1976 doesn't mean your shop has to look like that.

[@steverogers2603]

Agree. I went to several in the 70’s but the books were bagged and stored on tables where you could easily flip through them and know the prices.

[@ColeCollects]

What a great store! I could spend hours in there.

[@genxcomics2465]

It really is! and i still have more footage to put together!

[@dwbmotorsports1]

This place is 9 hours from me, but I'm deffently booking a trip this summer!!

[@mavrck19]

I got into comics in the early 80s but my favorite comic shop in Mason City Iowa has been around since the late 70s. Great video.

[@Loscomicjourney]

Awesome pick ups. Love finding shops like this. You always find some good stuff. Great interview. 👊🏼

[@genxcomics2465]

It was purely a 'by chance' experience where i had a little time to 'kill' before visiting my relatives nearby. Also took guts to actually ask him for an interview on the spot which he was gracious enough to accept my few questions. The comic community benefits from old shops like this along with the many years of wisdom the owner conveys in the video. Thanks for the comment!

[@ccsportsfan7886]

excellent

[@macorourke2222]

Totally awesomeness of a Vintage comic book shop adventure! Thanks for sharing Your passion and adventures from Toronto Ontario Canada. The first comic book shop I remember going to and really digging it was called Queens comics in Toronto Ontario Canada back in the 1980's 😀👍♥️💫💬💥💢📚📖💬🎉🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉💯💯💯💯💯

[@berardoferrari]

you mean dragon lady ???

[@cmelbye]

I remember this place. back in the late 70s/early 80s it used to be just north and across the street from the original toad hall location. Didn't Kim (from what was Tomorrow is yesterday) originally work there?

[@genxcomics2465]

Never shopped at a 'Tomorrow is yesterday' but i did frequent 'Yesterday, Today and tomorrow' on Clark St/Greenleaf. in Rogers park from 1979-1984.

[@SequentialGeek]

Considering his shop is not about catering to someone's 'entitled' comfort zone, Im surprised he is even still open, so like most people these days he must have some kind of trust fund, or some other retirement plan he is living off of. Have you been to Koch Warehouse in Brooklyn? I love that place.

[@dalemoyers8881]

Wow!!! What a great comic store and piece of history. I would love to go there and spend days going through those boxes of comics. I hope he doesn’t ever close down. Great video!! New subscriber. 😎

[@Joeh1154]

Very nice. This is one of those "they don't make 'em like this any more" kind of thing. I'm in NYC and the closest thing we had was "Forbidden Planet" on Broadway around W.11th Street, if memory serves. It has since been moved, but still on Broadway closer to W.13th Street some years back, but they are pretty much devoid of back issues. I spent many a Sunday afternoon at the original store going through back issues in the basement and the room smelled like the Silver age! Looking at this store, I can almost smell it!! Your pick ups looked really good too. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@genxcomics2465]

I was surprised he even had this old box buried in the back. Just the novelty of that experience alone was worth the comics alone along with the thrill. Yeah that world of silver/bronze age comic books is long gone but i was glad i could get the last of it on KZbin. Sometimes in life ya just never know. Thanks for sharing that memory in NY.

[@josephbarbera9220]

A ton of comics! You could say he was a hoarder! Lol! I would gladly strip down the endless rows of bins and search for great keys! I noticed one bin had Star Wars written on it! Who knows how many number ones he had in that box! The only disappointing thing was he never bothered to bag and board those gems! Bummer! It still would be fun to dig through them regardless!

[@nunyabidness5375]

Yeah my town lost the last one of those 😭

[@evilvet]

comicrypt in Oaklyn NJ. Fred sold it off years ago, I think to fat jack (in Philly) who they were tied to. I went by there a few months ago, it seemed like it was still there.

[@seanstewart302]

There is a store in Charleston SC that has existed since about 1974. It's called Green Dragon. I visited it just last year. He told me he started the store out of a house.

[@artrogue4150]

Visited Green Dragon very often in my youth. From his first store thru today's location. It was indeed in his own house originally. Scott, the owner, is definitely a character. He branched off into games very early on. Id say games are definitely his main focus now.

[@seanstewart302]

@@artrogue4150 Yes, he is a character. I enjoyed talking with him when I visited.

[@carlbird2092]

He is still there open also

[@AndrewBuckleBookReviews]

Wonderful video, love to see these videos of the old shops (wish someone would do the same with the UK shops !)

[@genxcomics2465]

There are a few remaining there from what i hear from some collectors. It is like a needle in a haystack and you have to actively look though. If you find any PLEASE SHARE with us. Thanks for the comment!

[@davidwalker5486]

I want to say that Golden Age Collectibles in Seattle has been around since the 70s -- and may be even older than that, as they bill themselves as the "World's oldest comic shop." Not a small little comic shop like this one, though. 🙂

[@donaldmiller9648]

Neat coverage of old time comics collector and dealer...I bought and built a large collection starting around 1975 and was partner in comic store in mid 1980s until I got too busy with "real" job. Brought back memories of period. Wished I had held on to my complete collections which included Strange Tales #110 up...Thanks...

[@jamesrauch9103]

Where is this store located? I love it! Thanks for the footage.

[@braviafeed]

I miss shops like this so much. I hate gaming and toys but unfortunately they dominate most comic stores in Atlanta.

[@Mality]

Been going to Clyde's since 1978. Don't get as many comics as I used to but go there just to chew the fat with Neil...

[@genxcomics2465]

You are probably in my age group then (Generation X). 1978 is the year i really started getting into comics when a friend of mine in Grade school showed me his Hulk collection that was pristinely wrapped in plastic bags (no boards yet) and i was taken aback at how good the comics looked. From that point on i had to have all of my comics in big plastic glad bags LOL which was all they had back then. Comic bags would hit the scene in about 1979 ish from what i remembered but there were many stores like Clyde's and another one in Chicago called Larry's on Devon Ave in Chicago that resisted the change LOL.

[@hadynmcloughlin4661]

Enjoyed your video, first one have viewed. Just started out collecting and this was really cool to watch. Thanks (new sub)

[@genxcomics2465]

Welcome to the awesome world of comic book collecting! I can remember starting my comic collecting journey in early 1979. Thanks for subscribing!

[@Chaos-chosplay-is-bored-MaTt]

👍

[@joshuatatman148]

Clyde is a character that Neil & a friend created. The owner’s name is Neil. He does not correct people when referring to him as Clyde.

[@bradforddillman7671]

Steranko didn’t draw the Doctor Strange covers. Probably Dan Adkins. Cool store

[@genxcomics2465]

He didn't draw the Dr. Strange Character but did pencil the Nick Fury portions which was typical for different artists to pencil their 'assigned' superhero whether on the cover or within the panels of book itself. The Nick Fury Pose is the definite giveaway on some of those covers. You did get me on the Strange Tales 156 though.

[@RonDale-jy8et]

What about Eide's in PIttsburgh? It was founded in 1972....

[@dumpsterbaby3155]

do u recommend packing heat when visiting the area?

[@ghostieo]

How does he price them? Does he pull out the ol price guide? Or does he kinda of eyeball them?

[@genxcomics2465]

Price guide actually . A little higher in price than market but then it is subjective anyway. Books i got were still keepers though.

[@ghostieo]

@@genxcomics2465 that’s cool to support the guy and his store.

[@user-oq9mv8pc2g]

No bags no boards means no grades that are worth anything.

[@steverogers2603]

Interested in buying mine?

[@Enzo-uv9us]

Promo>SM ☀️

[@PeterParker-gz6ml]

Is Clyde charging current market prices or his prices reasonable?