Comic Relief

I was really disappointed when I found out they closed. They used to be my go-​to store for some specialty books. And, they had a store-​cat. I also met my boyfriend here for our first date. RIP Comic Relief.

CR was one of a kind, and its passing was indeed a sad thing. But luckily for Berkeley, a mighty Phoenix is rising from the ashes: FANTASTIC COMICS! (
) New comics are back in Berkeley! In the same location, even! I, for one, am thrilled.

Really bummed that they are now gone. I walked by the Sunday before they closed and thought that my wallet and I could wait until Wednesday before going in. Damn it.
Well, there’s a rumor that another comic book store will open up in the same location. If it happens, I’m sure many of the current reviewers will revisit the site. Until then the rest of us in Berkeley will just have to get our comics off of ebay or midtown or wherever.

Daily Californian article on 2÷18÷11
Comic Relief closed on Feb 14^th.
So so sad.

This is a huge comic book store and I am excited to see somethng of its magnitude still in existence!
The collection they have to pick from is extensive and there are always at least 3 – 4 people working so you can find someone to help. One of my favorite parts is that they are two store cats that mill around while you are browsing the comics. The only downside I would say is the sheer size has me intimidated to explore more of their store. I tend to stick to the areas that I know well.

The store is bigger than other comic stores I’ve been in, and they have quite a collection. They have a manga corner which is nice. I’ve grown out of my manga phase, but I can appreciate that it’s there.
But what I really love is all the local stuff! They have a table in the front with work from lots of local artists. My gf and I have become regulars because we seek out local work. Our favorite is «The Society of Unordinary Young Ladies,» which is basically a Cold War spy-​story with female characters from 70s & 80s shows! Both being women born in the 1980s, we really appreciate these stories. I love that they even had Evie from ‘Out of This World’ in the comic!!!
Extra credit for the kitty! Beware, people with cat allergies. It will just jump on the shelves and tables and pretty much do what it wants (like a cat). We got scolded by an employee for putting the cat on the table. Whatever. It did it on its own. We love this place so much, we just brushed off the one rude employee. Everyone else is friendly.

Really cool place. It is like a comic staple to the Bay Area. Fun facts, the original owner R.I.P., was based off the comic guy on the «Simpsons.» The shop has two sweet cats that pussy foot around the store. Local comic artists have their comics sold here.
This is a place that has a great vibe.

Sad. That is all I can say. I’ve been going to Comic Relief since it opened in 1987 or so. It was a great store. I’ve gone to comic stores all over the US and nothing beats Comic Relief in the early 90s. I liked the store so much I talked the owners and manager into giving me a job in 1992. I worked there for three years.
So it makes me really sad to go in there now and see what has happened. It is like visiting an old friend from high school who is addicted to meth all of a sudden.
The store has been gutted. It has been turned into a generic boring comic store, the type you might find in anytown. The Bay Area already has enough of these. If you want superhero comics and you want a good environment to buy them in try another store. If you are looking for interesting counterculture reading material, try the bookstore next door. Comic Relief is gross, poorly organized and full of piles of junk. The only reason I didn’t give this 0 stars is that they still have the cat. The store itself is unwelcoming and you can feel the dissatisfaction that the poor employees must have. I went in twice and neither time was any music playing. I felt so sorry for anyone who walked in or is tricked into working there based on the stores old reputation
It is sad to see what has become of such a great store. I moved away from the bay over a decade ago and every time I came to Berkeley I made a point of stopping by and always, I’d find cool things. Last time I was there the store was still alive. This time it was like picking through a grave site.
There are a lot of behind the scenes reasons for this quick fall from grace, I’m sure. But on the off chance that anyone involved with those reasons reads this, I’m just going to say you are losing a ton of customers thanks to your own focus on the wrong things. It is a real testament to the quality of employees the store used to have and that they felt some degree of involvement in where the store was going. The new store seems to be struggling under the weight of bad management. They still have some mini comics and a good staff but even that can’t save the store. But buying books on consignment from locals is never going to get them the reputation back.
I’ll be glad to see this version go. Berkeley needs an actually good comic store. Avoid Comic Relief.

Cute kitties! Graphic Novels! Mini’s and Zines! I don’t care for those superhero-​esque comics but they do have a nice selection of other goodies. One complaint is that the graphic novels are sorted by book title, not author :/​I don’t get that. They also used to have a table for indie comics and graphic novels but now it’s been taken over by the mini’s and zines, maybe they could share a space?

I’m so glad my coworkers weaned me off of manga and showed me the glories and wonders of alternative graphic novels. Let me tell you the story of my first time… visiting this comic store.
Freshly enkindled by the first volume of the Sandman, I went in search for more like it, something equally rousing, something fun. The first stand was adorned with masses of brand-​new comics, and I was shocked to find the print version of Lackadaisy at the front. (Jigga-​wha?! Other people around here like comics about homicidal talking cats bootlegging whiskey in the 1920’s?!?)
Having found something familiar, I got a little brave. The current issue stand was next. Daunted by the selection, the sheer range and volume of comics I hadn’t heard of, I turned to escape and hold on there, there’s some dude walking over. Turns how he works here. He helped me figure out what I’d be into, and I walked away with a middle-​issue of Fables and the first issue of Cowboy Ninja Viking, because… come on. All three? Really?
The superhero comics… well, they pretty threw themselves at me.
So I left the store with talking cats, superhero teens, Wolverine, the three little pigs, a cowboy, a ninja, and a viking. I’d say it was a pretty good day to go shopping.
The end.

checked in my bag, found some old JSA variants, met one of the dope keepers– Chris and talked story on SF livin/​diggin in local shops, droppin names– Gary, Frank, Sal and Herb.
tho none of the Rucka or Hickman books were in that I have been on the hunt for– was pointed in the direction of the the Warren Ellis section– dayum fly to have trades shelved via wordsmith where I was able to grab a Planetary book that I have picked up a few times before but never quite made it with me to the reg. not today!
gettin hungry so made way to…

I am actually not a literary snob, okay maybe I am a little I do have secret pleasures. I am a great fan of Mr anf Ms Crumb, and Harvey Pekar, and one of my daughters has written an illustrated novel (info by request). I always look in the window of Comic Relief, but have never gone in. Somehow, Ithought they would say – …, Lady, you are too Old/​middleclass/​well dressed, and your parents believed if you read Superman et al, you would end up a nogoodnick (slacker in today’s terms)…
Well I was wrong. The Saturday afternoon customers were every age, and the clerks friendly.
I trailed around my hip daughter at first, then I ventured arounf on my own. The clientele was– across the board– Ten year olds, distinguished Grey Heads, teens and, yes, collecters of the genre. looking like the“slackers” my parents feared I would become.
My daughter bought two Manga books (suitable for teens and tweens she said) at one dollar each.
As I wandered about, now feeling quite at home, I found a book of the Graphic Novel genre written by a woman from the Ivory Coast!!!
Wow, that was my Peace Corps country!!! Twenty Dollars, hard back.
I know these people, I thought, they are My People. They are even from the same ethnic group as the people where I served.
And now they are hip, and now I am hip.
And I will never be afraid of Comic Relief again
(one star off because I don’t really know about prices, validity, etc
I leave that for the experts.)

I want to like Comic Relief, but I don’t. As a collector with complete runs of silver age Marvel super-​heroes from FF#1 and Amazing Fantasy #15 and Steve Ditko Amazing Spider-​man original art, my friends call me hard core. SF Comic Book Company had Gary Arlington and Comics & Comix had Bob Beerbohm, John Barrett, and Bud Plant. Comic Relief has no soul. The young kids behind the counter really don’t connect with me. The back issue selection is weak for an comic store that has been around for a long time.
A true judge of how great a comic book shop is whether you would walk in every time, sometimes, or just walk by without caring. Additionally, would you go out of the way to come to this store. I will just pass.

Originally a manga fan, I used come in here to browse through and read from the store’s massive manga section. It’s the largest manga section I’ve see to date. Of course, it doesn’t have everything (what does?), but that’s to be expected. Some obscure titles are sold here, and the newly released usually get their own shelves so you can find them easily.
Now more of an alternative comics fan, I went to Comic Relief about once every two weeks while living in Berkeley for my new fix, though being thrifty, most of my time there was spent reading in-​store. Want superhero? You got it here. Artbooks? Oh yes. Indie? Yep. Literally wall-​to-​wall selves and selves of comic books will keep your head spinning for months. Most of the books sell for retail; I don’t remember seeing any discounts or sales at the place. But I’ve seen rare books and collectibles sold here and nowhere else.
And to top it all off: the cats. Yep, the store has two cats, Ember and Ash, the former being a bit more lap-​friendly than the latter. Nothing beats reading Hellblazer with a sleeping cat in your lap, though most of the time, the two roam around and sit in the front windows. Cat-​haters and those prone to sneezing around them, be careful.
Fans of comics should definitely stop by this place. Sure, you could buy your fix of out-​of-​print and rare books online, but if you’re the browsing type, and optionally a cat-​lover, this is your heaven. Not to be missed.

They had the Doctor Who graphic novel «The Forgotten» (which I have been looking for,) Torso (which was penned by a dude I went to college with) and the Cthlu comic series.
Plus they have a «naughty» comic section that is very comprehensive (though the nerds that work there were still impressed when I said that I’d received Chaykin’s Big Black Kiss series for my birthday from a former lover — it’s out of print and they’ve never seen copies of it — heard of it, but haven’t touched it in the flesh…)
And, they were appropriately impressed by my general knowledge of teh Geek.
Comic Relief FTW!
All within walking distance of my apartment. Yay!

The snarky guys that work here are some of my favorite comic shop employees. they’re know a lot about comics and will recommend great ones based on what you like to read. At least they do that for me.
Anyway the selection here is immense. One could be in here for hours just going through comics. I usually have an idea of what i want when i come in here so i come in find what i need, pet the store cats and make my purchases. but its a great place to check out.

Coolest !@#$ing comic book store EVAR.
I have not experienced a brick and mortar store of such geek-​otry. I’m a fan!
I’ve been in my fair share of local comic book stores back @ home but this blows them out of the water. I usually come here to find what I need rather than purchase online (YEAH BUY LOCAL!!!) because it’s just a super cool place.
Staff is super knowledgeable and friendly. Selection is SU-!@#$ING-PERB. I cry when I can’t afford some comics, but when get my monthly paycheck… Comic Relief here I come!

This store is a fantastic place for comics, a great staff, a cute kitty mascot, and a general feeling of geeky bliss.
But what I really like about this store, is that you can find surprisingly hip and cute nerd types in the afterwork time slot. If you like dating sweet slightly to very nerdy types who have a cool (c’mon comics are cool) streak, they will unashamedly be browsing here. Wednesday night is new comic night, and is sure to be a surge in the super devotees.

Visiting this store earlier this afternoon brought back some great memories. It’s been over ten years, but back when I visited the city of Berkeley more frequently I’d spend hours upon hours inside this store flipping through their huge inventory of comic books, graphic novels and comic art books.
Although I spend less time reading comics these days it is difficult not to be impressed by the content and organization of this store. Oh and I didn’t mention the comic and sci-​fi-​based toys … why didn’t they have toys like this when I was a kid!!!
Yep, once a geek, always a geek and I still love Comic Relief!

This is a crazy cool place where you can easily get lost in for a while. Selection here is incredible and I totally love their sales.
Now that they’re in their new digs, I have to walk farther from Crepes A Go-​Go to this place.