As a school librarian, I spend a lot of my time recommending books. On occasion, students and staff will recommend books to me in the course of conversation. Family and friends who know my tastes often recommend titles too. And I was especially excited yesterday afternoon when I stopped off to the local comic book shop to pick up one item and left with six- one entirely based on his recommendation alone.

It’s no secret that I discovered Saga about forty-ish issues into it’s publication (or really several volumes) which then turned into the necessity of purchasing each issue when I fell head-over-heels. On the 29th, Saga volume 11’s book birthday meant that when I left school I’d drive the two blocks over to the comic book shop to pick it up. They knew I was coming and even left a sweet Post-it on my pulled copy. I figured while I was there I’d pick up issues 2-5 of Swan Songs since issue 5 dropped that day and I liked the concept in issue 1. Then we got to talking and his excitement to talk about Somna hit me with all the same adrenaline that I get when I recommend a book to someone. I told him to add it to my pile.

Having them close by is the icing on the cake that is indie comic shops. The patriarch passed fairly recently, but the shop is going strong under the direction of his children and the passionate employees. After posting about my visit, a former student posted that he happened to be in the store several hours after I had visited. Next time, I told him, we’ll meet there to catch up. Excitement and love of creations like comics and graphic novels is infectious– they can always talk comics to me.