Thursday, August 8, 2013

Go On "Comic Crawl" Self Guided Tour in L.A.: Also Good For Comikaze / Anime Expo Attendees

All comic books mentioned below are $1 each.

This post will let you know where you can continually find comics for $1 at different storefronts all in one area just West of downtown. Bring a friend, or 4, for a comic crawl adventure on a Saturday, or any weekday for that matter. You will be supporting local businesses and stimulating the economy in a low-income area of Los Angeles with just a fist full of dollars.


(this is also the perfect side mission for Comikaze and Anime Expo attendees since this area is near the Los Angeles Convention Center. Point values listed next to each mission location) 

1. Velasco's Video Rental  + 10 pts per visit 





       
Velasco's is a new store, current google image: 2nd door in red brick building
1433 Pico Blvd. L.A. 90015
  -1 short box is always present on the front counter with about 150 various titles replenished          once a week regularly
  -Regular store hours: 10am to 8pm 7 days a week
  -Street parking only, but easy to find

Yes, this is an old school video rental store still in operation in Pico Union serving the mostly Salvadoran and Guatemalan neighborhood. The owners are friendly, and if you don't know Spanish this is the perfect opportunity to learn some vocabulario.  
+ 10 pts if you locate the $1 comics box and prove it by posting a picture of you and the comic box in the comments section of this post
+ 15 pts if you bring home a movie related comic book from the $1 box


2. World 8 video games 
 + 20 pts per visit for traveling this far

1057 S Vermont Ave Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 389-5212
world8.us    World 8 Yelp Page
  -1 short box with about 150 various titles replenished once a week regularly
  -Regular store hours: Mon-Sat 11 am - 8 pm Sun 12 pm - 8 pm
  -Small parking lot available
If you're a gamer in L.A. and you don't know about World 8 yet you need to take a break from the PC or console and make yourself aware of this amazing game shop. They know everything there is to know about all platforms and games. Their stock reaches back to many blasts from the past like the old school brick Game Boy to obscure games from every platform that you haven't been able to play since you were 8. They have a very comfortable gamer's lounge where you can challenge other customers on your favorite PVP and gain neighborhood champion status... if you're good enough. 

+ 10 pts if you locate the $1 comics box and prove it by posting a picture of you and the comic box in the comments section of this post
+ 15 pts if you bring home a video game related comic book from the $1 box


3.McManus & Morgan Artist Papers 
 + 15 pts per visit for the journey

2506 W 7th St Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 387-4433
mcmanusmorgan.com    McManus & Morgan Yelp Page
  -9 long boxes of $1 comics. Replenished regularly. This is the comic book hunter's dream.
  -Regular Store Hours: Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm Sat 10 am - 2 pm
  -Metered street parking so consider a bike and backpack combo
This art paper supply store has been around L.A. since the 20's. If you like drawing comics you'll do well to learn the owner Gary's secrets. Speaking of secrets, there is a hidden treasure in every corner of this small shop. They specialize in paper so they carry: all kinds of unique paper from all over the world, new/used/vintage books, ephemera for collage, Art Trading Cards for trade by local artists, envelopes, old post cards, creepy old assoreted family pictures, and much much more... believe me. Have a blast in this slice of L.A. history.

+ 10 pts if you locate the $1 comics box and prove it by posting a picture of you and the comic box in the comments section of this post
+ 15 pts if you bring home a non super hero comic book from the $1 box


UPDATE: Sadly this location has closed down. Thank you Moon for your service to our neighborhood for so many years

4.A & B Video Rentals
Corner of Valencia St and 6th in the shopping plaza on the South West corner
  -1 short box with about 150 various titles replenished once a week regularly
  -Regular store hours: Mon-Sat 11 am - 8 pm Sun 12 pm - 8 pm
  -Small parking lot available
This is yet another old school video rental store, and it is very small with two arcade games crammed in the corner. The owner is a very nice older man named Moon (not sure on the spelling). The neighborhood loves him and often rents videos just to visit with him for a while. If you're here you might as well stop in the Thai restaurant a few doors down in the same plaza- it is the kind of eatery only the locals know about, and with amazing lunch specials, you'll be glad you know about it too. 



If you're still looking for more
5.Blue Elephant Cafe  + 30 pts per visit- You have journeyed to the farthest reaches of this side mission Congrats!

2024 W Washington Blvd Los AngelesCA 90018(323) 641-0466
Blue Elephant Cafe Yelp Page
  -1 short box with about 150 various titles replenished once a week
  -Regular store hours: Mon-Sat 9 am - 8 pm    Sun 10 am - 6 pm
  -Street parking on a near-bye residential street is suggested
Blue Elephant is a relatively new yet friendly neighborhood conscious cafe. Many of their ingredient and product suppliers are local businesses. You'll find the short box of comics on a table near the counter. 
+ 10 pts if you locate the $1 comics box and prove it by posting a picture of you and the comic box in the comments section of this post
+ 15 pts if you bring home a Marvel comic book from the $1 box
+ 15 pts if you bring home a DC comic book from the $1 box


This network of comic book sales is another 
  

Saturday, August 3, 2013

ACEO and 9"x12" Original Print Auctions

Both auctions have a starting bid of .99 cents. The first House Sparrow: Neighbors is an Art Card Editions And Original (ACEO) 2.5" x 3.5" of a House Sparrow family that lives next door in the crevice between a pipe and the wall of an apartment building. This is a black and white linocut print with hand painted watercolor embellishments signed, titled, and numbered. Number 10 out of 19.

The second original print auction is number 2 from a limited "off-shoot edition" of only 4 prints. La Lavandaria On Pico is a linocut print on 9"x12" tan paper depicting my observation on a typical Saturday visit to the lavandaria (laundromat) in my L.A. neighborhood of Pico Union. The larger black and white edition (not offered in this auction) had 31 total prints offered to my monthly subscribers. Be among the first to receive a print from my monthly editions by subscribing: JohnTallacksen.com/Shop (online order form). Prints are shipped or available for local Los Angeles, CA pick-up on the 10th of every month.