Alliance Comics

Went there and had a backpack with me. They did not want me going downtownstairs with my backback. However they said I can leave it anywhere upstairs. But I do not trust leaving it unattended anywhere in «Downtown Silver Spring.»

How many comic book stores are still around? WHAT ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT???
This place is great. They have a bunch of comic books and stuff.

I visited this comic book store on Saturday of last week with my fiancé to look around the store. My fiancé has visited this store before, but I did not, so this was my first, and only time, that I have and will be visiting this location.
Why? A few reasons.
First off, the moment you enter the store, the atmosphere is dark and uninviting. Have you ever had the feeling of asking, «Is this place open?» when entering a store? Yeah, well that’s what I thought when we entered the door. It was obviously open, but the atmosphere was so strange, I almost didn’t know what to expect when I entered. The staff don’t say «hello» or even acknowledge that you’re there, which is rude, and again, uninviting. I was ready to leave after only being there for two minutes.
Nevertheless, I looked around and wanted to at least see if they had a decent variety of books. Eh, nothing peaked my interest to be honest. There were some things that peaked my interest, however, the selection overall is pretty mediocre. Also, the store is set up very oddly. I felt as if I had to aimlessly walk around the store to figure out what was what, and it was pretty small which makes everything look cramped and thrown around.
One thing that I thought was pretty cool is that they have a downstairs section where they sell cheap comics and other items, so my fiancé and I headed down there for a few minutes to see what it was all about. It’s basically a basement downstairs with merchandise. As we were perusing the shelves, not even a minute and a half later, an employee comes down the stairs, very obviously following us. Really? If you’re that concerned about someone being downstairs, or think someone is going to steal a $ 1 comic book, you should be professional about it, and have an employee stationed there ALREADY instead of making your customers feel like criminals by following anyone who decides to go downstairs. It was so obvious, and turned me off completely to this place. Not cool at all.
Needless to say, I will never visit this pitiful comic book store again. I would advise anyone else not to either, unless you’re into receiving lackluster to no customer service, dark and uninviting atmosphere, and being followed around the store like a criminal. I’d give this sorry excuse of a store 0 stars if I could.
**If you really want good service, I’d head to the «Big Planet Comics» in College Park. The people there are very nice and knowledgeable, and actually don’t mind helping you find something or making suggestions. Plus, the atmosphere is more inviting and interactive, and has a great selection**

We came in on a Saturday morning to pick up a few comics that I was looking for and it was completely empty. While the select was pretty decent, they didn’t have the comic I wanted… at least we didn’t see it. Neither of us bothered to ask the lone employee for help since he was playing a game on his phone and mutter a «Hello» when we came in.
Ended up going elsewhere, which sucks since Alliance Comics is in walking distance to our place.

We found a wide variety of new and older material at the store, and the whole place is laid out in a comfortable, organized way. The staff is friendly, but not terribly outgoing. They didn’t seem to know the material very well, either, so I wouldn’t go there expecting help finding things.

Nice store if you collect new comics. I collect older back issues. Not a single bronze, silver, or golden age in the entire store.

Pretty disappointing. Probably a great selection of new stuff, but we’re not into new stuff, and there was no old stuff at all.

Super friendly staff with a well-​organized comic selection. Forget the naysaying and give them a shot! Let your nerd flag fly.

This shop is just… ok. Which disappoints me a lot since it’s in my neighborhood :-(
While it is organized enough to find what you’re looking for and they do carry both new releases and old issues the staff just takes it from «have potential» to… meh. You’d be hard pressed to have someone ask if you need help here and engaging in a little industry talk may get met with short, terse, nonchalant replies. They also don’t offer you a bag so if you plan on buying a few items be sure to bring your own bag because all you’ll get is a receipt and shrug.
Merchandise:
New issue, graphic novels, kids/​teens graphic novels & issues, a few shirts, a few major shounen manga titles, and older issues/​books downstairs in THE DUNGEON.
Location/​Layout:
Great location, layout on the top floor makes it relatively easy to find what you’re looking for.
Overall
While it is more organized and has more new issues than Barbarian in Wheaton, it doesn’t hold a candle to the knowledge, expertise and shopping experience at other shops in the area. Try out Big Planet (i prefer the one in Vienna, VA), or (my personal fav) Fantom Comics. Stop by Alliance if you live in the dtss area and need a few things, but not for the social aspect.

I would give this a 1.25 if I could (though I’m feeling «nice» today and it gets about a 1.45! ROFL!!!), but I have had a lot of issues with the staff and I agree the lack of knowledge among them is NOT enough to power an Elementary School calculator (you know the basic funtion blue/​gray ones?), if it were even theoretically probable to convert it to the proper engery resources and due to their incompetance it’s NOT! Lol! I agree with the person who said there is not enough «obscure» finds (Tomine, Clowes, Burns, etc.)! Hell, I could talk circles around those guys in my sleep and actually did when I was there to the point where one of them looked so stumped he was about to sh*t himself for being owned by a girl at his job, which is what he should have known more about than the consumer if he were any good at it! LMFAO!!! The manager even tried to kick me out for showing up his staff in front of everyone! He was like that or work for the NEWBS!!! I was like forget it you morons would NOT know good material if it blew in your face in a snow Storm (see what I did there!?! XD) and stuck there! He said for that I’m banned! Eh, the guy’s stiffed me and website linked me one to many times, anyway and I know the sites you can read them on, even the rare stuff and if I actually want to buy it, even though I don’t typically go to the chain stores (like «Big Planet»), I’d rather get my «fix» from someone with a brain who I can actually have an intelligent conversation with and is about my equal when it comes to things like this, than an ignorant dweb (AND «DWEB» IS A HUGE STRETCH)!!! LMMFAO!!!

I previously posted a positive review for this store, but I will no longer be a customer. On two separate occasions in the past they’ve forgotten to pull books for my box at the store. The first time the clerk was nice enough to find the issue for me and have it sent to the store. The second time they only gave me a website where I could order it.
I had given up on the shop and honestly forgot that I even had a box until a clerk called and (sounding a little miffed) told me that I had a ‘stack’ of books on hold for me. 7 books doesn’t qualify as a stack, especially since there was a two issue gap in one of the titles and a 4 issue gap in the other. If I’m going to have to go to eBay every other month to buy an issue they forgot to pull, what’s the point of even going into the place?

Not sure who was working when the negative reviewers went to the store, but the folks at Alliance have been nothing short of helpful and friendly when I’ve been there. I’m just recently getting back into comics and when I told Amy this she was more than happy to show me what she liked and talk with me about various titles. The store is very clean and well organized. And it’s a quick walk at lunch during work, so they’ve got that going for them, which is nice. Alliance is my store of choice.

Terrible comic book store. No Drawn and Quarterly, Charles Burns, Tomine, Clowes, zines, Chris Ware, etc etc.
if you’re not a 13 year old boy, this place is worthless.

I probably have no place here but whatever. I know NOTHING about comics. Like nothing. Sure I have heard of X-​Men and others but I am a true and naïve, novice.
However, I had a great time here! I thought the staff was really friendly and knowledgeable and the layout was pretty cool. The basement is a nice area and it would be great with more cushy furniture (clearly I am worried about the wrong things). Anywho, I liked it (insert smiley).

Yes, there are great bargains in the leaky basement. But man, this place nails the stereotype hard. When you walk in you feel like you’ve interrupted a pre LAN party circle jerk. Your presence is an inconvenience and hinders the free exchange of all the great thoughts, opinions, and criticisms that flow ceaselessly from the mouths of the comic intelligentsia. Big Planet in College Park smokes this congress of arrogant dorks.

I like comics a lot. Ok… to be completely honest, I love comics. So I should be going to this place all the time. Why don’t I? It is well laid out, with shelves and shelves of comics to browse. But the staff! I don’t know what I expect… I mean, just look at the stereotypical comic book store employee (the guy from the Simpson’s comes to mind). Rude, a know it all, socially inept. Compared to that standard, the staff here is pretty good. They are not really rude, they just don’t acknowledge you when you come in, too busy with their conversations. They don’t act superior, most of the time they seem as knowledgeable about the stuff on their shelves as I am after looking around for 5 minutes. And they aren’t socially inept, as near as I can tell, I’ve even seen girls inside (gasp!). I just wish they were a little friendlier and a little more pleasant. The prices are the same as Borders, the selection is way better, and so with a little bit of customer service I don’t see why anyone would buy comics at the corporate monsters down the street.

This place has a really good selection and layout — I tend to browse by book covers occasionally (when I haven’t double checked to see what I want) and the setup in Alliance is really conducive to my shopping style.
They have a huge selection of graphic novels, toys, and strange looking DVDs. I would give the place 5 stars, but the guy I dealt with when I went in seemed very clueless… still, I guess clueless is better than your standard rude fare comic shop ass-​dork.

this is a great place, i love the fact that it is independently owned and staffed. i get there often to feed my manga addiction, and i always find a warm welcome. i love comics and i really dig their shop.
sometimes i buy manga at nearby corporate giant borders, but i would much rather buy from these guys!
comic books and super hereos, manga and animé. all in one place. i am addicted. a neighborhood fave.