Isotope Comics

I was walking back to my car while being in Hayes Valley and spotted this hidden gem of a shop. So Super-​Duper-​Freaking Cool!!! I was in comic book heaven. I use to be an avid comic book collector back in the day, so I was drooling when I cruised inside and saw a sea of various comics. I was needless to say in Comic Book Heaven. You can browse through all the current selections and collectors items and take a seat in one of the cushy couches. So, cool!
the staff are amazing – super friendly and really know their stuff. I left with some prime reading material. including ‘Smoke and Guns’ by one of the owners of the shop Kirsten Baldock – she signed my copy– which was an extra major bonus! – Can’t start reading this sexy comic.

I’m not fangirl, but I’m married to a fanboy. Stopped by here after a visit to the Fatted Calf, which is next-​door. Have to say I like the space and there’s definitely plenty to look at. The fella upfront was very helpful and knowledgeable too. Plus he had a cool suit. My fanboy picked up a few things, so I’m guessing it passed muster for him too.

Gregariously hosted comic book store in Hayes Valley with great selection and reading area.

I had an amazing experience here. The man who helped me knew everything ! I’m new to comics and gave him an idea of the style I think I would like and I walked out with 10 unique and different books. I swear he was illustrated in the comic Smoke and Guns too. I can’t remember his name but cool hair and nice suit. Anyways, the store it self was impressive and I can’t wait to go back and buy 10 more.
Thank you !!!

What Isotope lacks in a huge catalog, they more than make up for with a love for comic culture – including the people who read them. There’s no rush to decide, purchase and leave; browsing is encouraged, and the larger-​than-​life owner is happy to shoot the breeze about all things comic-​related. Judging by the events hosted at Isotope, the community has a lot of affection for the store, as do comic creators themselves; the wall of hand-​drawn cartoon-​bedecked toilet seats is testament to that.

great selection and great staff. Excellent for getting obscure and specialty comics.

Great atmosphere, owner was super passionate about comics in general and was very helpful and insightful. The only thing was that there was not a huge selection as the place was a little small.

If you’re looking for a wide selection of comics (especially harder to find titles), Isotope is probably not you’re best bet. Where they succeed is providing a really great atmosphere to hang out and take in the art and overall comic vibe. I also appreciate the in-​store events they have here.

Very cool store. Good selection and awesome staff. Toilet seats bare great too. I can’t draw, but I can wreck a toilet.

Great little place!

This comic lounge is pretty dope! They have single comics, graphic novels, books signings, and more. I’m also watching their website, waiting for their next after hours cocktail party thingies.
What makes it really cool too is the location. They are a block or so away from a beer garden. Gotta love that!
Also, the guy who was working the register the few times I bought comics seemed pretty knowledgeable in the books. It’s always nice to have a convo around the New 52, the direction of the Batman mythos, and all the cool movies coming out.

Great little comic book store, I popped in with a colleague who was looking for some art books, he was somewhat dissatisfied in that regard, but I was very happy with what I found. All the singles and volumes of my favourite books were present; Saga, DMZ, East of West. It was a good way to intro him to some of the books I love and the mezzanine had a good selection of Zines (a couple of which were roller derby themed, thus automatically I loved it).
Probably a great shout if you need a new local comics store, but if you are looking for a ‘spectacle’ try the comic museum near the Moscone.

I’m not a big fan of the Comic worlds. But my friends told me to check the toilet seat art work. According to my friend, It all started w/​one artist hugging the toilet while he was drunk and drew all over it and now it is a tradition.
The place isn’t hard to find, the staff are friendly and toilet seat art is on the second floor.
A great place to see some weird (good weird) art work, IMO.

I guess I prefer my East Bay comic shops more than I’m willing to admit? Isotope is a gem of a shop I was simply underwhelmed on my particular visit.
The shop itself is neat, lots of natural light (a little hot inside today even though ceiling fans were on) and has great toilet seat décor. Guy at the counter was cool, not too pushy and made just the right amount of comments on my selections :)
SUPER bummed about the lack of boards and bags. At first when guy at counter stated this I thought he was joking (cause he said it so matter of fact, like). I was told that the Walgreens across the street might do… for 10 cents of course. Had I known, I’d planned to visit *after* running around SF with my huge paper Walgreens bag. Oh well. Now you know.

I walked into this store today for the first time because they were hosting a signing with writer Brian K. Vaughan (Saga, Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina). Vaughan is a huge deal (I was at his signing at Image Expo the day before and it got capped because of how much demand there was), and it was really awesome for this store to host a free signing open to the public.
One of the walls is lined with toilet seats signed and decorated by comic book luminaries — apparently Brian K. Wood had too much to drink at an event one night and decided to draw all over the bathroom, starting a tradition for the store. There’s an artist’s desk and couch upstairs that was useful for the signing, which I’ve also heard is open to some local artists who want to work in the store. Comfortable looking chairs downstairs. Overall, a great atmosphere if you want to come hang out and maybe meet other comic book fans. In this regard this is one of the best stores I’ve seen.
The staff members I spoke to were friendly and helpful, like I’ve encountered at most comic book stores. They also have an impressive collection of graphic novels and trade paperbacks. This store also has the standard gamut of new or recent releases.
What I didn’t see (at least, not in the front of the store accessible to everyone) were any back-​issues. I was looking for an issue I couldn’t find, and it sounds like they have some in the back, so be sure to ask if what you’re looking for isn’t readily available. You might find it annoying that these aren’t available to browse though.
I bought a couple of comics while I was here, and was really surprised that they don’t sell individual boards and bags! I was told they are only sold in quantities of 100. This is the first time I’ve walked into a comic book store that did not sell this pretty basic service. If you’re buying comics and want to take care them, you bag and board them. This will probably stop me from coming back here to buy comics unless there is something else going on at the store like today’s event.
But if you buy your bags and boards in bulk and are only looking for new (recently released) comic books, then you might think this place is perfect.

Such a cool comic store! It’s my favorite one to go to in San Francisco, so far. The owner (who looks like a comic book character) is so lively and gives the best recommendations.
It’s more modern and quirky, different than your typical comic store. He has a bunch of toilet seats lining the ceiling, signed by a bunch of authors.
Definitely worth a visit if you haven’t already been!

The location feels a little too open to be a comic store. The super high ceilings and big windows made my geekiness feel exposed by the bright light of day while I was digging through the stacks.
Yes, stacks of comics. I wasn’t a fan of how they were displayed, since I had to manhandle newer copies of current runs to find issues from a few months ago.
These things being said, I really enjoyed my visit to Isotope. They have a well-​stocked, carefully-​selected graphic novel section, which was fun to peruse. The owner is pretty amazing. He was interesting and hospitable. When i couldn’t find the specific volumes that I was looking for, he checked in multiple places before offering me other options for obtaining them.
If you are waiting for new volumes of current comic runs, this is the place for you. If you are looking for anything older than a month (other than graphic novels, obviously) I would go elsewhere.

Not your typical comic store, lots of open space. Inventory consists of current runs of comics. The atmosphere felt more like a hipster lounge area than a comic store. The store itself is very nicely decorated and furnished but this doesn’t really matter to someone out of town like me just looking for certain issues of comics.
I don’t agree with the way the comics were being displayed, only because I like getting my comics in the best condition possible. Stacking them on top of each other with no bag or board causes permanent damage to the spine among other things. I wish I could give them more stars because the guy who helped me seemed like a cool guy, but I didn’t find what I was looking old or new comics.

Went to Isotope Comics for FREE Comic Book Day Sat 5÷3÷14. It’s next to Fatted Calf in Hayes Valley — Fell and Gough. A storm trooper outside greeted me. I liked that.
Lots of people were there. I asked the owner where the FREE Comic books were and he told me on the table, take as many as you want, but then know a kid might not get any. I took a few. Next time I gotta look through each one because lots were just ads /​sneak peaks of comics you have to buy.
Just ok for me, but I’m not a huge comic book fan.

Perhaps I’m a bit of a poseur writing this review. Or, more appropriately, perhaps I’m a poseur in reverse. So… I’m not a regular reader or collector. In fact, I’m pretty sure that it’s been about 10 years since coming to a store dedicated to Comics and Graphic Novels. I’ve walked by Isotope many times.
I was at a bar on Thursday night and one of the other patrons was talking about his Friday comic run the next day. He told me about a alternate-​timeline Batman series from a few years ago. I was intrigued by the plot-​line, so I figured that I better head over to Isotope at lunch the next day since I work a few blocks away.
I kinda figured I be out of place — the unfair stereotype of the Comic-​Book guy from The Simpsons was what I thought I’d walk into. At best, I was thinking Brody from Mallrats talking to TS. I know very little beyond some of the basics. I was literally intimidated to be the least cool customer there. I walked in and the shop-​keeper (James) asked what brought me in — I told him, and I expected to be treated like an idiot. He said, there are MANY alternate Batman timelines — tell me a bit more. I said «Bruce Wayne got killed and his dad is Batman». He slapped his fingers and his eye’s lit up: «Say no more. Right this way!» he said.
At any rate, he didn’t have it on hand, but told me he’d be able to order it — which he happily did. (Coming next Friday) Clearly, James has a real gift at sharing his passion with others. He showed me another Batman book done by Frank Miller and told me a little about the history. Again, I know nothing about the real world of comics, but I was inspired by his enthusiasm. For what it’s worth, I did buy V for Vendeta and have enjoyed reading that this weekend. I’ll be back to get my book next Friday, and I plan to drop by and learn a bit more. I thought the service was absolutely terrific and it is a beautiful store. If you’re like me and don’t know anything but think these books are both beautiful art and terrific story-​telling, then drop in. I think you’ll have a nice experience.

So glad I was able to squeeze in a visit to Isotope Comics during a holiday visit to San Francisco.
The story is as comfortable and inviting as you have heard and deserves the good press it has received over the years.
I was pleased to be able to meet the convivial owner, James Sime, who was wearing his (Marshall Rogers art inspired?) «Joker”-esque suit and tie on Christmas Eve 2013 when we were able to pop in. The store is truly a reflection of its owner!
The neighborhood that Isotope call home is fun to walk around itself. There are tons of interesting little stores and cafés to take in (but go on a day when they are not all closing early due a «holiday.»)
(This is a belated posting, but was actually written in early January and just pulled off my hard drive in early February. Now its posted for all of the Unilocaler-​verse to read!)