Convergence (Or, an Essay on My Changing Comic Buying Habits)

...and no, this time I don't mean DC's Convergence event that ran through their June and July-dated books this year. But, then again, that's not a bad place to begin...

Convergence #0 variant cover by Adam Hughes...just because I like it!

Historically speaking, my comic book buying habits have been rather crazy. And when I began ordering from Discount Comic Book Service in 2006 was when that habit kicked up another few notches. With astonishing 40% discounts across the Big Two and sizable discounts for the other companies, I could afford more than under my local comics retailer's discount.

No Delusions: Atomic Comics Has Closed

The rumors are true. As of last night, August 21, Atomic Comics, the largest comics chain retailer in the southwestern United States, is no more. Owner Mike Malve verified the chain's closing in a statement issued early this morning, citing the current financial climate as primary reason for his stores' collapse.

This wasn't the first sign of trouble for Malve and his stores. A car crashed into the Mesa Superstore location in late 2006, causing incredible damage including a water main break that damaged over a million dollars in inventory. The store closed for five months, after which much of the clientele never returned. Add the current economic downturn to the precipitating event, and it isn't hard to see it was all a perfect storm that led to Atomic's collapse.