Comic Book Store Personalities: The 5 Customers You Always Meet

The Funniest Types of Comic Book Store Customers Explained

Okay, so we’ve all got that comic shop — the one that feels like a second home. You walk in, breathe in that paper-and-plastic combo scent, and immediately scan for new arrivals, discounted trades, or maybe that one back issue you swear you saw last time.

But if you hang out in enough shops, you start noticing a pattern. A rhythm. A… weirdly consistent cast of characters.

Today, I’m breaking down the five types of customers you’ll find in every comic book store (plus one honorable mention who practically lives there but never spends a dime). Shoutout to the commenter who inspired this — your idea was too good not to run with.

Honorable Mention: The Lurker (AKA "Does He Even Work Here?")

You’ve seen him. You’ve probably nodded at him awkwardly. This is the guy who’s always in the shop but never actually buys anything. Ever. He’s posted up by the counter, chatting it up with staff, giving unsolicited opinions on everything from Batman’s emotional development to the X-Men's best team lineup.

At first, you think he works there. Then you realize he’s just there. Always. Like a comic shop cryptid.

He’s friendly (kinda), he’s opinionated (very), and while he’s not technically a customer, he’s earned an honorary spot on this list just from the sheer number of hours clocked in without spending a cent.

1. The Whale

This is the dream customer for any comic shop. The Whale rolls in every single Wednesday with a pull list longer than a Watchmen monologue.

They’ve got 20–30 titles on lock, they pre-order months in advance, and they don’t blink twice at picking up a variant or an Omnibus on a whim. “Oh, you’ve got the 1:25 Peach Momoko variant? I’ll take two.” They might even throw in a statue just because it looks cool next to their Daredevil shelf.

Whales keep shops afloat — they buy, they support, and sometimes, their purchasing habits even influence trends. Respect to the Whales of the world. We see you flexin’ those longboxes.

2. The Unpredictable Regular

Every shop’s got one. You know they’re coming in — but you never know what they’ll actually buy. One month, it’s all the X-Men books. The next month? Spider-Man only. The month after that? They’re into indie horror one-shots with foil covers.

This person confuses comic shop owners more than continuity errors in the DC Universe. The problem? Shop owners try to order based on trends — and this customer makes it impossible. They’ll rave about a character one month, then ghost them the next, and somehow expect the shop owner to keep up.

Oh, and don’t even get them started on variants. They’ll buy all of one artist's covers… until they don’t.

3. The Casual

The Casual is just dipping their toe into comics. Maybe they’re new to the hobby, maybe they’re buying a gift, or maybe they just wandered in because the store looked cool.

They ask things like:
“Is this good?”
“Do you have any X-Men?”
“What’s a pull list?”

It’s charming, honestly — unless you’re the shop owner trying to figure out whether they mean Claremont-era X-Men, House of X, or some random single issue from 1997. The Casual isn’t a bad customer — far from it. They’re potential future Whales. But they definitely need guidance (and patience).

Pro tip for Casuals: Don’t be afraid to ask questions — just don’t expect the owner to have read every single book ever printed.

4. The Digger

Ah yes, the bin diver. The back-issue browser. The guy who’s spent more time hunched over longboxes than a chiropractor’s worst nightmare.

The Digger’s not here for new releases — they’re chasing keys, minor keys, and dollar-bin gold. They’ve memorized every inch of the back-issue wall. They’ll visit shops across cities (and even states), hunting down undervalued books, obscure variants, or that one Moon Knight issue that just spiked in value.

They’re a walking Key Collector app. They don’t care much about the story — it’s all about condition, rarity, and flipping potential. And honestly? If your shop’s got a solid back-issue section, these folks can be very profitable. Just… maybe don’t challenge them on pricing. They’ve done their homework.

5. The "Let's Make a Deal" Guy

This one’s part collector, part hustler. The “Let’s Make a Deal” guy doesn’t care about cover price — they want the friend price. The “I’ve been coming here for years” price. The “Hey man, what if I buy two, do I get one free?” price.

They’re not mean. In fact, they’re usually super friendly, chatty, and good-natured — they just love to haggle. A little too much.

To them, scoring a $20 book for $15 is a bigger win than the actual comic. It’s all about the deal. Sometimes, they can be a great customer. Other times? A shop owner’s worst headache.

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So, which one are you? The Wednesday Whale with the overflowing pull list? The Digger with back issues in your dreams? Or maybe you’re the Deal Maker, always chasing that sweet, sweet bargain. Whatever your comic shop persona, one thing’s for sure — you’re part of the magic that makes these stores feel like home. It’s the weird mix of personalities, habits, and hot takes that gives each shop its own flavor.

And hey, if you’re the lurker who never buys anything… maybe just grab a book next time, yeah?

Comic book shops aren’t just places to buy stuff — they’re sanctuaries for geeks like us to argue over canon, discover new stories, and connect with our inner heroes (or villains).

Stay weird, stay collecting — only at Land of Geek Magazine!

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