Would not suggest it if Eric is present- pretty shady ((looks through cards under the counter, you can't see into a giant area where he could easily flip cards, even if you walk to the side the depth of the area and it's opacity/the angle of the office space interferes- for that matter, it's covered with posters (I wonder whhhy?)) acts very put upon (he really would prefer hanging out with his gf, I assume he is not cut into profits, couldn't even get him to call will re:cards he cannot authorize purchase of), he doesn't wear shoes (and you can smell it). Also, they don't pay extra for foils but they are fine e-baying them (the explanation was "poor uci kids don't want to pay for foils" (but they sell for 300% of what they pay FOR CARDS THEY DONT EVEN HAVE) You can get 50% store credit, cash is 25% and the dude will actually mark down prices while you are watching! Look at how many price stickers are on the books. And, and when it's done, he mocks you "we just got this guys money hahaha (actually Eric you make minimum wage, so no, you didn't get shit. I am assuming this will have little impact on their business- I was there for 3 hours and it seemed like the clientele was mostly Asian uci girls willing to pay through the nose for quick, discreet access to hentai. Store credit might work with will, haven't met him, but he said Eric was great (I called beforehand) and is sadly uninformed re: employee work ethic. If you have a hentai fetish go for it- otherwise don't waste your time. read more

I came to Alakazam in search of some FFG Board Game sleeves. The store carries a large variety of Magic the Gathering merchandise and sleeves, for the board games they mostly carry Mayday sleeves, which are while cheaper than FFG sleeves are of much worse quality (striations, welding around the edges, thickness, and blurriness). They did carry 3 (Euro Mini FFG Red, Euro Standard (FFG Purple) and US Standard (FFG Green) sleeves. No US mini (FFG yellow) or Standard Card (FFG White). But had all sizes in Mayday sleeves. The prices are about what you would pay for them from the official site online; however you can find them a little bit cheaper on hobby sites. Overall the price is good. As far as the actual board games are concerned. Alakazam carries mostly only the popular games (Dominion, Munchkin, Bang!, MTG, etc). Nothing obscure or unproven to be mainstream seller. I am not into manga or comics but they seem to have a large selection lining the walls. In addition to Magic The Gathering decks they sell used MTG cards for 10cents each. Overall a decent place for main stream non obscure things. Pricing could be better, but at the same time I understand that its hard to compete with Online stores which dont have to pay for a piece of prime land to stay in business. So basically expect to pay MSRP for everything. As far as the employees. When I visited there was one guy working there, he seemed to be helpful to the customer that was asking him about Magic cards, and when I asked him questions he answered everything. He did act more as an "owner" rather than an "employee", but that doesnt bother me as long as he answers all of my questions and isnt rude about it; which he wasnt. He shouldnt have to lose his dignity to pamper everyone that visits if he is the owner (I think he is but im not sure), then as long as he works the register and answers your questions, he did his job. I keep an open mind, and acknowledge that everyone has a different personality. read more

Alakazam Comics - Board game sleeves and prices. - Comic Books Near Me - Irvine, California

Probably the most reliable comic book shop I've ever been to. If I ever find myself in LA in need for comics, I'm coming here.

In my opinion you cant really say that this place is a comic book shop. The selection is very limited to new releases and a handful of back issues that only dates a couple of years. The location is rather small and they seem to try and dabble in too many different things to really have a good selection of any one thing. I think their main business is in magic type card games. You would think that with a mall location that the selection and foot traffic would be better. read more

Awesome crew here all knowledgable, friendly and willing to help. Don''t be afraid or ashamed to ask for series or story arc you kind of remember. They can usually figure out what you;re looking for or atleast give you great recommendations on some quality reads. They are a compact store due to being in Irvine, but they put a lot of thought and energy into listening to what customers are largely looking for, plus they can special order most things for you if its not in the store. Its a real customer oriented store where you can feel comfortable walking in and asking for help finding something you need or to get recommendations. They also have a rental library for trade paperbacks that stocks a lot of the must reads for any self respecting comic fan. read more

I've been coming here for years, ever since I discovered my first comic. I love this shop, the staff is friendly and super helpful. If there is ever something you want that they don't have, they will order it for you. They always are willing to talk about comics and offer suggestions if you are looking for new things to read. Plus, they have fun nerdy games, stationary and other fun stuff. It's a small shop, but they always have a good mix of new and old comics available. Their subscription service is awesome and ensures that I never miss something by my favorite author or artist. A major plus. Support your neighborhood comic shop and small businesses by shopping at Alakazam. read more

Yay for being able to rent graphic novels (when you finish your library's collection) yay for cool toys! it sucks the costa mesa one shut down, but the staff is really cool and don't bug you, (theyre usually watching futurama which is cool in my book) read more

The prices here are pretty good when you first start going, but they tend to be nicer and nicer to your wallet the more you go and the more you buy. I go about once a month, and every time I go, I spend at LEAST $50. I love the guys that work here, and I think it's so great that they have a girl working there. It honestly makes me feel like less of a weirdo for loving comics. They're always super friendly and you can sit and talk comics with them all day. I love coming here. The only downside, in my opinion, is that the store is very small. read more

My inner geek comes out when I come here. Sadly I'm the type that love to come to this place but I never buy anything . I mostly come when I get yogurtland from down the street . read more

Since the move to the airport location, the selection is much larger plus a nice back issue collection. You should drop in and check them out . read more

Great store right next door to my barber shop so I usually go once a week. Go to the back and look for order issues and they are all one buck you can't beat that. They are good for back issues and novels as well and are very helpful with storylines. read more

This place sort of became some anime and trading card store as the years went by, which kinda sucks but hey it's one of the better comic shops around. I used to work around the area and drop by here often, I actually miss when they sold sports cards. I still drop by here every now and then. The workers are still assholes, the owner is still cool, and I always manage to pick up a few fun things when I go here. I know that some people complain about it, but it's one of my favorite comic shops I grew up with and it reminds me of being in college. Maybe I'm a bit masochistic but I like how they haven't changed, and I still support this shop. read more

Used to shop this place when I was still a student and they were located at the UTC. Super glad I found them again, friendly as I remember. Top notch guys. read more

Alakazam Comics has a huge selection of back issue comic books. This store is a great place to find current and older books. If your in the area and looking for comics, this store is definitely worth a visit. read more

Now bear with me. My review of the store will be quite dated since the last time I actually visited and used the store was back in the Summer of 2004, but I doubt much has really changed. Again like the original reviewer stated the store is small but it does have its features. The paramount features being the store's awesome graphic novel, manga, anime, and movie rental libraries. But for those looking for back issues may be at a loss. The store does have a good selection of books for sale but it's not as large as other stores. And that goes the same for thier weekly books. The best way to combat this is to have a pull list for books and items that you'd want to get on a weekly or timed basis. Other than all that, Alakazam is the only comic store in Irvine and you're bound to find something that'll peak your interests. read more

All ways left with something. Good stock of current issues, some hard to find back issues but the gold for me is the dollar bins in the back. Been a few times and still haven't made my way through half of them. read more

Cluess. Went to buy some magazine boxes. The staff was not really friendly and gave us the wrong box top...seriously? So we had to drive back and were greeted with some attitude. We stated the problem and the guy behind the counter goes " That's a top for a baseball card box, so what's the problem?" Obviously, he did not listen, so we had to S-P-E-L-L-ed out the problem and got the correct box top. They were not even apologetic or admit to their bad. Can not comment in their comic book inventory, but the place is pretty small (15' by 15') space that was pretty packed. read more

I always love supporting small businesses. This store has a great selection of books and individual comics. My purchases here have mostly been FUNKO POPS. They have a better selection than most of the bigger chains in the area. Nice and helpful staff. Check it out! read more

Hard to understand how this place has a four star rating. I've gone in a couple times because while I have other shops I prefer, Alakazam is the closest to me so I've gone in simply for the sake of convenience. Alakazam Comics has some of the absolute worst customer service I've ever seen in any establishment, ever. Hobby shops in general are lacking in customer service, but this place takes it to a new low. Both times I've been in I wasn't even greeted, asked if I needed help, was looking for anything in particular, etc. I wasn't acknowledged at all. One time they were just sitting there eating their lunches right on the counter. When I did get their attention, they were rude and condescending and the whole time they acted like the last thing they wanted to do was deal with a customer. Another time, I wanted to look at some MTG singles, and as I was looking through their folders I pulled a card out and the girl snapped at me, saying "No" as if she were speaking to a misbehaving child. Look, you guys have your rules because you've been dealing with shoplifters? I get that, but don't talk down to me like I'm an idiot for doing nothing wrong. Where was I... rude, condescending, impatient, no professionalism whatsoever... oh right, the prices. Their boosters are standard prices same as everywhere else. Their singles are way overpriced, and their buyback prices are worse than what anyone else will give you. Bottome line: Terrible service, bad prices and mediocre selection. Avoid at all costs. Go anywhere else, because anything is better than Alakazam. read more

Alakazam was pretty cool...until I tried to sell my WoW TCG collection to them. The clerk, Will, became rude, contemptuous, and haughty. Part of the collection was a Prince Arthas figure in the packaging, which is rather valuable. When I told him this he said, "Really, who would want to buy this?" "...piece of crap" was strongly implied. Of course, I couldn't help but point out that the entire store is filled with stuff that most ordinary people would call junk. He pawed through some of the rest of the collection, asked what I wanted for it, and without even looking at the whole thing (he missed some loot cards, etc) he said my asking price (which I estimated to be half of the street price) was too high. How could he know that without even looking at the collection? I totally understand that the store has to make a living. But to have a personal collection disrespected, denegrated, and overall be treated poorly and without consideration was just too much. They probably walked away from at least $1000 of profit, just because of a bad attitude. I may try another store, or eBay. But there's no chance Alakazam is ever getting my business again. UPDATE: Went back 8/6/09 because I was too lazy to sell on ebay. Will was still there. He felt the Yelp review was unfair to him. However, he offered me $20 for my collection that included a King Mukla loot card, several Goblin Tunic loots, Extended Magni, etc. Whatever. I called and got a friend to help me with ebay. read more

Wish there was a zero star option. Months ago I went here with magic the gathering cards I had found in a house clean up (previously owned by relatives). I had no idea what they where or their value. I went here because it's walking distance from my house and told the man I was unsure what they where. The man offered me 20 dollars for all of them. I went to another shop and was offered over 200 for the exact same cards. I am sure this place is great for buying and has a lot to offer I don't deny that, but I wouldn't recommend it to sell cards. read more

This place has nice old cards that brings you back to mtg history. However, the employees seem rude & have an unusual way of handling there business operations. Took me forever to buy something since they kept taking away time for me to browse any items because they claimed to be busy but in reality were talking to their regulars about how there day was. read more

Would've been good if they would update their hours of operations... They have 7 pm closes but instead they have a sign outside that says closes at 6 pm.. Sad thing is the person manning the store will ignore you and point to the sign and that's a wrap... read more

It is an amazing store but I was looking for a COMICBOOK store. And to be honest this is a card store with some comics. I am a girl who usually can walk into a comic store of any type and be at least comfortable, but something felt wrong. It might have been the extremely small space or the disorganization but I think it was the total surprise and shock at a female presence. Over all not great but understandable. read more

First time on here. Great store, lots of comics, figures, and graphics. The staff are amazing and helpful. Worth the visit.

found this place while working in the area. cool hole in the wall spot with a huge amount of back issues. sign up for their emails as they have great weekend sales. read more

Yes, it's a small and crowded comic book shop but this is where I get my Marvel fix (The Stand by Stephen King, anyone?). They have a large selection of manga as well--but I kinda wish there was room for a big couch for me to sit down and peruse at my leisure (which would probably annoy the heck out of the staff. But I digress). I suppose that their Magic: The Gathering sets could use an upgrade from the rows of boxes they're relegated to (other gaming stores I've been to keep primo cards on glass display). But other than that, a sweet venue for satisfying my geeky needs. read more

I enjoyed the selection of geeky items as well as the knowledgeable staff. Most places I go have staff that can't find a hole in the ground. They also have never burned me on my pull list which has happened at other stores. Plus Wills' recommendations have always been great. read more

Who doesn't love their neighborhood comic book store? The thing that sets them apart is the rental system. Every time I'm over at the UCI center I like to just step in for a few minutes and see what they have. It's nice to have a little flashback to Pokemon and elementary school. read more

Love this shop and they just moved to the Skypark area! It's a much bigger store so it's not as crammed. The customer service is always great when I go in and their recommendations never disappoint. Now that they moved closer I will be going much more :) read more

You must check them out!! They make you feel welcome Tons of books for everyone and a lot old back issues to go through.

When I was getting into comics back when I was 10, the comic store in my town closed down, so I was stuck with begging comics off people who were near to comic stores. When I came to UCI, this little gem replaced embarrassing conversations and allowed me to become a "true" enthusiast. Friendly, somewhat quirky service, and very well-informed staff. read more

This is a small shop located near UC Irvine. Items in the store are mostly recent comics with a few boxes of back-issues. Once in a while they have some sales or have a table in the front with some .25 cent comics. I've seen them bring some items to local comic cons and so if you're nearby it's worth a stop. They also have some artist signings at the store. One item to note to separate the store is their tradepaperback wall where you can rent some graphic novels instead of buying them straightout. read more

I would give these guys six stars if I could. The owners are incredibly nice, always welcoming. They let you modify your pull list as much as you want and even put in effort to remember your name. Ryan is super down to earth and I have never had a bad experience here. Highly recommend. read more

pretty good selection of comics/manga here. Yeah they do allow you to rent out novels, cheaper than buying if youre trying something. The prices are retail and the staff are usually pretty quiet but otherwise a pretty neat store. read more

LOVE Alakazam - a great selection of graphic novels, manga, some novels, toys, shirts, and anything to satisfy the geek within - all within a rather tiny space at that. Put simply, it's dense with awesome. At this point I'm familiar with most of the staff at least by sight, if not name, and in some cases I'd call them 'friends'. Always willing to dole out excellent recommendations and talk shop about virtually any graphic novel, series, or author - they know their stuff. I have yet to hear someone walk in, ask about something I feel is obscure, and hear the staff respond with ignorance. They just...they just *know*. I've dropped a fair amount of change at Alakazam, but it has been entirely worth it - and needless to say, more change will be deposited in the near future. read more

Wish they had more space and access to a better selection of older more valuable comics. We ended up going to Frank and Sons to find al the comics we wanted like Batman #1, etc. read more

Ok, I have a tendency to give glowing reviews for businesses, so I'm sure that some people will give my writings a grain of salt. I first came here nearly 9 years ago when I was simply visiting. I really had no impression to go by. About 4 years later, I moved out here. Lo and behold, they were still in business! I don't know how. I used to have my own comic business, and I know what slight profit that can be made on them. That said, I think the success of the business is entirely due to Wil (Will? Wuill? Wil's wife?) He is the friendliest guy you can meet( and he used to look like a poor man's Wolverine). He runs the business with a passion for what he does. Typical of many comic stores, they offer a reservation program with a customer honor discount. Now here is where they stand out. I got very sick and was out of commision for nearly 3 years. When I finally made my way back there, limping and looking pretty pitiful, they still had held my books. When I said that, sadly, I had no income and couldn't purchase,the employee didn't bat an eye. He just said "No problem", and said he hoped I felt better and could come back as a customer. You can bet I will. read more

I like coming here. Getting my old school Pokemon cards, and checking out the toys. Only downfall is how small this.place is, feels like inside a pokeball...B-) see what I did there?! read more

Phenomenal comic shop! You can ask about anything and get insightful explanations, news, and recommendations. The two people I've seen regularly working here over the years (Willard Call and the guy with the awesome beard) have made it comfortable to ask for changes to my pull list, even frequent changes and closing all subscriptions. Multiple staff members have let me drop off promotional material at their promo table without any hassle. One year during Free Comic Book Day, I asked for just one extra comic to give to my student who likes the featured character, and I was given 24 free comics so I could give one to every student! read more