Fantastic comic book store, tucked away, but also right in the heart of Andersonville. A wide selection of comics, graphic novels, comic book statuettes, and related items make this a worthy destination for anyone who loves superheroes -- and loved to hate supervillains! A knowledgeable and friendly staff rounds out this welcome addition to the Chicago comic bookstore scene. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You won't regret it! :) read more

Still a very comprehensive comic shop (you've just gotta find it...and not be claustrophobic because it requires going down a narrow alleyway to reach the shop [hence the name]). I'm glad that it's still going after so many years (& with a chain shop not far down the block). Shop local! read more

really nice shop. good layout and aesthetic. Has a $1 been which is always the sign of a good store.

Best comic shop I've been to! They had a lot of in and out flow of people but it didn't feel overly crowded. It felt like I belonged and the guy was very nice and welcoming. They had a good selection of comics and Manga and drawers of backstock. For first timers it can be easy to miss cause they are in an alley. You have to go between two buildings but they do have a little sign. Would def recommend to anybody and will def be coming back. read more

Okay, so this is really a review on AlleyCat's manga selection, as that's my main area of interest. And their manga selection is awesome! I'm a shoujo/josei/BL reader, and it can be hard to find titles in a lot of Chicago comic shops (which mostly feature shounen and the really mainstream series). AlleyCat has a wonderful variety of titles for every kind of reader, including some really hard to find items. A few examples: they had Meteor Prince from ShojoBeat, which I have literally never seen in stock at any other store ever; Twittering Birds Never Fly from June (and other June titles, which are so hard to find, even online); and all of the recent manhwa releases, including ones that have been sold out at other spots like B&N. They consistently order titles from fav imprints/publishers of mine like Sublime and Kuma, and have a lot of older series as well that can be difficult to get a hold of. I always find something to buy at AlleyCat, and know I can go there to get new releases (including "I Should Not Love You" by Chise Ogawa, which I was desperate to get the week it came out). This might be gobbledygook to most people, but if you know, you know! They'll also put in advance orders, so if you're organized, you can request all of the upcoming titles that may have small print runs. It's a great way to support the store and publishers/imprints that really benefit from pre-orders. I'm really so grateful to AlleyCat for having such an amazing selection for manga fans like me. Kudos to whoever orders their manga -- you rock! read more

I have three favorite businesses in all of Chicago: Music Box Theatre, Hopleaf Bar, and AlleyCat Comics. AlleyCat is my favorite comic book shop *ever*. It's an incredibly LGBTQIA+ friendly space and is owned and operated by some of the kindest, most helpful people I've ever had the privilege of meeting. Selene, especially, is beyond helpful and has gracefully handled waaaay too many requests from me for subscription additions and revisions! Since the start of the pandemic, picking up comics from AlleyCat has been a major rock for me. Even while some publishers paused their series, I was able to take advantage of AlleyCat's amazing selection of less-mainstream titles, trade paperbacks, and hardcover collections. I have to be very intentional about when I go to pick up my subscriptions so I don't buy more stuff than I need to--LOL. I'll be moving further away from Andersonville this summer, but I will still make a trip to AlleyCat to pick up my comics every other week (if not weekly). The store and its team are a huge part of why I love Chicago, and I won't be giving that up. read more

I mean I go for manga and the selection is more than plentiful. I order way too many and they usually arrive pretty quick.The workers are always kind and helpful. read more

The best store for comics es lo mejor de lo mejor tiene muy buen servicio y está todo ordenado

So here's the thing about Chicago...its meant for those who walk...because if you don't get out of your car and just stroll through the neighborhood, then you wouldn't find little gems like AlleyCat Comics. So my daughter and I actually went to Andersonville for a thrift shop, but since we had so much time we decided to stroll up the street and low and behold we stumbled upon AlleyCat comics. The store is cute and well organized with all kinds of comics from your usual to your lesser found and your anime. They also have games and paint and other little cute comic related items. This is definitely a must stop for anyone who loves comic books and just wants a spot they can explore in joy! read more

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I've visited the many Comic Shops of Chicago, and this is by far my favorite! Not only do they have an incredibly diverse selection, the shop is inviting and a pleasure to visit. The staff is EXTREMELY helpful and friendly, and always willing to help in any way they can. When heading out to pick up a few comics, I don't mind the farther trek from where I live (passing other shops along the way) because AlleyCat is beyond worth it! read more

You'll find some great back issues here and fun things. BUT it's low on supply and not much in here in general. Still you'll probably find something cool, AND it's in a secret passage almost as hidden as Platform 9 3/4's if you like that kind of thing. Don't worry, you won't get lost. Just ask any nearby muggle and they'll point you in the direction down a small narrow alley with their non functional wand read more

Huge fan of Graham comics and decided to venture off to find a another place which led me to finding AlleyCat. Loveeee the atmosphere here. They don't mind you grabbing a book or two and sitting on the floor and reading. The staff isnt afraid to nerd out with you either. Ask them a question and prepare for nerdism :) The inventory they have is huge. Everything is neat and in order and easy to find. My only wish is that they had more Black Panther stuff but no biggie. I'll just travel to Wakanda myself. Anyway, on hot days, they let up garage door and turn the place into a convertible. Pretty dope for an escape to say the least. read more

AlleyCat Comics - Actual alley to lead you into comic book heaven. - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stumbled upon this (literally!) hidden gem when walking down Clark! It's a quintessential comic book store. They have a huge variety of comics and also have figurines, puzzles, and games! I also love supporting a woman-owned business. The woman working at the counter was super nice and wished us look on our 1000-piece Zelda puzzle that has a lot of sky, haha. I will definitely be coming back in the future to pick up a new board game. read more

tl;dr - decent comic shop, check your receipts I have mixed feelings about this place. On one hand, it's a comic shop with an excellent selection, decent layout, super cute location in a great neighborhood. Became a subscriber when I lived nearby, made the effort to continue getting my books there years after moving farther away. Was never a weekly-regular, but the always-eventually-picks-up-all-their-books-plus-a-few-off-the-shelf type. Continued to subscribe through the pandemic and long periods of unemployment, because, y'know, you want to support your shop. Over the years though, the number of times I've walked out, checked my receipt, and then walked back in to explain their error and ask for a refund has been disproportionately high. To the point where I would expect it to happen and pleasantly surprised when it didn't. A few visits ago one of the owners was ringing me up and made *three* errors in one transaction, leaving it to me each time to notice and correct them. - The first error was inputting a $20 credit backwards, adding $20 to my total instead of subtracting it. - The second error was ignoring the customer, when I pointedly made a comment seeing the total was over $70 and said "whoa, it came out to seventy bucks?", their response being a dismissive "yup, that's what I said." - The third was when I came back inside after checking the receipt, they apologized and said they would refund my $20 right away, which I then had to point out should be a $40 reversal. My takeaway is that they just aren't paying enough attention, and it comes at the detriment of the customer. I didn't plan on ever leaving a review, I'm not usually that guy, but when I recently went to drop my subscription and pick up my last books? They couldn't care less. Not even the common courtesy of "oh we're sorry to see you go" or anything, just "ok well these are yours then have a nice day." I worked in comic shops for almost two decades and couldn't imagine being so cold to a person who'd been loyal so long, *even* a customer we didn't love. Maybe it's because it was the same owner who had fumbled so badly before, maybe they just felt awkward and embarrassed. I hope that's the reason. All I know is it doesn't take much to be kind. So anyway, I totally recommend checking out this shop, just check your receipts when you leave. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. read more

In using Yelp I again found a great solution to point me to local Chicago area businesses who deal with comic books from the 1960s and AlleyCat appears to address that need well. I do need to catch up with them in the near future to see if my interests and needs are a match. read more

Comic book stores don't get much cleaner and well-organized than this. They aren't as large as a lot of other comic book stores in Chicago. They don't have a lot of the "toys" you'll see jammed into nooks and crannies in other places. I'm not into comic books as much as the people I was with, so I'll let others review the place in depth. read more

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An awesome little comic shop, literally, hidden down the alley (as the name implies). I wish they had some more figurines but they did have some other cool swag (like a Doctor Who Tardis scarf). The staff was really friendly and knew their stuff. read more

AlleyCat Comics - Sign in the alley to guide you back - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Go. Take the kids. Get them addicted young. DO IT. 1. Place is awesome; location kick ass 2. Staff is friendly. 3. They keep their pulls right behind the counter and know your name. 4. Awesome events 5. Great selection; don't see something you want? ASK! 6. So classy & fun I wish this place continued success! read more

I actually liked this place and do plan on coming back but I honestly wanted to like it more. I visited on free comic book day and it was just crowded. It was nice to see a comic book store get such a buzz. The overall concept of it's location is pretty cool and nice to just visit and look around. Parking is just terrible so this is not an easy stop by and check out comics. It's got very much a hipster vibe to it so if that's you, this is a place you got to check out. The staff is really cool and laid back. They even had a nice lounge area outdoors to relax and mingle. The biggest problem I had with the place was probably the fact that their prices were the highest prices I've seen ever outside of a convention. There were some things more reasonably priced but overall, it's just not somewhere I would visit normally. For free comic book day, they did have a few things on sale, including some back issues but not a big selection. The free comics were near the register which didn't really make sense because of how crowded it got. But maybe it was there first year being this busy. Overall, nice place to visit, good atmosphere but not so much for the price. read more

It was very cool, I found all the manga that I wanted, my sister couldn't find one volume, but the store shipped us a copy all the way to Colorado! Great friendly staff, and a rad location. Will definitely come back next time I come to Chicago. read more

This is my absolute favorite comic book shop! They're always friendly and welcoming, and I love how cozy and hidden away it feels. Their selection of new titles, both as single issues and trades, is awesome. I haven't gone through many of their back issues, but that seems to be a pretty extensive collection too. And if you're into tabletop games or painting miniatures, they've got you covered. I do suggest when you're leaving that you pause and look both ways at the end of the alley before stepping out onto the sidewalk - the narrow alley makes it easy to collide with a fellow pedestrian on a busy day. read more

Great location and a great little store. Our experience was dampened by the huge congregation of people waiting for their brunch times. They just stood in the middle of aisles and let their children run wild, which made browsing a bit difficult. However, the selection of TPB's and comics was extensive and the back issues were priced fairly. read more

Love this place. I brought my 10-year-old daughter in to find some new graphic novels. The two guys at the store spent a good 15 minutes making suggestions based on what she had already read. This is what makes local stores irreplaceable. read more

One of the best comic shops ever! Always great service. Anything can be ordered and an excellent selection of fun stuff from the required comics to the now expected funko's, to the harder to find stuff. MTG and DnD are by the counter. All this and you get the Diagon Alley experience when you find the store in Andersonville. Go Shop Here! read more

This has been my go-to comic book shop on the north side of Chicago for a few years now. AlleyCat has an awesome selection of indie and mainstream comics, manga, graphic novels and board games. The owners are super friendly and are always available if you have any questions or special requests. Visit for the cool secret location, stay and browse for the great comic offerings. read more

A great shop powered by great people! They can answer every comics question I have heard asked in the shop, and are great at helping you narrow down gift ideas. I come here weekly and there is always something new to see or talk about. They also have a great selection for Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, and citadel paints. And Gundam Gunpla. And hands down the best manga selection in the city. read more

I get that Andersonville is tiny and everyone gets excited about a new place opening up, but seriously? Besides having an extremely cool location this place has nothing going for it. And it's getting two strikes from me on big issues. First off, the selection is super duper tiny. Went in on a Friday morning when they first opened and there were so many holes of things sold out. I would say 'good for you' but instead I say 'shame on you for not ordering enough of what you customers want'. Additionally, being in Andersonville, I didn't think I would feel like I would stick out like a sore thumb. There's a weird thing that happens when a girl walks into a comic book stores - not all but some - and it's where all the boys stare like they're thinking I walked in the wrong place. And then offers no hello, no help, and when I decide to check out after perusing their tiny selection, not a word. And when my wife compliments you on your space, you answer. Don't just keep your eyes low and ring my credit card through. Not. One. Word. This is rude and I already wanted to tell the dude to forget it but my card had been processed. Secondly, it's been brought to my attention that they refuse to carry gay and lesbian books because they're "family friendly". To start, look at what neighborhood you're in. And also, you have comic books that have porn in them. Saga for instance is on the second to last shelf where any child could pick it up. If you're SO worried about being family friendly, you would either ban that too or put it up higher. I'm not sure if this is a business that doesn't want conflict. Or if they're just altogether not gay friendly. Perhaps this is why my wife and I got the cold shoulder when we entered even though we were spending money - and not on fluff either - I'm a Walking Dead girl! I would advise my friends and other comic lovers to not enter this store though because they're using some crap business practices. Go to Chicago Comics where you're not shunned just for being a girl or even being gay - this place is wack! read more

A comic book store in A-ville... Hell yeah!! I was casually walking down the street with a few people when my senses started tingling. I jumped back expecting to hit a wall, but only found more sidewalk instead. "Holy, hole in the wall, Pants!!" They had me from the entrance, I'm a sucker for mysterious passage ways. It's down a sidewalk corridor on berwyn and clark, between Starbucks and Potbelly's. This story could write itself, the small business pinched between two corporate giants (dun dun dunnn). Immediately upon entering this square building of deadly paper cuts, I saw the Walking Dead. I leaped over the counter shouting "I guess you can call this a COUNTER-attack!!"** This small garage turned modern store front complete with pull down glass garage door is super clean and they have made good use of their space. They stock a combination of new and old comics, plus a few odds and ends (t-shirts, toys, and figures). The prices are pretty standard compared to everywhere else. They were super busy when I stopped in so I didn't get a chance to chat with the staff but they did seem very helpful. Nice to have place so nearby. **May not of actually happened. read more

Let me preface this by saying I know thismuch about comic books. (Imagine me holding a very small stretch of air between thumb and forefinger). That said the fates (ie the nerds/geeks/men who wear glasses who are currently populating my life) have been beating me over the head with comic books of late. I've been to more comic book stores in the past few months than in my whole life and this one is my favorite. Now I can't speak to the selection (they have these books with drawings and words in bubbles) but I can speak to how nice the staff seems to be, how clean and organized the store seems to be and the AWESOMENESS of its location. I kind of wish there was a door to a secret apartment in which I could live in this alley. I could wear black leather pants and stiletto boots and...a mask? And I'd look really cool every time I stalked down the alley to my hidden home. And maybe I could like...fight crime or something? I guess. In my spare time? Or just read the comic book my cousin bought me today (it's my first one ever and I kind of get the appeal now). Probably the latter. And then if this one hooks me I might even be back for more... read more

Great modern comic book store. Probably one if not the most aesthetically pleasing comic book stores in Chicago; converted from an old garage, accessible though a proper Chicago gangway. At Alley Cat you'll find a very well organized selection of current releases, back issues, trades and toys. Clean and well lit, with a solid competitive and versatile subscription service. Not to mention a friendly and accommodating staff. I should also mention that they have a kid specific area stocked with the Archie, Disney, DC & Marvel children's titles and more. Additionally it is behind an ice cream store. read more

Mama K told me we were going to a comic book store. She said it was like a book store but not like a regular book store. We walked and walked down a long alley to a door and we went inside the store. I saw superheros! Spiderman! Batman! Pow pow pow! Captain America! Wolverine! We looked at comic books. Hey hey hiyah! I liked the action figures. They had tiny ones and big ones and ones with arms that you can change. I saw a cowboy. Pow pow pow! For my special treat I picked out an Amazing Spiderman comic book. I told the owner it was my very first comic book and he gave it to me on the house. I said thank you because I use my manners. Zombie zombie pow hiyah! Thank you! Please don't tell Mama K I was typing on her computer because I'm not supposed to touch it. I wanted to tell you how cool the comic book store is and that you should go look at Spiderman or your favorite superhero. Mama K said if I am good we'll go back again on another day. She also told me that sometimes they show movies there so we might go watch one. I have a superhero name. Pow pow pow! read more

Just discovered that this place had opened up on my street. Totally makes up for the fact that Walgreen's is going to be moving into the old Thybony store location a few blocks north. I think that AlleyCat and Transistor could form a formidable alliance. I have to admit that I don't know much about comics. But what I do know is that AlleyCat deserves to succeed. The location, behind an alley, is ridiculously awesome. They seem well-stocked and have a lot of back issues available. The guy at the desk was really nice and helpful when my boyfriend asked him some questions. Definitely plan to return if/when I develop a serious interest in graphic novels and of course for gifts for friends who already have! read more

I've been going into comic book stores for decades. Over the last few years, though, visits have become infrequent. I find myself departing the store feeling melancholy over the industry, and having purchased nothing. Not so with my first visit to Alley Cat. I think it's the quality of the light in the space, and the way the shelves are arranged - browsing books here is pleasurable. Enjoyed chatting with the knowledgable and genuinely friendly staff. I bought probably more comics in my first visit to to this shop than I have in the last year since moving to Chicago. Perhaps it's lack of clutter plus an interesting selection just put me in a better mood. I really want this place to succeed! Make the effort to find AlleyCat. Then bring your comics into George's and read 'em over a chocolate malted. read more

Do you read comic books? Would you like to meet artists? Would you enjoy a movie in Andersonville on a Saturday night? This place has everything. Go for the comics. Stay for the cute nerds. They have a great selection of new releases and the graphic novel choices are superb. Can't find it? It's down the alley next to Starbucks. read more

Alley Cat is a great comic shop. All the employees are super nice and helpful, and if they don't have something in stock they will happily order it for you. If you are looking for a new book to read or a gift for someone, they listen to what you want and help you find what you're looking for. They are just really nice and have great customer service. The actual shop is cute and unique because you have to walk down a skinny little alley to get to it from Clark, and there's a cool courtyard in front of the building where you can read your comics and eat ice-cream from George's (although we are boycotting George's right now because they refuse to grind our coffee beans that we bought from them, so now we have decorative coffee beans). But Alley Cat is the best! read more

Totally hidden between two building you would not expect such a cool comic book store in the back with a huge library of comic books. We came by for their magic show on the weekend and it was entertaining. read more

AlleyCat is hands down, the best comic shop in Chicago. From a knowledgeable and funny staff to an insane selection, I drive out of my way all of the time to visit these cats. read more

I came in on a cold February day and was immediately impressed with the selection and layout. The employees were SUPER friendly and willing to chat with me about my nerdy questions. Even the nice customers chimed in. A nice little visit to a nice little store. read more

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I'm an amateur comic nerd...my interests haven't branched much further than Y: The Last Man and Walking Dead at this juncture...but I love the culture and camaraderie inherent in our little geekdom. That being said, when my boyfriend told me there was a new comic shop he'd come upon I was thrilled to go check it out. I've been to several city shops and Alley Cat as something special. Aside from my absolute giddiness at the brilliance of their name and location (literally down an alley-gangplank if you will) they had something for everyone. From Dr Who paraphernalia (that both my boyfriend and I geeked out pretty hard over) to a He-Man inspired graphic tee with none other than Teela on it! I was named after the character and she is very seldom represented, even when one manages to find some merchandise from the franchise. Finally, Nick behind the counter was just as excited as we were to have found our purchases. We will DEFINITELY be going back! :) read more

This is my Neighborhood Comicbook Shop. I'm here once a week spending all my hard-earned money on comics (don't judge me). The customer service is tops. Don't know what you're looking for? They'll happily recommend something that you'll end up loving. Remember a book you saw a few months ago and it was blue and about a superhero? They'll find it or die trying. Want to put a few books aside to pick up later? I'm almost 100% sure they'll do that. In short, they're extremely nice, and extremely knowledgeable, and would even probably help you deliver your child if the timing was right. Another thing I like about this store is that all are welcome. For all the time I've spent there I've never once seen a customer make it in the shop without being warmly greeted. No one is ignored; no one is slighted, and let's face it, you can't say that about a lot of comic shops. You're not going to get dissed for liking Bat Mite, or laughed at for digging Greg Land's art, or any other comic-related offense. Alley Cat just doesn't have that vibe. The vibe it DOES have, is clean, tidy, and warm. You won't be tripping over boxes of random crap, or accidentally knocking books off the shelves because they've been there for months and have started to warp. You won't smell that musty moldering old-book smell present in some shops (sorry, places who still sport the carpet you had when your store opened 25 years-ago, but you know it's true), And you won't run out of things to peruse until long after your parking meter has expired (be careful, this has happened to me a few times already) because the place is packed with great stuff. Not only do they carry all the titles from your Marvels and DC's (and all their imprints), but they treat independent /alternative/smaller-press comics with the equal reverence. They've got a huge selection of trades and graphic novels as well as a great selection of various games (Magic gatherings also happen here weekly, so, you can do that), statues, figures, shirts, magazine, AND a great kid's section! Can you even believe it? So much stuff...it's pretty amazing. Lastly, the neighborhood. It's a walking neighborhood as well as a parking, shopping, and driving-away neighborhood. Starbucks, Potbellies, lot's of eateries and ice creameries, and shops are within footsteps of AlleyCat (which is hidden at the end of a small. but completely safe alley between Starbucks and Potbellies). The only downside is that in the summer on Wednesdays - that's "comic book day" for those that don't know - there's a stupid old farmer's market half a block away (just kidding, it's excellent). that makes parking a bit harder to find. Not nearly impossible, just a bit harrowing if you're running out of gas. Still, worth it though. read more