Super nice and very helpful owner, I had no idea where to start with comics and he helped me out! Great selection. read more

Dr Cain's Comics & Games - Couple of comics I bought - Bookstores Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Small shop, with modern/current issues, but no notable selection of back or key issues. A small selection of toys and other ephemera. This is a nice shop for a weekly pull list, but if you are in the market for back issues, you won't find them here. Employee was very friendly. read more

Really enjoyed stopping by here at the end of our day. They had an assortment of books and they were all really easy to view. I liked that the had lots of visual prints as well. The value seemed good. read more

What a great lil shop that I always stop at when I'm driving through SLO. Pristine, clean, and quaint. They focus mostly on new issues and trades. The store owner is maybe the nicest dude you will ever meet. Gave a regular who was a chatter bug a long box. Lots of people stopped in to buy gift cards and he would throw in a free comic with the card from the new issue rack which is pretty rare. Would even ask for age range and what the person is into before grabbing a comic. The care and thoughtfulness would put a smile on J. Jonah Jameson's cigar smoking face. read more

Want to go back and actually buy something because this is the only one close to my house. Your selection was great and I am going to come back without my family to actually put in the time to pick something out. I got into reading comics 2 years ago and now I'm really interested in reading more. read more

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL COMIC BOOK STORE! With that being said, I WISH THIS WERE MY LOCAL COMIC BOOK STORE! LOL If it were, I would go here everyday!!! I really love the vibes here and the dude that works here (maybe the owner?) was so nice and he tailored his recommendations for me based off of the comics i like. The way he talked about some of these comics was very compelling--so compelling that i thought i was going to walk out with one trade, but i walked out with four!! Really stoked for these new books! Excellent selection at this store as well. read more

I have been shopping at Dr. Cain's Comics & Games since moving to the Central Coast 5 years ago. The owner, Patrick, is very friendly and efficient. I have requested specific issues on a variety of comics and he comes through every time! There is also a fantastic variety of product to choose from depending on your interests! I encourage you to support this local comic book store! read more

Pretty cool shop! Found a few items we had been looking for and the gentleman working there (not sure if he was the owner) offered us assistance in looking for a comic my daughter really wanted. Definitely will be going back when we visit San Luis Obispo again. Also, we ended up forgetting a bag with some items we had purchased else where and the gentleman working there was so sweet, he mailed our items back to us since we live in Orange County. We really appreciate it! read more

Dr Cain's Comics & Games - Love my Stan Lee funko!!! - Bookstores Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Nice little shop but a great variety of comics. Single issues, trades, hardcovers and Omnis. The workers were super nice and informative as well. I hope to be back whenever I'm in town. read more

5 years later, Dr Cain's Comics is still the greatest comic shop I've ever come across!! My son and I still go monthly to pick out some good ones. read more

As a comic collector of 25+ years, this is my favorite comic shop in the city. While Nemo's has a huge back issue collection, Dr. Cain's is my go-to spot when I'm in the area. The owner is extremely personable, knowledgable and humble. We chatted about silver age, the 90s boom, and the current state (MCU spec, slabs, etc.). It's a wonderful place to grab new comics and collected editions. His back issue bin selection is relatively small, but extremely well-curated with prices at or below market value. I found some great deals here. Looking forward to coming back read more

My family came to Dr. Cain's while visiting the area and had a great experience. Dr. Cain's isn't a large store, but they manage to pack a lot of high quality choices in there. In some ways, maybe that's the beauty. It feels like you're walking into a highly curated store of comics and graphic novels. Don't expect to just find Marvel and DC in here (though, of course, you'll find those too). Expect to find a copy of that smaller, but highly prized indie or smaller book you've been hearing all about! Not sure what you want? Ask the owner. Or at least I'm fairly certain it was the owner I spoke to. He is very knowledgable and super helpful. We all managed to leave the store with a great choice and were happy to support a local (well not local to us) comic shop. If you're in town (or already live in SLO), please visit. You won't regret it! read more

I always hit up this comic shop when I am in the area. This last trip like my trip before did not disappoint. Found some issues I was looking for. I also bought a children's book for a nephew. They have a fantastic kid's section. Something for the young and old and everyone in between. Support your local comic book shops. Especially the good ones. Dr. Cain's is one of the good ones. Buy your comics here. read more

I had a bad experience at Nemos down the street. I came here and the store, although small, was nice and welcoming. Although fair warning they require a mask but they provide them. Staff was nice and knowledgeable and had most of the stuff I needed (new releases). They got my business over Captain Nemos. read more

Great customer service, good recommendations. I'll definitely be back for books for my 1st grade classroom and my own kids!

One of the best local businesses in all of San Luis Obispo. Great selection, fair prices, convenient location. Something for everyone. Great store. read more

Don't blink or you will miss this little Shop in downtown SLO. I took my son in to pick out a comic while we were in town and the shop had a lot of options. For being on the small side the place has a variety of comics and other super hero merchandise. The person at the counter who I assume was the owner (since he had his daughter with him) was very nice and allowed my son all the time he needed to decide. The prices were about the same as any other comic shop and my boy found just what he was looking for. I really enjoyed this place and will be back in the future. read more

This store had a lot of variety in it especially for how small it was. The owner was really friendly and encouraged me to try new things really recommend this shop. read more

I really enjoy this shop. My third trip to SLO in the last year and I always make sure to stop here. Not a huge selection of back issues but a great selection of current books and graphic novels. More importantly, great conversation with an awesome owner. Knows pretty much all the books, has great convos without coming across as one of those comic elitists. I make sure to buy something every time in here just to show my appreciation of the conversation. read more

After seeing the good reviews, I offered this as an option to my 12 year old. I planned on staying outside and only coming in to pay because my 3 and 8 year old are very hands on explorers. But alas, they wouldn't be excluded and the staff was so welcoming to all of my kids. We are not a quiet group and he was so kind and patient. We left with 3 comic books and 3 happy kids read more

Dr. Cain was upfront and honest about the violent content in the selection my 11 year old son chose. I appreciated his revelation without condemnation. My son selected something else and he rewarded his choice. We will visit again and again when in town. read more

My son and I found Dr Cain's to be completely sterile and void of any character....I thought comic book stores were supposed to be FUN!? We also found their obvious attacks towards the competition to be extremely immature and unprofessional...left a bad taste in our mouths. We also found it ironic that one reviewer mentioned Magic cards...which they sell at Dr. Cains. ? Good luck with your new business venture...seems you will need it. read more

If you're into comics - Dr. Cain is where to go in SLO. The shop isn't intimidating to "normals" - ladies can visit Dr. Cain's without feeling the curious eyes of men who dwell in their parents basement - having to huck a cloud of peanut butter M&Ms just to distract the trollish slouchers and male their escape -- no at Dr. Cain's there is a breathable air, books are on display in an understandable method of organization - there isn't a sea of racks and backissues to dig through. Dr Cain stocks Indy titles that other shops scoff at. The other thing is he'll take special orders - if you can somehow stump Dr. Cain, he'll actually look into what you're talking rather than just giving you a glaringly dismissive "never heard of it" and shoo you away like some other local shops who just stock comics with an after thought. So visit Dr. Cain's - share your horror story of other shops who just don't quite understand anything beyond pewter figures and Magic cards. read more

Each day, I stroll the streets of SLO Just to mingle to and fro Then, I see it, a shop so fair Rife with dazzling colors and utmost flair A comic store! It's far from plain, this magical land of Dr. Cain. read more

Doctor doctor, give me the news, I've got a... bad case of loving you! Up-to-date comics, clean atmosphere, supports LOCAL artists, great selection that keeps growing EVERY time we visit. The employees are knowledgeable and laid back, and my fiancé and I are like kids in a candy shop every time we walk through the doors! This place is a GEM. read more

A fantastic environment to browse comics and graphic novels, with a nice selection of stuff for younger readers in what I refer to as the 'fun window'. Mainstream superhero books are well represented, if that's your thing, but what keeps me coming back is the in depth knowledge of the proprietor and the fine selection of offbeat graphic novels. If Nemos was still the only game in town I'd still be ignoring comics altogether, so viva Dr. Cains! read more

I have given this establishment five-stars, but that is only because the review system does not provide me the flexibility to accurately judge such a peculiar store, and what I have found is quite appalling. First of all, what is a comic anyway? It's like full of ridiculous stories that would never take place in reality. In general, I find these stories to be highly unlikely and offensive to my sensibilities as an American--NAY, as a human! Personally, I have never witnessed a human expel bubbles full of words as a means of communication, and if I were to see such a horrific event, I would immediately seek out a medical professional, which leads to my second point. The store's proprietor is by no means a medical doctor, nor a doctor of any kind that I can verify. At best, this is a case of false advertising, and I can only assume that someone might mistakenly bring in a loved one in need of medical treatment, only to learn the bitter, unfortunate truth. Lives are at stake here, and this "Dr. Cain," (if that is his real name) chooses instead to flagrantly disregard the public trust in order to sell his pamphlets about Man-Bats ... or something ... and Pubescent Genetically Altered Samurai Tortoises. Be warned, patrons, upon entering this store you will find nothing more than toys and games and other meaningless ways to fritter away one's time. However, I must admit that it is very clean and orderly, which leads me to believe that the store's operator practices dark wizardry. read more

Short Version:EXTREMELY knowledgeable staff (okay, so does two gents count as "staff") and vast selection from Marvel to Image to everything I don't even know! Long Version: In the last year we've gotten into comics. We walked in timidly and didn't know where to start, but whoever is working always has an opinion to share. The great thing is that they both have very different styles, and I've read things I don't think I would have ever picked up on my own. It's become an every other weekend stop for us, and we love that we can bring in our french bulldog and both guys seem to like her (or they know how to play us.) There's no judgement when I pick up anything from Loki to Revival, and we always end up hanging out and having great conversations. I love this shop. The plus is following them on Facebook. I always get a laugh from Reid's status updates. Thanks for letting me always come in and bug you because I ALWAYS forget what I'm reading or looking for! read more

Dr. Cain's is a great place to find some new & interesting things to read. I am not much of a comic book person, but the selection here is great. I talked to Reid and he led in the the right direction of some things that I would like. The staff is helpful and the ambiance is great, clean and bright. Makes it very easy to come back to see what is new each week. read more

Stopped in here several times over the past year or so now, and I always manage to find something I can't live without! A comic selection to make collectors feel like they just walked into Xmas morning, Plus loads of zines, books, and a killer art supply section to boot! Picked up a sweet Aaron Cometbus zine on my last visit. If you're lucky you'll get to meet the DR himself, trust him, he knows exactly what he is talking about, and will guide you in the right direction for whatever you are looking for. There is only ONE comic store in SLO that matters - Dr Cain's is the spot! read more

A great place to visit if you are in Downtown SLO, cool art on the walls, a great selection of comics, graphic novels and t-shirts. The place in locally owned and owner operated and he actually knows his stuff. If you haven't been into comics for a while you should take the time to check it out, I am sure Reid can help you find a something you would be into. Lived here for over 16 years and it's a great addition to the creative community, nice to see someone start something new and do it right. Stop by and see for yourself, you won't be disappointed. read more

Love this place* The dude hand-doodles his Gift-Certs* Very shwank Very personalized experience. Thank you Dr.Cain's will stop by again Very Soon ! read more

Great service and knowledge! I stopped in while on vacation and received the same kind of treatment that I would expect as a regular customer. I did buy a graphic novel while I was there but I really wanted to pick the owner's brain (reminder to fellow yelpers: If you like a local business buy something there). I asked about my first ebay listing: Silver Surfer #1, Reid gave me some great advice and even threw me a bid. I didn't get that kind of help from my local shop where I bought the book 20 years ago. Also, Dr Cain had a bunch of Silver Age Marvels on his wall which is a rare site these days.. read more

I loved this shop so much when I first moved to San Luis Obispo that I visited it three days in a row. On day three, the doctor looked at me like I was insane and asked "Why are you here again?" Best comic store on the central coast. read more

Excellent. I was a customer of Dr. Cain's for the duration of my time as a Cal Poly student. As a store, Dr. Cain's provided me with a clean, easy to access, and well-organized shop. The main draw, however, is Reid, the store's owner. Reid has excellent recommendations and offered many deals and discounts. Reid went out of his way to get me out of stock books and gave me graphic novels that he felt I would be interested in. Even if I had nothing to buy, I still enjoyed visiting the shop if only to chat with Reid. In my six years in SLO, Dr. Cain's was hands-down my favorite place to visit. I feel like I made a great friend in Reid Cain. read more

This is what I always dreamed of a comic store, best of all it's not a fat bearded man behind the counter! The Dr, as he calls himself runs the store on his own and is knowledgeable on current and past comic, always willing to suggest something that is a great read. The store is clean, fresh, and most of well stocked and easy to find what your looking for. It also has art on the walls of local artist, which always nice to see a community helping other's in the community He also has a HUGE selection of Dollar comics that aren't crap. This place is a must stop shop while in SLO read more

A tiny bit of comic heaven in the heart of San Luis Obispo, Dr. Cain's is definitely a hidden treasure! Having met with Reid Cain personally, I have found him to be knowledgeable and friendly, as well as a good source of information, if you are looking for something special. Although this place is tiny, the selection is better than most places 3 times its size. The pricing is competitive and I have found some things here that I have not found elsewhere! Definitely on my 'stop-in' list when I am in town!! read more

First Yelp review because I really wanna give this guy credit. I came in here over a year ago, having only read a couple graphic novels beforehand. I told him vaguely what I was interested in, and the owner gave me three $1 reprints of first issues: Saga #1, Astro City #1, and The Manhattan Projects #1 . I liked all of them. I've become OBSESSED with Saga and Astro City, and now own original copies of every issue in either franchise. This guy knows his stuff. Couldn't ask for more. And, being the smaller of the two comic shops in town, I try to buy everything from him when I can. read more

It has been a long time since SLO had a good comic shop. They are small but they pack a fairly dense selection in their little store. And, while they are well stocked, I didn't have to go digging though stacks of books and random bins to find what I was looking for - the ability to keep things well in order is another advantage to a small store. Most importantly, the owner was easy to talk to. I love comics but I am not in the know on the where most stories are these days or what new books I should be checking out. After a brief conversations about what I used to like, the owner gave me some great recommendations on some modern books. Yes, a conversation with comic shop staff that didn't end in judgement, blank stares, or eye rolling. Hard to believe, I know. read more

Staff were friendly and helpful. They pointed out comics my 10 year old would like and my 6 year old. She spoke to both my kids, answered their questions and treated them like what they said mattered. We will definitely be back. read more