This place is such a treasure! I had been following Empire's Comics Vault on Facebook for a while and was amazed at all the community events they host: comedy nights, movie nights, author talks, artist exhibits, etc. I finally dropped by yesterday with my dear cousin who was visiting, as she loves comics and is much geekier than I am. We were then able to confirm in-person that this place is, indeed, AMAZING. There's comfy furniture, the super sweet and adorable pugs, and a fantastic selection of comics. But of course, what really makes the place so special is Ben, the owner. My cousin asked for recommendations and Ben was so thoughtful in talking with her, figuring out exactly what sorts of elements she does and doesn't love, and offering her excellent, personalized suggestions. He's warm, down-to-earth, friendly, and a super passionate, knowledgeable pro! It's clear that he loves comics and geek culture, loves talking with and helping anyone who comes through the door, and loves building community. We'll definitely be back and can't wait to check out some of their events! read more

Nice clean store....lots of space for new releases. I'm new to the shop and met Ben...cool guy and was helpful putting my pull list together...submitted some additions via email and picked them up Wednesday. I visit 3 local shops routinely and although its the most out of the way for me...its my main shop. Cheers! read more

This is a great place for any comic book fan! Ben is an amazing owner of the store who is more than willing to suggest anything and go above and beyond in customer service. A great place for local artists too as he has a dedicated section for them. This has become my favorite comic book shop in Sacramento. read more

This is a nice comic shop. It's not the biggest but there is a nice selection. The employee/owner is very friendly. He welcomes you in and doesn't bother you. He lets you take your time browsing. I will definitely come back. The prices are a little higher compared to what you can get online but most places can't best online prices and you get what you want immediately so I don't mind supporting a local business. read more

The legendary shop that is Empire. I love this place. Ben is a great individual. Helpful. Friendly. Love the pugs. Get what you need from this shop. it's worth the trip. read more

A pretty good, spacious and clean comic book shop. There's always something happening there.

This place is awesome. They have an extremely wide, varied selection of back issues and more new comics titles than the biggest 916 comics store (A1). They also have a used tpb section where you can occasionally find some really great deals. The owner is the nicest comic shop owner of them all in Sacramento, and it's usually him that'll be behind the counter. The only reason this gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because their hours sometimes are pretty sporadic. I went there 3 days in a row (during store hours) and they were closed all 3 days. And there's also one young employee their who acted really rude and belittled me when I asked about Hellblazer....not cool. But when it's actually open and their owner's working, there's no better place to be. Call in advanced just to be safe. read more

Empire Comics is a great store if your an avid comic reader. Their new comics for the week are located in the center of the store across from the register. This is awesome cause I've gone to so many other stores in the area where they keep the new comics mixed in with the old ones. Empire features a great selection of back issues (newer back issues are on th wall in alphabetical order with older back issues located in boxes in the center of the room) Empire also has a great selection of trades and collections of comic arcs. There's a small area for games that seems available for use but it could be an employee work area to I've never asked. The service is amazing the employees are knowledgable and allow you to open up a book to check out the interior art without getting told your not in a library. Overall if your looking for a comic book store in the area Empire Comics should be that store read more

This is the best comic shop in Sacramento Hands Down. The fact they pretty much specialize in Comics and don't have card games makes it better too because you don't have to worry about a unnecessarily crowded store. I've been to many shops in the area and Empire by far has THE best selection of comics from all publishers. You can find the most obscure comics and of course they have endless amounts of the popular stuff. read more

Most of the shops here were awesome, but this one was just a little more welcoming than the rest.

I've been on a mission this last month or so, really getting back into comics. I used to collect as a kid/teen, but there was a decade of lapse. So, I've been on a buying spree - Amazon, Ebay, you name it. This store is great and it's nice to have a local shop with a fantastic selection. I haven't purchased a ton here yet, but every time I go I don't leave empty handed. I look forward to spending more time here. I haven't been to every comic store in the area yet, just a few. This is by far the best I've visited. read more

This is the best store ive ever been too. Personable and knowledgeable staff. A focus on the newly released comics make it sit above and beyond other stores ive been to. read more

the store owner's a friendly guy. great store, cool layout for weeklies. he's never gonna remember your name, though.

I am a long time fan of comics and graphic novels. Over the years I have been in numerous shops up and down the west coast. Empire's is among my favorites. It isn't flashy, but it is clean, bright, well organized and spacious. New issues are laid out in the center display area so it's a breeze to find what I am looking for. I can't speak on back issue's since I mostly follow contemporary non DC/Marvel writes/artists. Their selection seems to be generous though. I generally stop by around the same time during the week, so I always encounter the same staff. This is usually Ben, the owner. He has always been helpful, knowledgeable and clearly enthusiastic about the products he is selling. Several of his recommendations have become my favorite reads. They recently added a small "gallery" where they showcase local artists work. A nice touch. Their social media presence is also a good way to stay connected to the local comic culture (and local happenings in general) and hear about larger events. I will say it is mostly DC/Marvel heavy content and it would be nice to hear about more alternative and independent comic news. I always look forward to visiting, and on the rare occasion I don't find anything I am looking for getting to scritch Rolly the pug is reason enough for a visit! read more

Empire is great. Cool employees, small shop located nearby. Support your local comic shop!

Best comics in town!!! Owner is a top notch guy. Coming here every wend is my ritual. Bottom line if you love comics come here!

Always an enjoyable experience going to ECV. They put out a YouTube video every week to let us know what's coming out. My 7 & 4 year old boys love going there to pick up a cb or two and see the pugs. Oh and Ben is probably one of the top 10 friendliest people in the world. read more

This is my other go to place for comics with a wonderful owner (Ben) and staff...kid friendly and well stocked, just a fun place you'd like to bring your kids to. read more

The best place for comics books, Ben is a local enthusiast and greets everyone like a buddy.

Firsts let me state that I love comics! Comics have been a much loved past time of mine since I was a kid. My father first introduced comic book reading to me, and the comic of choice was the Silver Surfer and also the infinity Gauntlet series. Loved them all since. Now that I am a father I feel the uncontrollable need to introduce this passion to own son, which by the way enjoys reading more than playing video games...go figure. So todjay was the first day of my quest of introducing this passion to my son. First I had to find a comic shop. I did just that by searching Google on my smart phone and came across Empire Comic Vault. Checked out the ratings on Yelp and thought this would be a good comic book home to join and begin buying and collecting comics with my son. What attracted me to this store was the seating area that seemed inviting to read and rate comics before I committed to a purchase. My son and I enterd the store and immediately began searching for comics that peaked our interest. So we proceeded to gather and read a few comics, and after a few minutes of selecting we proceeded to reading area to read for a couple more minutes before we choose our selected purchases. The environment of the store consisted of readers alike, couples, fathers and sons, and just plain ol comic readers. After a few moments of reading at the seating area I was told by the shop owner that " he could not just have us reading the comics". I was astonished. He provided no other option or suggestions in our interest nor did he acknowledge that there were others in his store that was reading just as me and my son were. As a business man myself I understand that his store is not a library and he must sell his books and not just have his patrons just read and not buy, but that circumstance did not apply to me and my son who traveled out of our way to visit his store. My experience was ruined. We then place our selected comics back on shelves and immediately left his store. I couldn't help to feel that we were singled out for no apparent reaso, or should I say a very apparent reason. Any way you slice it I still love comics, but I will never share my passion with a business that singles out there patrons for no apparent reason, or should I say a very apparent reason. read more

Great staff! It was my first time buying comics and they were really helpful with my purchase.

I've been getting my comics at Empire's since May of 2013 and I spend close to 200.00 a month on my titles. Ben has reliably kept record of the titles I read and they are waiting for me every Wednesday; whenever I wish to add a title to my list, all it takes is a phone call. When large events are occurring, such as Free Comic Day, Ben makes sure that his subscription customers are able to circumvent the general lines to pick up their titles. He's also gone as far, on occasion, as to pull a title I did not request if he thinks I might like it, based on my other purchases. These are all things I like and expect from a comic book store and Empire's has delivered from Day One. read more

Very friendly and welcoming place to shop. I would highly recommend this store-and don't forgot to pet Rolly and/or CaptainDylan.

No lie, I love this shop. Grew up near a store that was operated like the comic book store in the Simpsons. Empire's feels more like a second home. From game night, to the frequent sales and Facebook updates I always feel connected and welcome. The owner, Ben, is a stand-up guy who takes customer service and customer relationships seriously. I've got 30 bags and boards I need to return because I thought I needed them and he spotted me. Whether your a regular or first timer you get the same treatment from him, and that's special. I just can't say enough good things. read more

I have been buying action figures from this place for a few months. Just recently, meaning the past two weeks, I decided to start reading comics again. Naturally, I started a pull list at Empire, even though they aren't the closest comic store to my house. In one week, the owner had already memorized my face and name and now acts like I've been a customer for years! That right there is a big part of why I chose Empire over closer stores, but there is also so much more! I cannot give Empire a higher score! They are as good as it gets in this business! Can't wait for Free Comic Day! read more

This is my favorite comic book shop in the Sacramento area. Friendly and helpful owner and staff. Clean, bright, attractive space. Wonderful selection of trade paperbacks as well as comics. There are other shops closer to me, but I make the drive to this one :) read more

One of best comic shops in Sacramento. The owner is the kinda guy you're really glad owns a store like this as he takes pride in his shop and cares about his customers. Lots of events, huge selection of back issue comics going back to the 1970's. While he carries mostly "modern" comics and graphic novels once in awhile in can find a hidden gem in one of the long boxes that are his back-issue bins. read more

I discovered Empire's Comic Vault while living in Sacramento from 2003-2007. When I moved away, I found myself in a small town with no comic book store, so I made arrangements for Ben to send me my comics on a monthly basis. I never expected for the arrangement to last for more than a year, but Ben has been keeping me supplied with comics for the last nearly 8 years now! I never figured I'd be buying comics long distance for this long, but that's the way life has worked out. I really appreciate the extra effort that Ben goes to saving them up and shipping them out to me. I do miss being able to come into the shop. Browsing the aisles, talking comics with people who share the same interests, and getting the full "comic shop experience" is something I don't get to enjoy anymore and Empire's Comic Vault was a great place to do just that! read more

Hands down, best comic shop I've ever been too. You will not find a more friendly and knowledgeable owner. The atmosphere in the shop is very inviting and non-intimidating. whether you want to chat with Ben or others on current books or just about anything, just hang out on the furniture, play games, peruse the art gallery (Yes!), read books or watch whatever awesome videos he has going on. Great place to be. Also great member benefits for having a weekly saver. Lots of fun events at the shop. read more

Where did all these great reviews come from? Surely not from people who went here to trade in their stuff. I arrived here after 12 pm only to find it not open. First it's odd that a business like this wouldn't open until 12, even odder when it's 12 and they're not open. So I had to walk all the way down to Great Escape Comics only to find out that they don't deal with back issues. So I go all the way back now just so I can try to get a measly $5 to get something to eat with at least $30 worth of comics with me (probably more judging by their back issue prices) only for the guy to tell me he can't use any of them. First, it's my fault for putting myself in a predicament where I felt it necessary to have to go to a comic shop with my old comics so I can have money to eat. And I was selling myself way short on these things asking for $5, as I probably could've got $25 -$30 on Ebay for the same comics. But I don't care if you're buying comics at the moment or not, if you're a reputable comic shop and you have what I have and you're going to look at them and put your hands all over them, give the person a lousy $5 for something to eat and tell them you'll do it for them this one time. Instead of having a potential new customer, you now have a person who won't come back and your first bad review, which you deserve since I have to go hungry. Maybe this store would appeal to the comic geek down the block who needs the new Whatever Man each month, but as far as classic comics go, they didn't have much of a selection and what I saw seemed overpriced. If you're interested in back issues, go to Mycomicshop.com instead. Comic collecting is a worthless hobby unless you actually read these things as they have little to no resale value. I think I'm done collecting for the time being and surely done with this store. read more