One of the most dynamic and thought-provoking comedians on the modern stage has recently been popping up in the world of comics. Josh Johnson, well-known for his writing and performing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, his writing and correspondence work for The Daily Show, as well as his stand-up and podcasting, has made a big splash in the world of comics on social media over the past few weeks by visiting different comic book stores in California, Minnesota, and now Utah and posting these visits as reels on his social media.
Given Johnson’s immense following, and charming demeanor, it’s a great way to spotlight comics shops and the treasures to be found within.
It all began last month when Johnson made a stop in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Johnson stopped off at Oddmart. (Watch his visit here.) Founded by Brad McGinty in 2023, the store grew out of his GLORP Gum business and combines indie and alternative comics, zines, vintage items, local artist showcases, toys, and more. The store even hosts its own Saturday Cartoon Cabaret, where visitors can draw while watching classic cartoons. Johnson stopped in to do some shopping and learned how to make a button with the store making their own.
Next up on his highlights in Minnesota, he stopped off at Comic Book College, currently located in Roseville. Comic Book College is known as Minnesota’s longest-running comic book specialty store, with its history dating back to 1974. Having endured, as it has had to tangle with relocations and the ever-changing climate of the comic book market. It has remained a staple of Minnesota in a lasting way. Johnson called it one of the most amazing comic shops in the months he’s been traveling.
Then, just this last week, Johnson stopped into San Francisco’s Comix Experience to do some shopping. (Watch the video here.) Comix Experience was founded in 1989 by Comics Pro co-founder Brian Hibbs and is now the oldest comic book store in San Francisco. Johnson commented on how unique and diverse its choices in how to categorize books, compared to other comic shops, set them apart and made things worth exploring. Comix Experience, as Johnson speaks on, is well known for having regular book signings with comic creators as well as showcasing creator-owned titles in a larger capacity than other stores tend to.
Then the latest stop for Josh Johnson was at Doctor Volts Comic Connection and The Nerd Store. (Video here.) Both are iconic locations in Salt Lake, combining traditional comic sales as well as trading cards, tabletop games, and more. The Nerd Store has notably been a stop on Tiny Onion’s Corpse Tour this past year, showing that this shop is a standout when it comes to pop culture and comic history and worth checking out, as Johnson found out as he ventured inside, discovering everything from rare graded comics to board games as simple as Catan.
Where will Josh stop next as he continues to showcase notable comic stores across the country? We’ll keep an eye out, as this can be a way to highlight these stores as standouts for comic fans to visit and even make their home away from home.
