Top Comics

Top Comics is a comic book and collectibles shop in Traverse City, Michigan, open since 1988. It began life as a sports card and memorabilia store and grew into the comics destination for the region, and it is now owned and operated by two partners. It suits readers who want new weekly releases, collectors filling gaps in a run, and anyone browsing for vintage books or collected editions.

What's on the shelves

The stock centers on comics: new single issues, vintage comics and collected editions. Alongside the books are shirts, posters, figures and comic collecting supplies. The shop's roots in sports cards and memorabilia are why it appears among card stores, though comics are now the core of what it sells.

New releases arrive weekly, and a recent batch included Absolute Batman #25, Captain America #16, Daredevil #8 and Absolute Wonder Woman #25. Because comic stores order at least two months ahead of what is on the shelves, the store also tracks upcoming titles by publisher, covering Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, Boom, IDW, Ignition Press and Titan Comics.

History

Top Comics opened in August 1988 as Top of the Ninth, started by Bill West, with an emphasis on sports cards and memorabilia and a smaller comic book section. Over two decades it became the area's comics destination. West died in October 2006, and the shop has carried on in his memory ever since.

In October 2009 the store relocated down the road and reemerged under the name Top Comics. After more than three decades in total on 8th Street, it moved to West South Airport Road in May 2020, reopening on May 22 after the pandemic quarantine, and it considers that location its last.

Hours and getting there

The shop keeps short weekday hours and is closed Thursday through Sunday.

Wednesday is the long day, which makes it the natural time to pick up the week's new releases after work.

The store sits at 966 West South Airport Road, Suite B, Traverse City, MI 49686. An older address on East Eighth Street, from its years on 8th Street, still turns up in some references, so use the West South Airport Road address when heading over.

The local scene

Traverse City has several other card and game stores within a few miles. Mint On Card and Mint on Card, Inc are in town, as are Gt Games and Grand Traverse Games, with a second Grand Traverse Games in nearby Garfield. For a larger event, Twin Sports Cards is a card show about 51 miles away, with its next date on November 7, 2026.