Looking for an archival R.Crumb comic book, or perhaps an old Barnaby comic for your favorite niece? In search of a room exclusively dedicated to damaged and out-of-print comics? Then Fantagraphics, the vaunted Seattle destination for all things comic and cartooning, is a must-visit. 

Since it first opened in 2006, the shop has been a destination for comics fans in the Pacific Northwest. It houses everything published by the Fantagraphics imprint, which has been publishing comics for 40 years, but also sells new releases, rare finds, damaged goods, adult comics, and everything in between. They celebrate great cartooning in all of its incarnations, from the form’s early luminaries to contemporary artists currently forging the future of visual storytelling.

While Seattle has lost some of its grunge over the last few decades, Fantagraphics is all personality and expertise, the sort of place that diehards and casual onlookers alike will fall in love with. Their walls play host to art exhibits that rotate monthly (with the work available for purchase), and they host regular events like readings, screenings, and music performances. 

After perusing the shelves, head to Georgetown Records, which shares space with Fantagraphics and has become something of a vinyl mecca in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. After all, you’ll need the perfect soundtrack for flipping through those out-of-print comics.