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Categories: Toy Stores, Comic Books [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Castro, Noe ValleyMon-Tue. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wed. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thu-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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There is a little piece of heaven hidden away in SF and that place is Neon Monster. This is the first place I have ever been to that has comics/graphic novels, designer vinyl toys, and a very nice, eclectic mix of vinyl records all in one place. I could spend hours here, and with such good customer service, I might one day.
Luckily, I remembered to take an alternate ride home cos of the phenomenon of Outside Lands that I knew had to be avoided...
Okay Kristy really??!!! You had all the books on my wishlist- Secret Six 5, Final Crisis: Revelations 2,5 and the whole run of Rogue's Revenge!!!!!!
I just love when i get to check off my to do list. You just scored your shop anotha star miss ;P BTW, always enjoy the indie sounds here.
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iam more a throw-back player. sure place is clean, modernized and vibrant on the cusp of castro/noe… Read more »
While I didn't buy anything on my first trip here, I give Neon Monster a solid four stars. The employee was nice & greeted me, the store was immaculate & had plenty of wooden goodness.
Neon Monster & it's website, http://NeonMonster.com, is owned & run by 901 Vinyl, LLC. Neon Monster was started in October 2007 in San Francisco by four collectors (Kristy, Isaac, Jake, & John) who wanted to share their love for comics & graphic novels, designer toys, records, apparel, & art.
The store features a hand-picked selection of current & back-issue comics, graphic novels, new & used vinyl records, & designer art (vinyl) toys. Neon Monster also curates & hosts art shows featuring works by local & national artists.
Their vinyl blind boxed toy selection isn't as big as Kid Robots & are incidentally mostly Kid Robot products.
The location is a bit out of the way, up on 22nd & Castro, where the RX Unlimited pharmacy used to be. Unless you know it's there, there's little chance casual foot traffic will discover this little comic & vinyl haven. Too bad since this seems like a cool shop w/ nice folks running it.
One thing that they lack & I wish they carry are comicbook character figures. Marvel (Universe) & DC (Infinite Universe) 3 3/4" figures would be nice since they are small & relatively inexpensive & would not be jarring next to the vinyl blind boxes. :::hint, hint, hint!:::
Santa's Yelper sez:" Beautiful shop w/ lots of wood, moderate amount of toys, & no action figures!"
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i love this place. if your just getting into comics or getting reacquainted, you can ask any questions without being talked down to or made to feel stupid for not being a lifer. it's also a great place for cool toys. make sure to ask if you don't see what your looking for b/c there is a lot of stuff in the back. parking is not bad and it's right next to a stop for the 24 Divis bus.
Neon Monster is the highest toy store in San Francisco, and as such, it's miles above the other like stores. If you don't feel like climbing the steep Castro hill, they've a top notch website from which you can instruct them to put toys in boxes and mail them to you. But that would be lazy. Don't be lazy!
I have always wanted to come in here because I would see the stuffed meat thingys hanging on the window...so after a nice long ass walk from those castro hills, I came here and was surprised...Great place with lots of goodies like vinyl records, comics and my fave--the kid robot toys like Muny. This place is great if you want to get a unique present for that unique person! :)
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Toe in the Yelp water on this cool place-
I've only been in here once, and briefly at that- but I like what I feel so far.
Really mellow and clean. Excellent variety of records, toys and words bound together with pictures, sometimes.
Will keep notation when I enter next.
The woman behind the counter was friendly and sweet, not an ounce of raised eyebrow or too-cool-hipster smirks.
Two thumbs up.
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I'm pretty new to the comic book/graphic novel world, and Neon Monster is a great place to get up to speed. Clean, organized, easy to browse, and with the extra-added bonus of old-school vinyl and unique collectibles. Kristy and her partner are knowledgeable and friendly - they always remember my name and what I've been reading - and have introduced me to some great books I never would have picked up otherwise.
The last thing in the world I needed was something else to collect but, thanks to NM, I'm hooked on quite a few of the graphic novels. Now if only they can find me that vintage Clash record i've been looking for!
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I like this place. I've gone to this place every time the other shops didn't have what I was looking for. Extremely organized and a pretty much perfect neighborhood comic shop, too bad I don't live in this neighborhood. The most important thing about this store is that they carry a lot of off beat comics you probably wouldn't find in most places.
Word.
huge-normous donut pillows and slabs of meat pillows in the window. five stars! every single comic book my husband wanted to read and every single toy i wanted to buy. and the staff wasn't even snooty.
What a wonderful little comic book store, immaculate and organized -- like Martha Stewart meets Stan Lee.
They stock a wide variety of indie graphic novels, and issues of popular comics as well. The staff person was super helpful in locating some new artists for me to check out. You could tell she had a real passion for comic books -- and as my friend noted -- was so absorbed in the store that she was organizing the misplaced comics as she described them to me.
The toy collection was pretty solid, lots of Kid Robot stuff (just head down to the main store on Haight if that's your thing) but also some real gems by lesser known artists (Zog! by david lanham). Also cute little plush ... pieces of meat ... and severed arms (a great gift for valentines day).
Just a beautiful little comic book store, quite picturesque. They even kept the tile detailing for the pharmacy that it once was (look down as you enter).
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This is a wonderful store. I just made a day-trip to SF while visiting family in Sacramento, and Neon Monster was the last stop of the day, thus the first to go if we hadn't made our schedule. After hitting up MOMA in the morning we only had a matter of hours to get to four toy stores in the city, and I'm SO glad we made it--barely--to Neon Monster.
This is a welcoming, gorgeous, clean. appealing shop with tons of character (pun intended). NM has a very nice selection of comics and graphic novels from mainstream and indie publishers. Everything is laid out clearly and was very well-organized. I asked the clerk (who I'm guessing was Kristy, one of the owners) for a recommendation on the Fables series, and she was very familiar with it, told me about the story arcs and helped with my decision with giving any kind of hard sell (OMG BEST EVAR!). Knowledgeable, friendly, obviously knew her shit and wanted me to make an educated decision.
As for the toys, NM had an awesome selection. I wish I could have bought more, but as I'd been to three other stores that day my wallet was quietly weeping. But I did pick up a Tokidoki figure as well as a couple blind-box mini figures I hadn't seen anywhere else (Kathie Olivas series 2 and Friends With You). Kristy even said that if I opened the FWY figure and wasn't pleased I could swap it with the open one they had on display. I ended up keeping the one I got, but you wouldn't get that offer at Kid Robot!
NM also carried some really great softies I hadn't seen anywhere else (though I think I'd seen one brand on Etsy). I love Ugly Dolls, but they are everywhere. They had this incredible Friends With You caterpillar softie that was quite large and well-made for only $20!
It was really nice to see some variety in the softies and vinyl--the folks at Neon Monster care about their selection and have clearly sought out more unique pieces. Despite having gone to three other stores that day, I saw several toys that no one else carried. I've been on their website since I left trying to figure out how to justify a few more...
So if I haven't made it clear enough, if you care about vinyl toys and comics, get your ass to Neon Monster! And living out of town is no excuse. Make a trip of it like me! You can bet I'll be back the next time I'm anywhere near SF.
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4.5 Stars
Their sign caught my eye...comics and records in one place??? Stopped in for a quick peek to mainly check out their vinly selection. Not bad if you're looking for lounge-y stuff. Didn't see anything that really appealed to me. But I did notice all the comics and toys they had. Neon Monster has a pretty decent selection of comics from your standard monthly comics to the ever popular graphic novels. I was happy to see quite a few issues that I have tucked away in my garage, were displayed on the back wall, selling for quite a bit more than what I originally payed.
I never stopped loving comics...just ran out of time to read them all. I think I spent half the night reading up on Wikipedia about all the different comic stories that have come out. I will probably have to make a return visit and search out those novels.
If only this store was larger, this would be a great place to hang out and read all day. Staff was really great and showed great enthusiasm in her knowledge of different works.
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There is something lost in translation today, what with Internet stores and graphic novels being sold at mega chains. But walking in to Neon Monster retains that old school, mini store vibe, but with a really awesome, super modern design aesthetic.
The managers know you and help you get your order (because its small, it might not be in stock, but they'll order it for you no problem), and its one of the best places to go for treats, or a gift for a hard to shop for person. It's like someone crawled into my brain and took all of the amazing things I love and put it in one store. Toys, comics, records and art - and I feel like the people that work there care about these things as much as I do.
I've been reading through the reviews of this place and there are a couple of things I would like to point out.
The store is small.
There is a new comics wall in the back but everything else is high priced collectibles.
The new comics wall is pretty small and leans heavily toward the majors (Marvel, DC, their respective imprints).
The main thing that sets one comic book store apart from another is customer service. Not just being able to geek out with the people that work there but actually finding what you want and getting it.
Here's what happened to me: I walked in there one afternoon looking for Amazing Spider-man #583. The folks said that they had sold out of that one but were expecting a 4th printing to arrive in 10 days.
Fine and dandy. I pay them for the book and leave my email address for them to let me know when it arrives.
3 weeks later I still haven't heard from them so I stop in again. They have the book with my name on it (it's been sitting there since the day it arrived) but they say I didn't pay for it.
*Grrr* OK, we sorted it out in a fairly friendly manner but I'm left wondering what would have happened to someone who wasn't as "self confident" as I am? If I had been someone who didn't look fairly mean would they have just taken my money and sent me on my way?
Also, it kinda sucks that they promised to email me but didn't.
Broken promises and lost records don't make for a good relationship. I'm not coming back to Neon Monster.
Neon Monster combines comics with toys and vinyl records. I'm not into comics, but they seem to have a good collection of those. I also don't get the vinyl records section because the selection is rather small; I don't know what to expect to find there (plus Streetlight Records is a few blocks away). I do like Japanese vinyl toys and they have small and large figurines, including the boxed kinds you'd find at Giant Robot and Kidrobot (though the selection at Neon Monster is smaller). And they have the Yummy Breakfast key chain series of donuts that I love. I didn't see any Tofu Oyako but I thought that the Putrid Pals might be made out of tofu (just wishful thinking though): http://www.fugitivetoy...
I like the way the store looks - it has an open, easy to browse quality. Plus the plush steak toy in the window and the name of the store caught my eye. I think I would like any store named after a monster.
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Comics, vinyl, and toys, oh my (did someone say that already)?
I took care of several holiday gifts while I was here after having driven by many times and finally making time to stop and smell the plastic. Pretty good selection of blind boxes and some very cute plush. I'm not a comic expert, but sure looked they had a lot from alterna-press to top of the pops. I just scanned the vinyl. A small selection of the new, hip, but probably the next headliner at TI Music Fest, and some cool want-it vintage.
What I would've liked to see would've been the variety of accessories, useful objects, objets d'art, clothing, etc. of other toy stores, but I understand how that can get into a buying and space issue. A good mash-up nonetheless.
And the woman working there was super nice and helpful to everyone in the shop AND knowledgeable!
In the words of REO Speedwagon:
"I can't fight this feeling anymore."
I always thought that I was only borderline-nerdy. Nerd-like. Today, my friend Candice D. informed me that I was a closeted geek who has been trying to hide her nerd-entity for quite some time now, given that I have spent the better portion of the past two weeks watching back to back episodes of Naruto, and participating in a few evenings of board game-orama. Well it's time for me to come out of the closet.
I'M HERE, I'M QUEER, GET USED TO IT.
Wait, that was wrong. I'm not gay.
DON'T FREAK, I'M A GEEK, GET USED TO IT.
Ok, that was nerdy. But you get the point. Out of the closet. Nerd. That's me.
As I was driving to Noe Valley today, I cam across this little beacon of dorkiness on top of the hill on Castro Street...Comics? In the middle of Castro Street? Really? I pulled over. My inner nerd told me to.
Shelf after shelf of glorious comic book, displayed beautifully. I am not at all a comic book connoisseur, but I do appreciate good artwork when I see it (and I'm working on becoming a Manga fanatic, mmmkay?). There are also little and big statuettes of various animated characters. The array of carefully selected vinyl, although dope as f**k, cannot downplay the fact that it is indeed a comic book store. It is absolutely nothing like the dingy fluorescent-lit Jelly's comic book store from my childhood (did I just admit that?)...it is a much chicer and grown-up version that makes me feel much classier about being this geeky.
D'ya hear me? I'M GEEKY! I'M NERDY! AND YOU STILL LOVE ME!
Don't you?
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By now, most of you know may have already know that i am a graphic reader, I love comics. I'd like to say that i've been to most comic book shops in the Bay Area(well, at least to the ones that count). Each shop has a different dimension and feel. Some are straight to business, others are "Know-it-all's", but most are owned by people that know you are someone willing to pay top dollar on anything, i'd like to call those shop keeps crack salesman's. They sell you what you want/need to complete your collections/issues and they know you are willing to shell out.
Neon Monster Comics is nothing like the typical comic store. Its a shop that has heart, style, and a friendly atmosphere. Its safe to say that this is one shop that is easy for the 'Girlfriend' to go to, due to its plethora of stuff, from plush toys, records, giant robo figures, and especially comics.
Its stylish but not too stylish to freak the hard core buyers away. Defiantly worth a visit, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the location (though its street parking) has plenty of parking spaces and beautiful to just explore.
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This store is so fun! OK, so it's at the top of a very steep hill, but the walk will do you good (or you can be a wimp and take the 24-Divisidero). Plus, just looking at all of the cute toys and the huge comic book selection will make you forget your climb-induced fatigue.
Even if you don't fit in the store's target demographic (comic-book-reading teenagers), you'll undoubtedly find something you want to take home with you.
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This awesome little shop is three blocks from my apartment.... three long, steep, seemingly impossible to walk, uphill blocks.
Those three blocks of glute and hamstring torture are ALL WORTH IT, I tell you!
Why? Because the space is inviting, the inventory is starting to build, and the staff are friendly and helpful. If you don't know anything about cool japanese toys, indie comics, or vinyl records, these folks will never make you feel stupid or out of place. While I was purusing the used vinyl and grabbing the best of the 80's bands that I was embarrassed to buy when I was 16 and yet today more than eager to buy now (Expose, anyone? How about Klymaxx?), I observed young kids, hipsters, and curious grandmothers all treated with the same enthusiasm and respect.
I only wandered in to have a peek, and I walked out with some used vinyl and a comic book! I know I'll be back. It will be like a little reward for climbing up the noe valley hills to get there!
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An odd shop for odd folk.
Perhaps you will find me there; thumbing through vinyl, comics, or toys.
Who does not like these things?
I miss the simple thinks in life.
I find comfort at Neon Monster.
Why can't we all just get along?
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I stopped in here today, after stopping off at Urban Nest to pick up a bday gift for my hirang. I'd been by it several times on my way to spend the night at his place and thought it looked like a fun spot.
I haven't collected comics since I was a kid (xfactor, xmen, og wonder woman, firestar, spidey... you name it... my mom still has a few cases that didn't get ruined in the flood when we moved), but the thought of browsing a comic shop still appeals to me. They had a pretty wide selection of new comics and some older ones as well.
I picked up the Persepolis book here (which was unexpected), a Bleach manga, zipits zipper pull, and a tokidoki skeletrino figure. I saw the vinyl on the wall and quite a few toys from KidRobot. Definitely a nice shop to check out if you're into comics or graphic novels... or just don't wanna head to KR. Their selection of toys isn't huge, but it's worth a peek. The people working here also acknowledge that you're in their shop, which is a nice touch. It's amazing how many places ignore their customers these days.
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I'm not a comic book fan, but I am a fan of Jesus and Shakespeare. Unfortunately, Neon Monster only carried the Jesus action figure. I have been scouring stores for what I'm guessing is a highly prized and popular Shakespeare action figure. They had some neat and funny toys as well as a great selection of comic books. My friend MG was looking for history comic books, but they didn't carry them. The clerk was nice enough to recommend places who might have them.
Final Verdict: To get your comic book fix, you should check out this place. Channel your inner geek, this should be your taste. They packed a lot of books in such a tiny store. Wonder Woman, Bat Man, comic books galore!
This was my first time going to Neon Monster! I went with my sisters and our mom! We wanted to make it a family adventure, haha. We totally loved it! :)
They have a nice selection of figurines which are decently priced, plush dolls that are too adorable and a huge collection of comic books! The staff was also very friendly and helpful to our questions!
If you like cute and colorful things, this is the place to go! You will not be disappointed.
This is not your average comic book store. For one, it doesn't remind me of someone's over packed garage where everything related to comic books is stacked up and over and around. It's nicely laid out and inviting and not cluttered. But it's not empty like a gallery. They have a cool little selection of Qees, Tokidoki's, Dunny, Munny and so on.
It's pretty out of my way but anytime I'm near I'll be sure to stop by and check out what's new here.
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Walking up the Castro St hill on the way to a buddy's place, I stumbled upon this oasis at the top. Needing to get some new graphic novels (Preacher and Astonishing X-Men to be precise), I kind of figured there wouldn't be a chance this tiny comic store would have them, but wanted to look around nonetheless. Boy was I wrong!
Though there weren't any Preacher volumes, Neon Monster did have quite a selection of new and old comics and graphic novels. After snagging Astonishing X-men and The Boys (HIGHLY recommend, btw), I saw that the store also carries toys, old/rare vinyl records, and some games.
This place is totally rad and now there may be a reason to trudge up that nasty hill, just for the oasis at the top!
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I had a good feeling about this store walking in, and I left with an even better feeling walking out.
See I found this place by accident. I was going to Streetlight to pick up a certain record and I ran into this place. Comics, toys and.. records? Never seen a store that sells those three things under one roof. Curiousityblog. Parked the car and headed in.
I went straight for the vinyl section, passing by all the comics, toys and books and such. The organization of the small section was interesting. Vintage vinyl on the left, newer releases on the right. Feature items on the display shelf, at eye level. For me, its a good sign when Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' is on display. To me it says whoever is in charge of the music selection has good taste.
The selection is small, but boy oh boy is it rich. There's some ultra-elusive gems I found here that I never have even seen online.
Queens of the Stone Age - Rated X
Weezer - Pinkerton
Nirvana - In Utero AND Nevermind
Folks, these are some of the greatest rock albums of my generation and are so so so tough to find since these are all OOP (out of print) Of course, these records were pricey ($30-35 each) so I had to choose one. I went with QOTSA, one of my all time fave bands.
My head was still exploding from the find I made that I didn't even look at anything else in the store long enough to really write about. I just remember that the comics were neatly shelved and the way the sun was entering the store it made the colors really stand out. I'm more programmed for audio than visual, so although it was nice to look at it didn't really garner any curiosity from me. But I have friends who are crazy about comics who would die if they see this store.
I'm definitely coming back here... once I get paid. =D
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Came across this store as I was on my way to Noe Valley, backed the car up, stopped and wow. . . .
Well maintained comic book selection with vintage issues available. Owner is very helpful and will attempt to locate any issues for you.
Nice collection of Japanese "toys" - not familiar with names, but the itty bitty porcubines were major cute.
Placement of items were attractive, flow of store makes everything easily accessible. . .
Fresh
Store store is tucked away in the Castro (Top of the Hill) on route to Noe Valley. I stumbled in on this shop once I saw a HUGE DUNNY in the window. They have all kinds of toys and comic books. Its like a Toys R Us for big kids. I would also like to add there vinyl selections is proper with fair prices. I found a Jay Dilla record that Delicious Vinyl put out with unreleased tracks for $25 bucks. I also picked 4 packs of Dunny's (french edition) and 3 fat caps.
I hope this pace sticks around for awhile. The lady was nice, and acknowledged us unlike most snobby to shops. This is what of a toy shop in San Francisco should be like...
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Being a geekoid spaz, I often think of my future...sitting in a barkolounger in my unkempt living room, sipping on Yoo Hoos and munching on Ho-Hos.
If I keep up my comic book dweeb status for another decade or so, I'll soon be watching the Internets from my laptop, which will be sitting precariously on my rotund, over-extended belly created from the aforementioned Yoo Hoo and Ho-Ho shmorgy. Imagine a female, Asian Rusty Brown or Chalky White. Brrrrrr...not a pretty picture.
Neon Monster saved me from a fate worse than death. They're located on top of a massive hill. I have to hike four blocks straight up Mount Everest to get my fix of X-Men in this nouveau, hip-cool-trendy comic-toy-record (REAL records, mind you) store. Thank you, baby Jesus.
And thank you, Neon Monster. I've been walking up that monster hill daily, pressing my nose against the glass, fogging up your windows and waiting impatiently for you to open for days before you unlocked your doors. You can now bounce a quarter off of my ass.
You know that creepy woman that was outside watching you appoint bookshelves and move furniture? YO.
I stalk ya good.
UPDATE: I asked about additional titles coming in, seeing that they had a limited number as it was...the sweet-as-pie girl at the counter said they are newly opened, and are expecting many, many more titles (mainstream and indy) in the upcoming months. So all you hardcore comic book die-hards...sit tight and retract the adamantium claws until they're fully operational. Rrrowr!
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I woke up this morning feeling a bit.... off. Was there a disturbance in the Force?? hmmm, no. My Spider-Sense tingling?? Nope. Nerd checklist accounted for and nothing! Only one thing left... a new comic shop in San Francisco?? Yes!!
Seriously. Out of all the cool super-powers in the world, I get the ability to find comic shops. Typical.
Neon Monster seems to be following the move towards comic boutique and away from comic basement/dungeon. It's a very clean, modern, well-lit, open spot. It has only been open a month and it very much feels like it. Not a whole lot in the shop right now. New comics, a couple of rack of old comics, some modern toys, and some new & used vinyl. Hopefully, this will change and their inventory will become more robust.
New comics aren't bagged/boarded but the old ones are, which I understand to keep the price of new issues down but it still doesn't make sense to me. They did have a cool selection of new books and not just from the mainstream companies but from some of the indies as well.
It is located right in the middle of Noe Valley and Castro neither of which has a comic shop so this new spot should do well and I will be keeping an eye on any new changes that come their way... Wonder Twin Powers Activate!! Form of a Geek in his thirties....
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Really nice place with friendly staff. The selection is really good and they made a great suggestion that got me started reading a new series. I enjoyed going there but I will still be buying the rest of the series online since the prices are a bit high.
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This place is a great casual shop that supplies vinyl records, design toys, and comic books. It feels more like a present store than a true hobbyist store, but for what it achieves it does it really well.
Located at the top of a hill several blocks away from the commercial mix of Castro, this place is a bit of a walk - an oasis of sorts. It took me awhile just to get to the top of the hill. Walking back down the hill is a breeze.
The style of the store is super clean. The white walls have several ornamental details in contrast with the plain light brown wood shelving. This makes for a contemporary feel. The colorful products light up the place and become the foreground of the customer's perspective - the way it should be.
Along the cashier counter there is a huge green designer action figure that makes it feel like it's a gargoyle or mascot. I like the feel and look of the store a lot especially when comparing it to other hobby comic book stores. There's something fresh and exciting going on in this space.
As I stated, this place supplies vinyl, design toys, and comics. It's divided up pretty equally; albeit more comics than anything else. As you walk in you'll be greeted with graphic novels and comic book trades. The right side holds most of the comics and trades on shelving units. They have two shelves with new single-issue releases, a kids shelf, and about a dozen boxes of back issues. Their comic selection is superhero mixed in with some independent and industry acclaimed material. There is a shelf to the left that also carries more graphic novels and art books. I found their graphic novel and trade paperback selection to be a little above average.
Further on the left are where the designer toys are. They range in size, from tiny palm sized creatures to bigger 18-inch figures. These can get quite expensive. It's not a huge selection as Kid Robot, but it's decent size. I like how you can actually touch the toys instead of them sitting behind a stupid glass window. As I've mentioned in my Kid Robot review, there's a certain elite feeling that is projected. At Neon Monster the atmosphere is light and airy.
On the back wall to your left is a small selection of vinyl records. I'm not a collector of vinyl records, but this seems organized and presentable with records covers hanging on the wall. When compared with Rasputin's this is meager, but a nice addition.
The service is really attentive and friendly. The smiling woman behind the counter is eager to answer any of your questions. I asked about the quality of some narratives and the woman and guy in the back were able to give me some suggestions. On the downside I asked if they carried several items and they were either sold out or didn't carry it; yet, they're fairly new so I give them the benefit of the doubt.
It will be interesting to see how this place fares in the coming years. While not a strong emphasis on a specific area, Neon still offers good selection and a fresh presentation.
__
A fun store for the casual browser, gift hunter, and collecting enthusiast.
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Ok so I might not strike you as the comic book collector type, and guess what, you are right. However I am a fan of vinyl and small plastic monsters that dangle from your key chain. I am pretty much obsessed with purchasing small plastic toys that include smoking rabbits and mushrooms. I can really get my fix on at this store. Not to mention that they also show awesome local artists (what up Eli!!!) and you are welcome to purchase their wares.
If you like comic books, well this store is for you, but they also have stuff for everyone else including girl's obsessed with good vinyl and plastic monsters.
I must note that while this store is up on top of the hill above the castro it is a) walkable cause you need a workout, you know you do, and b) you can take the 24 from Noe or Castro and very easily hop out right in front of the store.
Oh yeah, and the guys that work here are HAWT. ;)
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Awhile ago a friend of mine and I put together a business plan to open up a comics/records/designer toy shop in the Mission district, but life got in the way.
Cut to: me sitting on the BART, flipping through the SF Indie Fest guide and seeing there was a new comics/records/designer toy shop mere blocks from where we considered opening up the store.
It's a good thing we didn't, because upon walking in I instantly saw there was no way we could have done something even half as cool as the folks over at Neon Monster are doing.
The store's perfect. Great selection of both mainstream and indie comics. A concise, yet - as one member of their staff put it - "cherry picked" selection of graphic novels, toys and records.
I already love the staff. Everyone's friendly, laid back and extremely knowledgeable/passionate for everything they do.
Even if it wasn't in such a prime location from my apartment I'd be a regular.
My only complaint? Well, it's actually my wallet's. It's not too thrilled about being drained of dollars, but has reluctantly accepted there's just no way to resist a store where it can buy a Wednesday haul, Nirvana's Bleach on LP and a Tofu Robot.
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i come here for the toys...particularly kidrobot and tokidoki. they have a great selection of these and other designer collectibles. i called early this morning with a question and got a quick response. then i went in today and kristy was the one who helped my husband and me. the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. i completely support this local gem.
A great respite after a climb up the hill. I had an end-of-the-day delivery 1 block away and found this place, and they knew exactly what i was looking for and were generally very helpful.
i love the Pharmacy mosaic tiles in front of the door.
I've been to nearly every comic book shop in the city since I moved here searching for the best one and so far, this is the one. the workers here are very friendly and knowledgeable about comics. My favorite part about buying comics is talking to the employees about comics and as luck would have it these folks have good taste. The store itself is very neat, probably the best organized store I've seen not as dungeon-like as some others in the city can seem.Their selection is top notch, whatever you don't see out front they probably have in back or can get easily. So next time you need some comics, stop sifting through piles of longboxes at the other guys and give Neon Monster a shot.
A great Sunday morning walk through a perfectly foggy Noe Valley was capped off by running across this corner shop that seems totally independent, if the friendly cashier sitting by herself is any indication. I don't know much about comics or limited run toys, but the record selection kept me busy for a half hour or so. Reasonably priced, well organized and everything in good condition. Sealed copies of Madlib Shades Of Blue and a Mobb Deep The Infamous repress for only $25 total? Really?
People thought this was:
San Francisco, CA
Category: Comic Books
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Comic Books
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Arts & Entertainment
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Comic Books
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset
Category: Comic Books
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