Heroes & Fantasies — Attraction in San Antonio

When I first came to San Antonio, I quickly was looking with a new shop to get my weekly pulls (Star Wars comics). I was pleased to find Heroes & Fantasies, and quickly went in, setup my list, gave them my information, and away I went.

The store is relatively clean, in a relatively busy shopping center along the I-410 access road. Inside you'll find a multitude of collectibles and memorabilia from a large variety of franchises. There's a children's area with plenty of fun toys, etc and there are clear sections for vintage toys, newer collectibles and toys, and the more "high-end" spots. Towards the right-hand side of the story (upon entrance) you'll find a "gaming" section with a small range of board games and related merch, with a large focus on Magic: The Gathering. I can't speak to events availability for M:TG, but it seems as though they do regular gaming.

Towards the back of the store is the new, recent, and back issues section for real comics, and everything seems to be organized well. Clearly marked areas, decent organize of franchises, etc.

However, once I started to go in on a relatively bimonthly basis to pickup my comics, I started to notice some issues.

The store runs relatively regular events for both gaming and comic oriented folks, and seems to be constantly busy. Often times kids of different age ranges are left to roam, lots of customers taking up space and just generally "hanging out" in customer areas, and the overall vibe gets taken over and is far too busy for my personal preference.

Too is the issue of pricing. While a discount is offered on back issues for suscribers to the pull services, collectibles, memorabilia, and toys seem to be marked up considerably, with recently-released figures with an MSRP of $19.99 being sold for anywhere from $30-$55, sometimes more. For me personally, there's just little way to justify that sort of price for something that doesn't interest me enough as a hobby. If you indeed CAN justify such prices, then perhaps Heroes & Fantasies is the place for you, as they have quite an extensive selection.

Most of all, nearly every time that I've shopped, whether for my bimonthly comics stop or for another reason, the customer service and attitude of the staff was lacking, at best. While I don't think anyone is expecting a local business to hire a greeter, by any means, I've literally never been greeted in the store, let alone asked if there was something particular that I was looking for.

When I had an issue remembering my box number, the staff member's reaction seemed mostly of uncaring annoyance. When checking out at the register, little is said apart from asking to upsell some bags and boards for my comics. Never any concern for whether I found what I was looking for, or a simple "How's it going?". It's not a deal-breaker on it's own, but it doesn't lend to a welcoming atmosphere.

These things together have led me to unfortunately discontinue my pull services with Heroes & Fantasies, switching to another local shop with a more mature crowd, a quieter location, a better system of organization for their comics offering, as well as an extremely regular and well-supported events schedule for the gaming products...

I have been shopping at Heroes and Fantasies locations since before I was old enough to drive myself there. The location over by Embassy was my home through my teens. The people were always friendly, knowledgeable and eager to help. I don't know what happened, but that is gone, and not just the location.

I can now say the only things that are consistent with each visit these days are the high prices and bad service. A few months ago I took my 14 year old son in to buy some cards. We stand by the card counter for a good 10 minutes, while the employees stood around eating breakfast over by the registers. Finally I walk over and politely ask if we can get some help. They all start pointing at one another, until one guy is reluctantly forced to come help us. Dragging his feet, pouting and sighing all the way, he all but threw the cards at my son. This is when I finally got fed up and started checking out other shops.

This weekend was the last straw for me. At the inaugural Alamo City Comic Con, my girlfriend and I decided to sit and rest for a few minutes after hours of walking and buying (including from two separate H&F booths, not counting the signing booth where I met Rob Paulsen). At this time the con had reached capacity and they could not let anyone in. Was it bad planning or just a bigger turnout than anticipated? I don't know. What I do know is a guy with very short receding hair and a green H&F shirt decided the appropriate response would be to throw a tantrum like a little kid in front of a room full of convention goers, yelling at event staff and all but throwing chairs as he snatched them up and slid them across the floor. His solution? Start trying to make things so uncomfortable for the paying patrons and core fanbase that they would leave. So he started taking away chairs and tables so people had no place to sit and weary convention goers would leave because they had no place to rest. Good move. Make people feel unwelcome and uncomfortable while yelling at event staff.

It was childish, unprofessional and just plain wrong. If you want to throw a fit, fine. Do it behind closed doors like a mildly semi-professional adult. Not in a tantrum on the convention floor like a child. This in no way will take me away from next year's con, but I am done with H&F. Bad service, bad prices, bad people, and no professionalism. They are no longer the only game in town, and I am happy to spend my money elsewhere. The worst part? I get the impression they don't care about all the bad reviews and just say "Psh, fine. Go. We aren't changing, we don't need you." I don't think they realize how many regulars are leaving and going to the competition, nor do they seem to care. That makes it even worse.

I continued to shop here for a long time mainly out of loyalty and nostalgia. Every once in a while I would get some decent service and think "OK, it is getting better" but at some point the bad outweighs the good and you have to accept someplace you once loved and have frequented has gone downhill. The selection is bigger than ever, unfortunately the love, care and service are gone. Avoid this spot, and find people that actually want and appreciate...

Where do I start.... I am writing this review with a heavy heart after a series of disappointing encounters at Heroes and Fantasies, the once-beloved comic book store. My recent experiences have left me questioning the decline in the quality of service and overall atmosphere.

First and foremost, the customer service has become abysmal. The staff, seemingly comprised of individuals with little to no interest in customer satisfaction, lacked the basic courtesy one expects when entering a store. The hobo-like figures at the register demonstrated a disturbing lack of people skills, making the shopping experience uncomfortable and unwelcoming.

Moreover, the prices at Heroes and Fantasies are exorbitant, making it difficult to justify making a purchase. Many of the items available in-store can be found at significantly lower prices on popular online platforms such as eBay or Amazon. It's disheartening to witness a store that once thrived on passion for comics now prioritizing profit over customer loyalty.

The decision to hire individuals with questionable hygiene and poor interpersonal skills has undeniably contributed to the downfall of the once-charming atmosphere at Heroes and Fantasies. It's disconcerting to see a store neglecting the importance of a welcoming environment and knowledgeable staff.

In conclusion, my recent experiences at Heroes and Fantasies have left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I would caution any potential customers to consider alternative options where prices are reasonable, and the staff values customer satisfaction. If I was an employee, I would quit. If I was the owner, I would fire half the people that work there for horrible hygiene and zero customer...