Dr. Comics & Mr. Games — Local services in Oakland

This used to be THE spot to go in Piedmont. So many hours (and dollars) spent here over the years without a single regret. I'm not sure what happened to this place, but I don't think I'll ever be back. I came in here with a buddy to spend some time talking shop and buy some books and figures when one of the employees asked us to put masks on. I pointed out that there was no mandate anymore and hadn't been for months. They told me that individual businesses can still enforce their own mask mandate if they wanted to. At that point we just left, we'll take our business elsewhere. Why would you want to mandate your customers wear masks? You don't want your customers to have an enjoyable experience in your shop? You just want to punish them like some kind of sadist who gets off on creating misery? I could see if there was a mandate in effect that they had to abide by, but this was a policy of their own choosing. Most businesses celebrate when pandemics end and mandates are lifted, but this place wants to get upset that things are back to normal? I don't get it. If you're looking for awesome comic shops, try Crush Comics in Castro Valley or Flying Colors Comics in Concord. Either one will give you a much better experience than this...

Great customer service. Larger staff than some other comic stores, who are very nice and knowledgeable.

They have a great comic inventory from many publishers, back issues, trades, manga, clothes, toys, figures and a large selection of board games. Quite a diverse offering.

They will set aside your favorites for you to collect in your own folder if you ask, and special order merchandise for you. There is a board game playtime upstairs during certain hours.

They have a prime spot in the middle of Piedmont avenue, one of Oakland's most attractive commercial districts so you can do lots of other kinds of shopping on the same trip.

I've been a regular for many years. My daughter, who first entered the shop in a stroller now comes in to pick out her favorite graphic novels with me...

I came here cause it's my local game shop and wanted to support them, but honestly, they were uninformed about stuff I thought should be second nature (Games of Berkeley knew immediately what I wanted), they didn't have common gaming items in stock, and I never felt welcomed (and I'm easy, I don't expect adulation) but a signal that you've been noticed goes a long way. When I was eventually approached the person seemed like it was a chore for her to be asking if I needed anything. I'll try and support them, but it felt like going to a gaming store staffed with just people earning a wage and not actual gamers. Maybe it's more comic centric....