Best Comics Store: Big Planet Comics

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CUSTOMERS MAY INITIALLY be drawn to Big Planet Comics — there are four area locations — out of convenience, but they stay for the service. "We always endeavor to learn our customers' names," says Joel Pollack, founder of the small chain. There's an in-store subscription service, which means the store will hold books for you, and Pollack has a habit of hiring his customers — current business partner Greg Bennett started working at the Bethesda store during high school, when he was a frequent patron. Big Planet sells most of its rare comics on eBay, choosing instead to focus on newer titles and small-press releases in the store.

The Best's Best: Pollack likes the Laughing Ogre in Fairfax because, he says, the store is always well-stocked.

» Big Planet Comics, Multiple locations; Bigplanetcomics.com

» Explore a full list of the year's winners at the Best of 2009 index.

Photo by Lawrence Luk for Express