Which Mall Store Was Your First Stop in the 80s, 90s, or 2000s?
PLUS... 5 Comic Book Gems to End Summer on a High Note
If your go-to spot is not on this list, say so in the comments section. I’ve love to hear about your favorite spots when you went to the mall back in the day!
I loved Sam Goody, but also dropped into KB Toys and a guilty pleasure was The Sharper Image!
5 Comic Book Gems to End Summer on a High Note
Summer’s not over yet, my friends, but let’s be honest, the back-to-school sales, pumpkin spice creep, and those slightly cooler nights are giving it away. So, before you pack up the sunscreen and start planning your Halloween cosplay adventure, I’ve got a short list of comic book gems you can dive into to end the season right.
And these aren’t just “pretty good” comics. These are the kind of stories that make you glad you still own a comfy reading chair, a favorite mug, and possibly a stack of bagged-and-boarded issues you’ve been meaning to revisit for quite some time. Maybe you didn’t even know about these comics. If you didn’t, don’t worry, That 80s Dude is looking out for you!
Note: If you don’t own these in single issues or collected edition, you can find them in digital format as well..
1. Superman Annual #11 – “For the Man Who Has Everything” (DC Comics, 1985)
Written by Alan Moore. Art by Dave Gibbons.
Let’s get this out of the way… this is, in my opinion, the greatest Superman one-shot ever created. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons… yes, the Watchmen duo, deliver a Superman story so good, you could hand it to someone who’s never read a comic in their life, and they’d fall in love with reading comic books.
The premise? On Superman’s birthday, Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman show up at the Fortress of Solitude to surprise him… only to find him trapped by an alien plant called the Black Mercy, while the true villain plots something sinister for the visitors. The Black Mercy feeds you your heart’s deepest desire while it slowly kills you. For Superman, that means living a dream life on an intact Krypton with his family. Watching him wrestle with giving up that fantasy is brutal, beautiful, and unforgettable.
It’s the perfect story to read when summer’s winding down — a reminder that even the strongest among us have to let go sometimes.
2. Batman/Hellboy/Starman (Dark Horse/DC Comics, 1999)
Written by James Robinson. Art by Mike Mignola.
I’m a sucker for a good crossover, but this two-issue series is like a mixtape from your coolest friend who knows exactly what you like. Batman teaming up with Hellboy? Throw in Starman, and you’ve got DC’s cosmic torchbearer meeting Mike Mignola’s demonic paranormal investigator, all wrapped up in a plot that blends pulp mystery, supernatural horror, and superhero grit.
It’s short, it’s punchy, and it’s gorgeous. Mignola’s heavy shadows and sharp lines practically demand you read it at night with a desk lamp and maybe pull up a “thunderstorm rolling in” track on your music app. This is end-of-summer escapism at its finest.
3. Predator: Big Game (Dark Horse Comics, 1991) – TPB
Written by John Arcudi. Art by Evan Dorkin.
Look, sometimes you don’t want emotional depth. Sometimes you want to see a Predator stomping through the American Southwest, picking fights with everyone and everything. Predator: Big Game is exactly that. It’s four issues collected in a trade paperback, telling the story of a Native American soldier who’s the only thing standing between a rampaging Predator and complete chaos.
It’s got action and that early 90s Dark Horse magic. A quick, satisfying read for a late end-of-summer afternoon when you’ve got a fan blowing on you and a cold drink within reach.
I’m going to recommend you pair this one with a margarita.
4. Batman: The Long Halloween (DC Comics, 1996-1997)
Written by Jeph Loeb. Art by Tim Sale.
If Superman Annual #11 is my all-time favorite Superman story, The Long Halloween is right up there for Batman. Loeb and Sale give us a noir murder mystery spanning a full year in Gotham, with a killer striking on holidays. It’s got the perfect blend of gangster drama, rogue’s gallery action, and moody Tim Sale artwork that makes you want to light a candle and read until midnight.
And here’s the thing — this is the perfect bridge between summer and spooky season. You can start it now, get hooked, and roll straight into October ready for Halloween vibes without missing a beat.
5. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier (America’s Best Comics, 2007)
Written by Alan Moore. Art by Kevin O’Neill.
We bookend the list with Alan Moore again because, well, the man knows how to close out a season. The Black Dossier isn’t your typical comic… it’s part graphic novel, part bizarre literary experiment, and part history book for an alternate universe. Mina Murray, Allan Quatermain, and the rest of the League explore a treasure trove of strange artifacts, secret histories, and government conspiracies. Perfect for a transition into a new season.
It’s dense, clever, and so packed with literary Easter eggs you’ll want to read it twice… once for the story, once just to catch the references. If you like your comics layered like a good lasagna, this one’s for you.
Wrapping it up
So there you have it… five wildly different reads, all worth your time before the leaves start to turn. Whether you’re in the mood for iconic superhero storytelling, pulpy crossover fun, alien hunts, murder mysteries, or high-concept literary mash-ups, there’s something here to close out your summer with style.
Now excuse me, I’ve got a stack of these by my chair, a warm drink, and just energy to get through a few pages!
WHAT I’VE BEEN UP TO
I’ve been recording the audio for my book, Nostalgia Nation: The Definitive Chronicle of Growing Up Gen X (Direct Amazon link) and let me tell you it’s been an interesting experience. Trying to master the audio to meet Amazon’s ACX requirements is frustrating. But, I want to learn how to do this and I want to make sure I narrate my book. I’m trying to get this done in the next couple of months in time for the holidays. Please wish me luck! Have you recorded your own audio book? What was your experience like?
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Kb toys, it was the first store positioned in the malls entrance I used to go to. I use to joke about hot topic in the nineties, use to call it south street in the mall. I hung out a lot in Philadelphia back than on South st, RIP Zipperhead.
When visiting the Lehigh Valley Mall (near Allentown, PA) back in the day, I’d have visited the late and great ‘Wall to Wall Sound and Video’ store first!