34th Street Weekend Sale Pick: Jim Hanley's Universe

Craig recommends Jim Hanley's Universe for your holiday weekend shopping

As an under-employed college graduate, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands last summer. Since it was too warm to take up knitting, I decided to get into comics. I had no idea where to start and I found most comic book stores to be really intimidating. That was until I found a nice little comic book oasis behind the Empire State Building called Jim Hanley's Universe.

There are a lot of reasons I love Jim Hanley's Universe so let me just bullet point so I don't write a novel.

So much breathing room

• Size: JHU is huge. There are plenty of comic book stores in Manhattan, some more famous than others, but they require a Xanax before even walking through the door. I love that I can walk around the store freely even when it's pretty busy.

• Staff: Everyone who works at JHU is so incredibly nice and helpful. I had to buy a gift for a friend who avidly read comics and at the time knew little to nothing about what to get him. After speaking with someone at the store, we decided on Batman: Year One (which everyone should read). 

• The Members Program: Comics aren't that expensive individually but the cost can certainly add up. Many comic retailers will discount bulk purchases but JHU has a free members program that discounts new books every week. For comic readers on a budget, this is a godsend. 

This week's sales.

I love Jim Hanley's Universe so if you're in the area, you should definitely stop in. You can find JHU on Twitter at @JHUniverse, on Facebook, or on their blog. 

Jim Hanley's Universe
4 West 33rd Street (across from the Empire State Building) 


Store Hours

Wednesday - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Sunday - Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.