My local shop started a 'blind bag' trade night and it saved our group

Our comic group in Austin was getting stale, just talking about the same big two books every week. The owner at Red Dragon Comics suggested we all buy one $5 mystery back issue, read it, and then trade with someone without knowing what they got. I ended up with a weird 80s 'Savage Dragon' issue I never would have picked! It forced us to talk about art and story instead of just characters we already knew. Has any other shop tried something like this to get fans out of their comfort zone?

2 comments

2 Comments

vera_sanchez10h ago

Did your shop do anything to help people talk after the trade? My buddy's local place tried a book swap but it got real quiet until the owner just started asking people what they liked about the cover art. That little push got everyone going and he said it made the whole night. I mean, it's cool to get a random book, but you gotta get past that awkward part where no one wants to speak first, you know?

hannah3854h ago

Our shop in Tempe had the same quiet problem. The owner, Mike, made a rule that you had to say one thing you liked and one thing you hated about your blind book before trading. I got a 90s Ghost Rider where the story was nonsense but the flaming bike looked amazing. Hearing everyone’s quick take, good and bad, broke the ice fast and led to way better talks.