On the corner of Flatbush and Parkside Ave, South-East of Prospect Park, in the neighborhood of Prospect Lefferts Gardens, in an area heavily populated by West Indian specialty stores, nail salons, laundromats, and multiple bodegas and smoke shops on a single block stands independently owned Maverick’s Comics & Video Games. Owned and operated by Lee Maverick for the past decade, this place invokes the comfort of a community den more so than just a place to buy games and comics. Walk in and the first image to stay with you is of a group of people circled around a television connected to multiple gaming consoles. The energy and excitement over a game of Street Fighter reminded me of being a kid in my room playing Mortal Kombat II on my Sega Genisis with friends. Games can get competitive from time to time which leads to bracketed tournaments and the players and crowd definitely aren’t shy on making bets. Located close by is a mini fridge stocked with snacks and drinks. This was my first time visiting this place in 2 years but the crowd made me feel welcomed and kept me engaged. We talked about some of our favorite games, our thoughts on the new PS4 Pro announced today, and how this place feels like their home away from home. Not just a place to buy a game or a comic but a destination to hang out and unwind.
Take a moment to look around and soak in the environment of the organized chaos of new and pre-owned video games and consoles, comics, movies, collectible figurines, and fish tanks that surround you. For $30 I bought an original PlayStation One (before the “One” was added to the title) and I’m beyond excited to dig out Metal Gear Solid for a trip down memory lane. That’s a pretty great price for a pre-owned system from an independently owned store. In a world full of GameStops and Amazon.com it’s a great feeling to walk into a store populated with your neighbors playing and talking shop and the owner sitting right along with them still excited to be there and a part of the community. This is a unique gem that I highly recommend paying a visit to!
Maverick’s Comics is open Monday through Saturday and is located at 210 Parkside Ave in Brooklyn off the Parkside Q stop.
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