What is a pull list?

If you read a few series every month, you've probably had this happen: you get to the shop on release day and the issue you wanted is gone. A pull list fixes that. It's the most useful thing a regular reader can set up, and it usually costs nothing.

What a pull list is

A pull list (also called a pull, a pull box, a hold box, a subscription or a file) is a list of series you tell your shop you want. Each time a new issue of one of those series comes out, the shop pulls a copy for you and puts it in a box or folder with your name on it, usually behind the counter. You come in when it suits you and pick up everything at once.

It works for ongoing series, mini-series, trade paperbacks and hardcovers, and often for manga volumes too. Some shops even let you add a whole creator or a line of books, so anything new by that writer or under that banner goes in your box.

Why shops like them

Comic shops order most new comics months before they come out, and they often can't send unsold copies back. Every copy on the shelf is a bet. A pull list turns that bet into a sure sale, which helps the shop order the right number: enough for you, and fewer copies left over at the end of the month.

That's also why pull lists help the series you love. Shop orders are how publishers see demand. A small book with steady pull list orders has a better chance of lasting.

How to set one up

1. Ask at the counter. Most shops have a form or will take your name, phone number or email, and the titles you want.
2. List your series. Write the exact titles. When a series relaunches with a new #1, tell the shop whether you want to follow it.
3. Say which covers. Many issues come with several covers. Tell the shop if you want the main cover, a specific variant, or any cover. Some variants are limited, so ask how the shop handles them.
4. Ask about the rules. Is there a minimum number of titles? How often should you pick up? Do they keep a card on file or take a deposit?
5. Keep a copy of your list. A note on your phone makes it easy to check your box and update the list later.

New to comics and not sure what to add? Start small: two or three series you're sure about. Our getting into comics guide covers where to start.

Ordering ahead

Comics are announced, or "solicited," about two to three months before they come out. Each month, publishers and distributors put out catalogs and order lists of upcoming books, and shops order from them. Shops then set their final numbers at a final order cutoff, often called FOC, a few weeks before release.

What that means for you:

• Add new series early. If you hear about a new #1 coming out, add it to your pull list right away, ideally well before its final order cutoff. Asking the week it comes out may be too late.
• Special orders work the same way. Most shops can order nearly any upcoming comic, collected edition or manga volume in the catalog, plus many books already in print.
• Read the catalog if you like. Many shops keep the monthly catalog or order forms at the counter, and publishers post upcoming releases on their websites.

Discounts and perks

Some shops give pull list customers a discount on what goes in their box, or on everything they buy. Others offer perks like first pick of limited variants, email reminders when the box gets full, or holding books for out-of-town trips. Some offer none of that and simply hold your copies. All are normal. Ask what your shop does; don't assume.

If a discount matters to you, check the details: whether it needs a minimum number of titles, whether it applies to trades and back issues, and whether it ends if you don't pick up for a while.

Pull list etiquette

A pull list is a promise on both sides. The shop ordered those books for you. These habits keep you on good terms:

• Pick up regularly. Every week or two is ideal. Many shops ask you to come in at least once a month. A box that sits for months ties up the shop's money and space.
• Tell the shop before you drop a series, not after the issues have arrived. Ideally give notice before the next final order cutoff.
• Pay for what you ordered. Including the issue of a series you've stopped enjoying, if it was already ordered.
• Say when you'll be away. If you're traveling or short on money for a while, a quick call lets the shop hold your books or pause your list.
• Check your box at pickup. If something is missing or damaged, say so at the counter. Shops can often reorder or replace a copy.

Questions

Does a pull list cost anything?

Usually not. You pay for the comics when you pick them up. Some shops ask for a minimum number of titles, a deposit or a card on file.

What if I miss a week?

That's fine. Your books wait in your box. Just don't leave them for months without telling the shop.

Can I add a single issue or a trade?

Most shops will order and hold a one-off book for you. Ask early, before the order deadline.

What happens when a series ends or relaunches?

Ask your shop. Some carry a relaunched series over automatically; others need you to add the new #1.

Find a shop with pull lists

• Comic shops with pull lists, by state, each with the review quote or website line that shows it.
• Shops with back issues, for catching up on a series you just added.
• Shops with manga, if you want new volumes held too.

Shops with pull lists Comic shops by state