Places to Play: Big Easy Comics

In an effort to both inform and promote the New Orleans area gaming community, I thought I would start a series of articles on where local gamers can get together and meet, play some games, and have a good time. It seems we are enjoying a Renaissance of gaming down here in the Deep South, as many excellent gaming locations have opened around the city. Perhaps one day I will chronicle my own personal experiences with our local game stores throughout the years, but not today. However, I feel I would be remiss if I started writing about game stores without at least giving a shout out to the one that, for me, started it all. Wargames and Fantasy, owned and operated by Clay and Deanna LeBrun (and occasionally, Caesar) was where I discovered hobby gaming. That is where I learned to play a little unknown game called Magic:The Gathering and some miniature games called Rogue Trader and Space Hulk. I have many fond memories of that store, and some of my oldest friendships can trace their roots back to a game played on those gaming tables.

But that is a story for another time.

Today, we are very fortunate to have several game stores in and around New Orleans and in Baton Rouge. Here on the Northshore, in Mandeville, there is a wonderful new comic shop called Big Easy Comics. Owned by Stephen and Tracey Smith, Big Easy Comics is the place to get your comic Geek on, pick up some collectible action figures, and get some games in on their dedicated game nights. To say they have a few action figures, collectible statues, and comics would be a gross understatement. They also carry a small but respectable, budding selection of games and gaming supplies. Games Workshop figures prominently in their store, and there is no lack of finding opponents to play Warhammer Fantasy or 40,000. For my game group, we have been getting together on Wednesday and Friday nights, with most folks showing up on Fridays.

Now, I'll shoot ya straight. I do not think Steve and Tracey set out to run a game store, as most of us would define it. However, they have been so unbelievably accommodating to us gamers that it has reinvigorated and rejuvenated many of us to start playing again, in earnest. In truth, I have never seen a store adapt so much to its customers like BEC has done. While BEC may be cozy space wise, it does not take much effort to transform it to a comfortable gaming area. All of the floor displays are rollable and easily tuck out of the way. There are custom built comic back issue bins that serve double duty as gaming tables. All it takes is the addition of an overleaf, a few snaps of the locks, and BAM! Instant gaming table. On game nights, folding tables and chairs occupy space that was once dedicated to comic books or collectible toys. They definitely make the best of their situation, and my hat is off to their ingenuity and eagerness to give us a place to play.

On the gaming front, BEC has certainly hit the ground running. They have been hosting our local Game Night for several weeks now, and are quickly responding to their customers needs by adding events and tournaments to the line up. For those seeking to tap some Land for mana and cast crazy spells at their opponent, Friday Night is the time to show up and play some Magic:The Gathering league games. My game group is currently playing in a Warmachine/Hordes campaign of our own design, and many of us base our games for it at BEC (more on that later). Big Easy Comics recently held its first Warhammer 40,000 Tournament. A great time was had by all, myself included, pitting our armies against one another in some GW 'Ard Boyz scenarios. In the end, it was Zach and his magnificently painted Eldar warhost that won the day. Alas, my Chaos Space Marines did not fair too well against Addison's Grey Knights or Zach's Eldar, but I did manage to eek out a Victory over Richard's formidable Sisters of Battle.

As I have mentioned before, hobby gaming is very much a social hobby that requires folks to get together and play one another and have fun. Having a dedicated, common place to meet and act as the social hub for the gaming community is a big part of the enjoyment of hobby gaming. While they may be the new kids on the gaming block, Big Easy Comics is already developing a strong Northshore gaming community and provides an excellent, fun and professional atmosphere in which we get to do our thing. Which is namely to utterly crush one another's armies into a heaping, bloody pulp and leave us crying on the tabletop.

If you are in the Mandeville/Covington/Slidell area, I invite you to experience Big Easy Comics and come by for a game. I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Big Easy Comics can be found at 5150 Hwy. 22 Suite C-3, Mandeville, LA 70471. (985) 792-7800. They are open Tuesday through Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m.

Their website can be found here.

Next week I will review and spotlight another fantastic game store. This one will be somewhere in Metairie! :-)

Strength and Honor,

-Wicked