San Diego is home to one of the largest (and most prestigious) comic book and pop culture conventions in the world. Once a year at Comic-Con International, held Downtown at the San Diego Convention Center, nerds, geeks, and fans gather to check out the latest in film, TV, and of course, comics.

That appreciation doesn’t just exist in July. For those who want to keep the joy of geek culture as part of their everyday lives, here are a few neighborhoods around San Diego that cater to their (pop) culture. 

Bay Park

Courtesy of Comickaze

Located in the Central Coastal section of San Diego, Bay Park is a suburban neighborhood close to the beach that also allows easy access to downtown. For historical geeks, many of the homes are older, built between 1940 and 1969, making it a fun spot for architectural walking tours.

The real sell here is Comickaze Comics, which has the largest selection of comics (both independent and mainstream), manga, graphic novels, action figures, and statues in Southern California. The store has grown so much that they opened a second location in Liberty Station where they added fiction and non-fiction novels and expanded their Children’s Book section. 

Mission Valley

Courtesy of San Diego Comic FEst

Ranked No. 7 on Niche’s best places for millennials to live in San Diego, it’s no wonder that Mission Valley is a great area for comic fans and geeks. This neighborhood is diverse with an active nightlife and offers two main attractors for those into pop culture. 

San Diego Comic Fest refers to itself as, “the friendly, intimate, comic convention experience.” This con differentiates itself from Comic-Con by creating a casual atmosphere, allowing fans direct contact with exhibitors and industry professionals without the overcrowding or astronomical ticket prices. Held at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center between April 20-22, this annual event will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein with an appearance from Boris Karloff’s daughter, Sara Karloff.

For the rest of the year, there’s full-service comic store Rising Sun Creations, which specializes in manga and collectibles imported straight from Japan. They also offer Gundam model kits and “all manner of pop culture goodness to satisfy your inner geek and otaku cravings!”

Kearny Mesa

Courtesy of Southern California Comics

Even with a population just under 12,000, Kearny Mesa has many things to offer to geek culture. Ranked as the No. 5 most-diverse neighborhood in the San Diego area on Niche, it proves itself as geek-friendly with its options of comic shops and bookstores.

An independent specialty genre bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore has been serving the Kearny Mesa community for over 25 years. Known for having science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and horror, their tagline is “Books of Martians, Murder, Magic and Mayhem.” Their extensive selection of books includes signed first editions. They also offer author events and live readings. 

Located in the residential area of Clairemont, Game Empire not only offers a variety of strategy board games and trading card games, they also hold some of the largest gaming tournaments in San Diego. They also provide miniature painting tips and custom-built model terrain pieces.

The largest retailer of Gold and Silver Age comics in the San Diego area, Southern California Comics offers comics from the 1930s to now. Open since 1997, they also supply trade paperbacks, manga, comic magazines, and graphic novels.

Marina District

San Diego Convention Center

Adjacent to the San Diego Bay, the downtown Marina District offers views of office tower buildings, retail shopping, lofts, luxury condos, and townhomes, all in a diverse landscape. But of course, when it comes to comic book fans, there’s one big reason to be here.

Comic-Con International has expanded beyond its humble beginnings in 1970, offering not only the latest in comics but also in film and television. Also known as SDCC, this convention has the highest caliber of celebrities every year from all avenues of entertainment. Perhaps one of its biggest draws is its Hall H, where big studios such as Warner Bros., Paramount, and Marvel bring A-listers to promote their upcoming movies and chat with fans.

Even if you’re unable to get tickets for the convention, there are still plenty of activities happening around the neighborhood and in the neighboring hotels (most of which are free). Check out this awesome how-to guide for navigating this convention on FlipKey.