Digital Heroes is a family-owned business that carries a large selection of comics and graphic novels, trading cards, games, and toys. Manga is an important part of the mix. “If you are not carrying manga, you need to do so,” says Assistant Manager Adam Gallinat. “We boast having the largest manga selection in town and thanks to that, we have a significant number of people coming in solely to look through what we have in stock. If you build and cultivate your manga section, they will come.” Here’s what Adam has to say about the current vibe in the store.
Digital Heroes Current Vibe
Location: 120 E Alder St.
Walla Walla WA 99362
What is the overall sales trend in your store in the last month compared to a year ago? What about manga – is it hotter or cooler?
There has been an overall increase in sales at the store compared to last year, with a significant uptick in the comics and manga section. Manga has been getting hotter with customers requesting more and more new titles to be carried in-store.
What is the mood of customers in your store?
The mood of the customers in the shop tends to vary. We have some who are eager to pick up the latest release of the series they are reading and we have others who are newer and curious about diving into something new.
What titles are generating new excitement?
Right now, The Fragrant Flowers Bloom with Dignity, The Summer Hikaru Died, and Gachiakuta are titles generating new excitement in the store.
What manga are bringing new customers into the store?
Manga like Blue Lock and Jujutsu Kaisen are evergreen and must-haves, new customers are regularly seeking those and other shonen titles out.
What’s bringing new customers into your store besides manga?
Besides manga, anime is certainly bringing in people who want to continue the story they have been watching and not willing to wait for another season. I always keep my eye on which anime are coming out soon so that the store can have plenty of the manga version in stock for when those people wish to read the story. Same thing with movies and those who wish to read more about a series or characters.
What sort of crossover are you seeing between manga and manga/anime themed games?
It is a hit and miss with the crossovers between manga and manga/anime themed games. For example, One Piece has an incredible one-for-one crossover between the manga and the card game. Those who enjoy the manga enjoy the game and vice versa. Yu-Gi-Oh! is the opposite, it seems. Some of the players do pick up manga, but I think Yu-Gi-Oh! needs a new manga or anime series to really push for a stronger crossover.
What are the biggest challenges you have had to face in the last month?
The biggest challenges I have faced in this past month is keeping the more popular books in stock. There have been customers who will buy the whole series that is currently out in one go. Keeping a healthy supply in a consistently of popular titles is key.
What’s your pick hit for a manga you think will do really well in the next 3 months?
My pick for a manga that I believe will do really well in the next three months would be The Guy She was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy at All. The fourth volume of the series is right around the corner, releasing in October. It will also have its own anime out in January.
For more ICv2 Manga Week – Fall 2026 coverage, click here.
Source: ICV2
