3 Comic Book Takeaways from a Bookstore Buyer
Keaton Patterson, book buyer for Brazos Bookstore located in Houston, Texas.
Keaton Patterson’s passion for sequential art stories extends beyond the casual reader.
As a book buyer for Houston’s oldest indie bookstore, Patterson doesn’t just keep a pulse for what’s popular, but influences a growing readership in comics and graphic novels.
For more than 50 years Brazos Bookstore has been a staple in the Houston literary scene. Founded by Karl Killian and later operated by a group of private investors, the brick and mortar location is not only a testament to the love of books, but also comics and graphic novels.
I had the opportunity to talk with Keaton Patterson, a book buyer for Brazos Bookstore, who has been with the shop for 13 years. Patterson was kind enough to talk about the ins and outs of bookstores and comics some offered his take as a retail buyer.
Patterson’s love of the medium began as a child. He recalled his mom buying a brick of comics from one of the few comic shops in Galveston, Texas. Alpha Comics was a place that offered comics, Dungeons & Dragons, and Magic the Gathering products in the 80s when “Satanic Panic” was all the rage. For Patterson, the love of stories was intriguing and while he was no stranger to reading comics by DC Comics and Marvel, as he grew older he read titles by Entertaining Comics, or EC—a publisher known for horror anthologies.
After completing his Masters in Literature from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Patterson began his tenure at Brazos Bookstore and over time lended his background in comics in curating graphic novels for the store.
For those who have not been to the store, it’s barely 3,500 square feet of floor space which means every spot is critical for ensuring the community has a range of options. Brazos Bookstore curates titles that are popular—but also emphasize diverse to the literary community.
“Romantasy” titles may be the biggest trends in 2025 in terms of books, but the comic and graphic novel space is ripe for multiple genres succeeding in this medium.
Since 2020 Patterson noted the growth in interest in graphic novels and lends his fandom and keen eye for titles to keep in stock. Patrons may see compact editions of The Watchmen from DC Comics—Patterson considers himself a major advocate for Alan Moore—but there are also titles like My Favorite Thing is Monsters or Beasts of Burden.
Throughout the discussion, Patterson noted a few takeaways from what he looks for when curating graphic novels for the store.
1. The Cover Matters
The phrase, “don’t judge a book by its cover” is famous for telling readers to look past the hardcover flap for good books, but as a curator Patterson was very blunt about how compelling covers matter as there are more than 10,000 books and graphic novels available for the store to purchase bi-annually. This means inventory decisions may come down to sales track records, but also if a title will be appealing enough for readers to stop scrolling and hopefully click “add to cart.”
2. Indie Creators Have to be Ready to Market Their Works
As an independent bookstore, there are flexibilities in how creators from the community have their works included in the store, but Patterson stressed the importance of creators marketing their works. Patrons may not find single issues, but collected editions with a proven track record can open up conversations.
3. Diverse Reads Matter
Finally, Patterson mentioned how having weird and different comics that open up the psyche to new experiences is also a major factor in what hits the shelves. Stories that aren’t limited to capes and tights allow sellers to make unique recommendations. For example, titles like Here by Richard McGuire, a story about the same location through time, is an indie graphic novel he keeps in stock as it’s a go-to for new readers.
Patterson doesn’t believe that interest in graphic novels will go away anytime soon. Though the surge in new readers as a result of the pandemic meant patrons open to new stories, he felt that graphic novels have a unique method of escapism that can surpasses literature as wonderful art, writing, and typography can immerse readers and take them away from modern day stresses.
Brazos is located in the heart of Houston on Bissonett near Kirby and keeps major titles, hidden gems, and local titles in stock. Be sure to check out the shop and feel free to ask for Keaton. Be warned, you might walk out with your next favorite graphic novel.