For more than 25 years, Golden Apple on Melrose Avenue has carried a "Dude, you have that?!" selection of superhero, horror and independent comics.

Golden Apple Comics is one of America's famous comic book stores because of its former owner Bill Lebowitz, who died in October 2004 after enjoying the distinction of being a long-running character in the Archie comics. Lebowitz built Golden Apple into a multimillion-dollar company, wrangling such legendary authors as Spider-man creator Stan Lee to do book signings at his store. His widow Sharon and son Ryan now run the stores with the same dedication. Though the store sells a few collector titles, Golden Apple primarily deals with current titles and collectibles from Stars Wars to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." (There's also an adult section through discreet stable doors.) Most Wednesday nights, the store holds Comic Crew meetings, where new comic-book artists and writers talk about and sign their works. Shoppers are encouraged to ask questions and hang out.