Bart bets Homer fifty dollars that he cannot eat an old box of baking soda sitting in the refrigerator. Homer takes the bet and slaps $50 on the table. Unfortunately, the baking soda is so old, it came with the house. After ingesting a spoonful of the potent stuff, Homer’s head falls onto the table, baking soda foaming out of his mouth and nose. Bart and Milhouse take the winnings and go on a spending spree. Down to their last $10, the boys enter the Android’s Dungeon comic book shop, where the surly Comic Book Guy reacts with scorn when they express an interest in a comic out of their financial reach. Shortly thereafter, Martin Prince’s mother shows up with a box filled with valuable collectibles. The Comic Book Guy offers her $5 for the box. But as he almost completes the deal, Bart tells Mrs. Prince that she’s being ripped off. Mrs. Prince grabs the box and exits. The outraged Comic Book Guy snaps the boys’ picture with a Polaroid camera and places the snapshot under a banner reading, “Banned For Life.” A gloomy Bart returns home, where Lisa mentions that make-up whiz Tom Savini is making a personal appearance at the Android’s Dungeon. Bart moans with disbelief. Later, Bart and Milhouse attempt to sneak into the comic book store by donning disguises. But the Comic Book Guy sees through the ruse and sends them away. Later, the Comic Book Guy becomes the subject of ridicule when Savini uses his special effects props to embarrass him in front of the crowd. Angered, the Comic Book Guy charges at the crowd…only to experience a heart attack.

The Comic Book Guy is rushed to the hospital, where Dr. Hibbert advises him to avoid stress and forbids him from working at the store for three months. With nowhere else to turn, the Comic Book Guy allows Bart and Milhouse to run the store during his absence. It isn’t long before the atmosphere in the store changes dramatically. Kids happily read comic books, play with action figures and even eat and drink. One day, Homer escorts the Comic Book Guy to Moe’s bar. But when the Comic Book Guy expresses disdain for beer, the patrons push him outside onto the ground. Eventually, the Comic Book Guy concludes that, perhaps, he really is a jerk. He enrolls himself in an adult education class called “How To Make Friends.” There, his sarcastic attitude catches the attention of Mrs. Skinner. Their eyes meet, and both are instantly smitten. Meanwhile, a salesman talks Milhouse into purchasing an enormous quantity of a new comic book featuring a superhero with glasses. Milhouse scoops up two thousand copies. Bart ridicules Milhouse for the mistake, prompting Milhouse to remind him that they are supposed to be partners. A fight breaks out between the pair.

As Bart and Milhouse scuffle, they tear through a poster on the wall and tumble into the Comic Book Guy’s secret room, which is filled with videocassettes. As the pair view the various tapes, Milhouse mentions the idea of having a special midnight screening…and of the fortune they could make. Bart sincerely believes that Milhouse has hit upon a great idea. Meanwhile, the romance between the Comic Book Guy and Mrs. Skinner blossoms…and is fueled by their mutual sarcasm. As the special midnight screening gets underway, Bart shows the packed house a tape containing footage of the police department’s secret informants. Suddenly, Wiggum, Eddie and Lou raid the comic store. Wiggum announces that the store’s owner is now in hot water. The police raid the Comic Book Guy’s apartment, where the Comic Book Guy and Mrs. Skinner lie in bed together. Wiggum arrests the Comic Book Guy for possession of illegal videotapes.