I’m interested in comics, where should I start? Presentation and Privilege.

Tomorrow afternoon I will be traveling to the McHenry Public Library to give a presentation about collecting comics. Preparing for these is fairly routine as I do them often and talk with customers about it often. I thought before I step forward and do this one, I would write something for all of you.

“I am interested in comics. I’m not sure where to start, can you make some suggestions?”

I love to hear those words. I cannot begin to explain the feeling I get from someone entrusting me with such an important question.

Many of you have an idea of how you might answer the question. So many recommendations flood into your mind and you just want to hand them a pile and say, “Start here, welcome to the tribe!”. The answer you might have given is not wrong, but it isn’t fair. You may be putting experience into authority and removing the experience of the journey with the answer. Tomorrow I will again get asked that question, and again I will swell up with the sheer gratitude of being able to answer it once more.

My answer goes a little like this…

“Comic book reading is about finding the first chapter of a story that takes you away from your regular life for a short period of time. You have no bills, you have no annoying tasks, just adventure, or heroism as long as the pages last. Pick a type of story you like, pick several different ones if you want, and we will help you from there.”

It is important to let the person do most of the decision making about genre and initial character interest. You can sway them, but that will not change the initial interest. Almost everyone wants to be Batman, but which one? New readers usually ask a second wave of questions, details can sometimes overwhelm them, so I usually let the person talk out what they are really looking for. After those details, you discuss series codes, supplies, and proper ways to handle a comic.

Here is where I fail miserably as a retailer. I help a customer find their first comic. To read, not to collect.

Tomorrow I will once again give advice on how to enjoy selecting, reading, and taking care of comics with great amounts of hope and enthusiasm. (I just hope no one asks which comics should they purchase to make money. I am terrible at that answer.)

August 29, 2018

Owners and Patrons

2 Comments

Today I am stopping the busy Wednesday work to write a note to both say goodbye to someone and a little more. A casual customer named Sam has moved away due to changes in his life. Though these are good reasons, it brings a sadness to me as another small piece of my life is leaving to.

I wanted to say thank you, wish him the best in his journey and also extend a hopeful welcome that he will visit again given the opportunity.

A little more… Comic Book Store workers are people. We often grow comfortable with customers and sometimes even consider them more friends or acquaintances than patrons. A tough line to walk as things can often change both for reasons like Sam’s, or instances happen that do not go so well. I mention this as Sam was kind enough to stop in during a busy day prior to departure just to say goodbye and thank you. That actually is very important to myself, the staff here and I think most small businesses in general.

I’ve been at this for 20 years, I like to think the service is only the beginning of our combined journey and that if it does end, for good or bad reasons, it isn’t with just a disappearance act. 39 people in the past 20 years have left without “goodbye, you s***! or I have to quit because…” and one has past away. I can tell you that number because I remember you all for who you are as I am sure Jon, Keith, Jaime or whoever your past or current Comic Dealer is.

Take care Sam! Hope to see you soon.