The Father of Free Comic Book Day

 

l-r: Stan Lee, Spider-Man, Joe Field. You could ID two of the three yourself. Image courtesy Flying Colors Comics

Joe Field started his career in radio, but had a passion for comic books. He opened a store, Flying Colors Comics, in 1988, and went on to be one of the field's (did I type that?) most influential leaders, and the father of Free Comic Book Day. Read all about him HERE at ICv2.com.

Jim McLauchlin

The Captain of the Comic Book Store

Bill Liebowitz with his mascot, Flaxen; and DC Comics art created for Bill (courtesy Golden Apple)

The name "Golden Apple" is venerated among comic stores, and the reason why is a big, big man: Bill Liebowitz.

For decades, Liebowitz was the master of promotion, always making news and the news always happened at Golden Apple. To read all about the man and how his legacy continues today, click over to ICv2.

Jim McLauchlin

The rise of the suburban comic store

 

Gary Colabuono, courtesy Colabuono

Comic book stores may be ubiquitous now, but once upon a time, they were few and far between, and usually deep in major urban downtowns.

But by the 1980s, entrepreneurs such as Gary Colabuono expanded into the suburbs, and the business grew from 900 or so stores to 3000 or more. Read all about the rise of the suburbs over at ICV2.

Jim McLauchlin

From a basement to a worldwide distributor

 

The original Geppi's Comic World sign from 1974

Steve Geppi started with a 350 square-foot store in the basement of a TV repair shop in Baltimore in 1974. Happy accidents and answering when opportunity knocked eventually landed him a worldwide distribution company, Diamond Comic Distributors. Read Steve's amazing journey over at ICV2.

Jim McLauchlin

Shinder's: The 90-year cultural institution that crashed and burned

A Shinder's T-shirt, circa 1970s

 

For 90 years, Shinder's was a MASSIVE cultural institution in Minneapolis/St. Paul, a hangout for outcasts, and a place where you could get comics, baseball cards, and even 50 worldwide Sunday papers.

Then a new owner got busted on a variety of drug and weapons charges, and the business swiftly tanked, twisting in the wind in an agonizing fashion.

Wanna read more? Head to ICv2 for the full scoop.

Jim McLauchlin

Two lifetime jobs, one as his own boss

 

Jermaine Exum and Acme Comics, courtesy Exum

Jermaine Exum is living the dream: He's had a whopping two jobs in his life, one as the owner on a comic store. He's been at it for 27 years now, and shares what he's learned at ICv2.

Jim McLauchlin

Getting experience, 30 years in the making

 

Trent Walsh and BaT Comics & Games; courtesy Walsh

Back in 1993, Trent Walsh was a newly minted college graduate looking to get some real-world experience so he could get a real-world job. So he opened a comic book store. Now 30 years later, he's still at it, and it's become the experience he loves. Read all about Trent and what he's learned HERE at ICv2.

Jim McLauchlin