Comic-Book Appeal is Thriving

As popular as the video games Call of Duty and Madden NFL are, there is still a small population of people who enjoy the brightly colored pages of a comic book.

“You’ll have people come in who have been collecting comics for 30 to 40 years, and then you’ll have 5-year-olds who come in with their parents,” said Christy Park, manager of 

Customers who come to the Pike Street location can sift through boxes and boxes of old issue comic books or rack up on the latest comics when Wednesday’s shipment arrives.

Galactic Quest prides itself on carrying a wide variety of comics ranging from the classic superhero archetype to newer titles that feature mystery, horror and political intrigue.

Snellville used to also be part of the comic scene. That is until about a year and half ago with Odin's Comics closed its doors in Fountain Square shopping center near McGee Road and U.S. Highway 78. Odin's Comics owner Lori Messer said the rent went up, so they had to shut it down. It's now .

“There was so much construction going on that all of the access points to the shop were blocked," she said. "We were, basically, forced out.”

For comics, Messer added, "you want to open a shop where
there isn’t any access to comics.”

And, in Lilburn the store gets that.

Popularity in Comics

Because of a surge in popularity in video and computer games, the comic book community has become a small niche group that often gets swept up in the sci-fi, fantasy and gaming culture.

“Comics are a medium, not a genre,” said Josh Smith, a Savannah College of Art and Design sequential art major. Smith got interested in comics after picking up a Watchmen comic book at a train station in Washington, DC.

Smith, like many other students who study to become comic book artists or cartoonists at the private college, see a market for comic books, but believe it starts with accessibility and good marketing to a wider audience.

“Everybody kind of keeps to themselves,” said RJ Thompson, another SCAD sequential art major.

Park echoed the same sentiment about those interested in comic collections at Galactic Quest, Odin's Comics and others.

“Most customers stop by the store to pick up their comics to take home and read. They don’t do a lot of hanging out in the store,” Park said.

But the comic culture’s reclusive nature may be what hold’s back most people from picking up a single-issue floppy.

For the last couple of years, Hollywood has jumped at producing major motion picture films out of some of the best comics. Directors like Zach Snyder and Christopher Nolan have recreated comic book favorites including 300, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Thor and The Green Hornet to well received audiences.

This Summer Thor and X-Men: First Class both grossed over 100 million dollars at box offices. Yet, the film audience conversion to the original comics these movies were based on seems futile.

“Most of them come because it’s a fad, then leave,” Park said. “They don’t tend to be long term customers.”

But for those who are interested, Thompson said, the movies often tie in to the original comics and become soft padding into the comic book world for novices.

Both Thompson and Smith said that up and coming comic book artists must sell themselves to a large, diverse audience in order for their comic to garner mainstream success. They both site Stan Lee as a prime example.

As he became the face of Marvel comics, Stan Lee adopted a carnival barker style of mannerism to attract readers to his comic books. It’s the reason why his comics are often plastered with words like “Amazing” and “Spectacular” in bold letters. It’s old school advertising at its best working to attract potential readers.

“He’s always smiling. He’s a walking carnival,” said Thompson.

Smith and Thompson said that that type of attitude should appeal to all comic book artists who want to make a living creating comic books.

“Where do you see advertising for comics? Inside comic books,” said Smith. “That’s how closed it is.”

Breaking into the Business

Younger comic book artists are making their way into the comic book world despite how tough it is to break into the business. Tradd Moore, a South Gwinnett High School alumnus, will debut his first comic book series this fall called The Strange Talent of Luther Strode.

Moore was brought onto the project after the writer and creator of the comic, Justin Jordan, found him on an online artist community website called deviantART. With colorist Felipe Sobriero of Brazil in tow, the three guys worked via email and Internet to produce the comic book.

“Breaking into the comic book industry is notoriously difficult, but we all believed that this book had the potential to succeed, so we just went for it,” Moore said. “Justin sent the pitch out to Image in the summer of 2010 and, much to our astonishment; it was picked up that November.”

Published by Image Comics, a comic book publishing group founded by several former Marvel comic artists, The Strange Talent of Luther Strode follows a scrawny kid who lacks physical prowess. With the help of a mail order book that helps him bulk up and gain some unexpected superhero abilities, he finds that he resembles less of the good guy and more like a slasher film. Moore said that his team has completed multiple issues and the first is set to be released this October.

A big draw for comic book, sci-fi, fantasy and gamer enthusiasts is DragonCon. For over 20 years, the festival has become the premiere destination for a variety of alternative media.

DragonCon, which lands in Atlanta in a month, has drawn in roughly 40,000 attendees and has generated the city of Atlanta an estimated $25 million each year. Dozens of dealer and exhibitors are signed up for the event, including Odin's Comics, also known as Odin's Cosmic Bookshelf.

“If you don’t go to the festival, go to the parade. It is a site to behold,” Park said.

Moore, the Snellville high school graduate, said the festival is an awesome event to attend.

“The atmosphere is unbelievable; it's unlike anything I've ever experienced," Moore said. "There are thousands and thousands of people, both fans and pros alike, all in one place to celebrate and revel in sci-fi, fantasy, and comic book culture.

It's like the coolest Halloween party you've ever been to, multiplied by 30,000.”

“It’s the nerd in the kitchen sink,” said Smith, a fellow SCAD student. Although DragonCon is a good choice for the catch-all fan, he believes that there are other venues that cater specifically to the comic book enthusiast.

“There’s a comic presence there, but they have to compete with bigger, louder voices,” Smith added.

Instead, he suggests Comic-Con or Fluke, a mini-comic book festival that features underground and indie comic book artists.

But when it comes to purchasing a comic book, newcomers need to think about their personal interests.

“When you’re buying a comic book, you’re buying art and a story," Park said.