FULL SHORTBOXED INTERVIEW
Adam and I were recently interviewed by Shortboxed, they posted it on instagram but we wanted to post all the questions we answered here on the Picto Daily Digest! Check it out and let us know what you think!
How did you get started in the comic book business?
Fourteen years ago I began my vintage comic collection with an issue of Amazing Spiderman. Constantly looking for new additions, my dad and I ventured into a local comic shop, Superworld Comics, greeted by the owner Ted Vanliew and his colleague Jose. Quickly it became a regular stop, to the point I was offered a part-time job. I jumped at the opportunity. Soon enough, part-time turned into full time. I was driving all over the country setting up shows, packing and shipping books, and reviewing collections for purchasing. As time went on I took on more responsibility grading and pricing books for their website. I cherish the memories from the twelve years I worked at Superworld, it was an invaluable learning experience.
How do you engage with the local community and comic book enthusiasts?
Business is constantly changing, we learned that a website alone wouldn’t reach the clientele we knew was out there. In partnership with Superworld, we developed a claim show produced on Instagram and Whatnot. These social media platforms allowed us to continue on building a community of our own in the same vein. Used for not only for selling our inventory but engaging with buyers on relevant history, fun anecdotes, and personal stories from working in the industry as long as I have. As a result, our virtual shop, isn’t just a shop, but a space for dealers and collectors to connect not only with us, but each other. It truly is a virtual community with members from all over the country, all of which bring something unique to the table.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own comic book collection?
Collect what you love. Whether it's the ASM #104 in NM- to complete your run or Four Color #990 (1st Yogi Bear), nothing quite compares to the thrill of finding a book on your want list! If you collect what you love, it doesn’t matter much about trends, and there is no concern about the ROI. I love when we have a customer come up to the booth looking for their "Grail" and I happen to have it. No matter how old you are, or what you do for a living, teachers, lawyers, plumbers, when a collector finds a book they've been searching for, they all of a sudden turn into a 12 year old kid. Not everyone has the pleasure of invoking such joy in their everyday job.
What is the most unique or rare comic in your collection, and what makes it special?
Adam and I both have a copy of Madhouse #4 from AJAX (1954), we agree this is certainly the best book in either of our personal collections. These are the only two copies I’ve ever seen, and it’s impossible not to love the cover and dialogue.
Who are some of your favorite comic book characters or series?
Personally, it has to be the Phantom. Ever since I first saw the Billy Zane 1996 Oscar Caliber performance as the Ghost who Walks, I have been enamored by this character: he has the suit, the skull cave and the ultimate side-kick (sorry Robin) “Devil”. I remember the release of the Playing Mantis Captain Actions, I wore it out to the point the arms completely fell off. So, naturally, I started focusing on the Phantom while building my collection. This included not only his run from Gold key/King/Charlton but also, his appearance in Harvey Hits, Ace Comics, Future Comics and Feature Books.
Have you met any famous comic book creators or artists? Any cool stories to share?
The funniest memory, has to be the time I was breaking down our booth during a show in Chicago. I was standing on a stool to take down the top row of the racks, I look down the aisle to a group of six 6’4” offensive lineman looking secret service surrounding an old man. I look to Jose, “Wow, that is the best Stan Lee Cosplay I have ever seen!” Jose turned to me and said, “You dope, that is Stan Lee!” That made a lot more sense.
What's your favorite thing about being a comic shop owner?
I think it's when we have someone's "Grail" and this grown adult turns into a little kid again. There’s something really special about being a part of that.
What inspired you to open your own comic shop?
We have always dreamed of one day opening our own shop, to have complete freedom on how we run it. Now, that is our reality. It was the perfect opportunity to part ways with Superworld for both of us. The experiences we had and the knowledge we have acquired from working with them has leveraged us into the right direction as we venture into the industry on our own.
What's the most valuable comic book you've ever sold or own?
I purchased a Batman #1 coverless copy missing the centerfold, and a few years ago I sold that copy to help pay for a much nicer coverless copy with the centerfold that remains in my personal collection. It was certainly a trade up.
What plans or goals do you have for the future of your shop?
They feel endless, but right now we are really focusing on our Instagram show presence and building our website. In addition we hop to be adding six to eight conventions as a staple for the Robo Picto team. We look forward to connecting with new folks in the future.
