Joe Field, the creator of Free Comic Book Day and the co-founder of ComicsPRO, is offering a way for fans near and far to participate in his next move. Field opened Flying Colors in Concord, California, in 1988 (see “Retailer Joe Field Has Been a Leader in the Comics Business for Decades”), but he will be moving the store soon: The lease on his current building is up in January 2025. In a recent post on the Flying Colors Blog, Field laid out his options: Move or retire. He opted for moving to a new space, and he’s inviting fans old and new, near and far, to help out by joining the Flying Colors Hero Society. Members make a $100 donation toward renovating the new space and in return, Flying Colors will make a comics donation to a local organization and inscribe the donor’s name on the Flyco Hero Society Scroll. They also get the store’s eternal gratitude and, hopefully, many more years of shopping at Flying Colors.
Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore, a Minneapolis institution that re-opened in 2022 after being burned to the ground during the violence that followed the murder of George Floyd in 2020 (see “Venerable Stores Burned“), recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its opening in March 2974. In its new location, Uncle Hugo’s cohabits with sister store Uncle Edgar’s Mystery Bookstore.
An unknown thief stole three significant Marvel issues, Amazing Spider-Man #1, Incredible Hulk #1, and X-Men #1, from Tate’s Comics in Lauderhill, Florida. The comics, each valued at about $7,500, were stolen from a locked glass case during business hours, employee Donna Macfarlane told Tamarac Talk. Police are reviewing surveillance videos from the day of the theft. Click Gallery below for images of stolen comics!
Dream Castle Gaming opened recently in the back of Keaton & Lloyd Bookshop in Rome, New York, but owner Aaron Siddall told the Rome Sentinel that he’s looking for a separate space to open up in July. A longtime gamer himself, Siddall is looking to help others organize game groups and find game masters as well as selling games, toys, and classic comics. “People can come and take part in creative chaos, knowing that it’s going to be safe and clean and the staff is going to be knowledgeable, and interested in making sure people have a pleasant time,” he said.
Ben Checota, owner of Old Guard Games in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, told Urban Milwaukee that he wants his store to have the same feel as the one he used to go to, Napoleon’s, which closed in 2005. “It was a place where people that might not fit in perfectly in all situations kind of found a sense of community through gaming,” he said. “It didn’t matter where you came from, it didn’t matter what your gender was, what your persuasion was, what your race, religion — whatever it was — everybody was connected by this thing.” The store, which opened in May 2024, has a 3,000 square foot gaming hall and décor that includes suits of armor and paintings of famous battles, as well as a wide selection of tabletop games.
Hoboken Girl visits Jersey City’s newest game shop, Victory Point, which was opened by three tabletop gamers who had been to similar stores in other cities and wanted to have someplace local. The owners all have day jobs, so the store doesn’t open till 6 p.m., but they host game nights and have a wide selection of board games and TCGs.
Quick Hits
Iman Vellani, star of Ms. Marvel and The Marvels, paid a visit to Heroes & Fantasies in San Antonio, Texas, while in town for Superhero Comic Con, MYSA reports.
Invisible Jet Comics was one of the businesses in the West Portal neighborhood profiled recently in the San Francisco Standard.
Megabrain Comics has moved from Rhinebeck to Red Hook, New York, the Poughkeepsie Journal reports.
Sanctum Tattoos and Comics has moved to a new space in Birmingham, Alabama, and Bham Now has a photo-filled look at the new interior.
Click Gallery below for images of stolen comics!
Source: ICv2
