The Excitement is Building...

So, we are days from opening the doors to our new store and the excitement is building. We've had folks come in and want to look around even though we aren't officially open yet. I have to say myself, we look amazingly sweet for a comic book shop. We've only heard good things so far.

On Monday, we've invited some local artists and writers, among them a group of guys calling themselves collectively Alpha Cat. They write and draw for Liberty Girl, Chrissy Claus, Snappy Stories, and other books. I was blown away by how good their work was, especially the art work of Rob Jones, who is going to draw illustrations of Betty Paige and Wonder Woman for the store (but he just doesn't know it yet). I'm going to have to con some consignment pieces from him, since we've just about blown our inventory capital on books and comics already.

I'm really hoping to put together a show in November promoting Alpha Cat, along with Shaun Ward, a local Jacksonville artist, and a few others we've met at Florida comic conventions. Everyone we talk to about the local comic scene agrees it's just the type of exposure local artists need. I see ads for art shows all the time but none for comic art. I don't understand the snub that comic art seems to get from the art scene. Is it me or am I missing something? I'll take an Alex Ross over an Andy Warhol any day. Is it the subject matter of the art that keeps comic art from getting the wide-spread attention it deserves? Is it looked upon as "childish" or "immature"? Because the subjects may be in costume, do we look upon the art as less of an expression of what it means to be human? Any comments on this subject are welcome.

I am thrilled to be representing this vibrant art form in my community. I think it will be the beginning of an amazing adventure. Its own super story, with provocative characters, and conflict, and struggles, and growth. I'm psyched. The excitement is building. I promise pictures of opening day!