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Fan Boy

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Journal Entries posted by Fan Boy

  1. Fan Boy
    On this day ... January the Fourth 2019, the Comicshop had finally went closed forever. After bit over 44 years in business since the first store opened in the 1970s, moved to its second location on 2089 West 4th Ave until 1999. Then went to move to its third location on 3518 West 4th Ave.
    I went to pay my last visit on the last Saturday of December to get my last order. Walked around the store knowing this was my last time to see the classic yellow walls and wall racks. The credits goes to the employees who had kept the traditional look for many years. I made my first visit to the old Comicshop on 2089 West 4th. That happened after I saw their first TV commercial on one Saturday morning while I was watching my daily cartoons, I was a kid back then. I had to beg my dad to drive me to this store. 
    Upon my arrival, and walked to the store and saw the famous duck sign saying “Of Course We’re Open” outside by front door. Entered inside, I was high in my mind, eyes popped when I saw so much comics and stuff everywhere. I saw the second floor. On the first floor, the guy behind the counter ( the yellow counter which you saw in the photos below) greeted me with a smile. I went upstairs and saw even MORE comics in bins and on wall rack. I was so excited and started check out the comics. I told my dad I loved the store and wanted more visits here. He knew in signing and let me get my wishes. I had many good memories throughout the 1980s during my high school days.
    I returned back to my old hometown, then to the new location and resumed my daily visits for the next 5 years to the end. I will miss the duck sign!
     
    Below is a copy I found online. This article explains why I loved this store. 
     
    The Oldest Comics Specialty Store in Western Canada
    In 2014, The Comicshop was the only store in British Columbia to be shortlisted for the Joe Shuster Award for Best Retailer in Canada, a highly esteemed honour within the industry. Original owners Ron Norton and Ken Witcher, both avid comic collectors, opened the doors of The Comicshop in 1974 to serve the city’s comics fans. Ron later bought out Ken to become sole owner in 1989. From its convenient 4th Avenue West location, the team at The Comicshop has helped Vancouverites with their comic collections for decades (and furthered its own, of course!).
    The service is friendly and the selection is vast. Stepping into the shop, you’ll be greeted with a smile by The Comicshop’s manager Keith Bickford and his colleague Brent Stratichuk, who have been bringing in new titles every week and keeping the stock updated since the mid-1980s.
    A comic collector’s dream, with new stock arriving every Wednesday, The Comicshop draws loyal customers who drop by on a weekly basis to pick up new issues and chat with Keith, Brent and the team. At The Comicshop, you’ll discover a wide selection of new and collectible comics, graphic novels, art books, toys, posters, t-shirts and all sorts of great stuff.
    Over the years, comics sort of grew up and these days the majority of our customers are adults who have been reading comics since they were kids.- Keith Bickford, manager Living the Comic Collector’s Dream
    An avid collector himself, Keith joined the team part-time in high school and never looked back. “It was a great way to make some money during high school and university, do something I enjoy, and help other comic fans. And now I’ve been working here forever!” laughs Keith.
    “I still read a lot of comics like when I first started and it’s nice because so do our customers. We have customers who have been coming here since the store opened, so even longer than I’ve been here!”
    Comics for All
    The highlight of running the shop for Keith is meeting and helping comic fans from all walks of life. “Back when I started working here, it was really for nerds and geeks. These days, with shows like Big Bang Theory, nerd is the new cool,” says Keith.
    “It’s really evolved over the years, the industry as a whole has become much more mainstream. Over the years, comics sort of grew up and these days the majority of our customers are adults who have been reading comics since they were kids. Our customers come from all walks of life – we have doctors, lawyers, white-collar workers, people working all around the world coming in, everyone really, so it’s really interesting that way.”
     


  2. Fan Boy
    This month ... March 2018 ... has marked the end of my daily new comic book purchases that I had ordered and picked from the LCS every month or biweekly. That had went on for 44 years. Last week I had picked up my last new comic book with my other orders. Only one single comic book! Finished. I think back all the years I went into the store thrilled in getting my daily dose of new comic books, to read new stories and had fun. Not anymore now. It is strange but not disappointed because I can still get my hardcover volumes with reprinted classic stories, graphic novel books and other items at the LCS. So, I can still go visit the LCS a little longer. 
    But this day marks the beginning of the end on my visits to the LCS. How longer will it last? That, I do not know until I have completed my collection. With the new comic books stopped ordered and closed, what is left for me? Good question. However, this chapter is done and closed, a new chapter begins.
    What I know is that it means I am now totally focused on fulfilling my collection in finding pre-1975 books to fill up all the gaps. It means more trips to comic book cons and small shows in my region as far I can go if my budget allows.
  3. Fan Boy

    My Comic Book Room

    By Fan Boy,

    SHAPING UP AND CREATING MY COMIC BOOK ROOM
    This year I think I will start cleaning up my books and think up what I want to put in the room. Too many stuff I have in boxes, and they need be placed in good display. Thinking to buy metal shelves to put all my short boxes stacked up to free up space. It might take me a year or so to get the room as what I have in mind. 
    I had just started my special sketch project at FEV. I gave a blank comic book page (the kind of paper comic book artists do their work) to one artist. It will be finished by February later. It is going to be a unique project, where I will have many different artists put their work on the same page. I estimate the project will take me up to 5 years. I have a long list of artists in names. This is the centrepiece artwork for my comic book room. 
  4. Fan Boy
    MY FIRST COMIC STORE ADVENTURE
    It was in 1977, sometime in spring season to summer. I had found my first comic book store by accidentally when I was with my dad on his trip to a drug store to buy something there. I must had walked by this comic book store many times before. Yet I did not notice it?? I guess because the drug store had the spinner rack with new comics there, so my focus was kind of direct at this. 
    Anyway, one day I went with my sister to follow dad into the drug store. I checked the spinner rack to see if any new comics arrived. Picked a few ones to buy. Dad was still shopping. As it was a hot day outside, and the store was a bit stuffy inside. I told dad I want go out to cool off. I go out and stand by the “comic store” NEXT to the drug store!
    my eyes was wandering around the block as I was standing. As I turn around to peek thru the dirty window, I noticed the sun faded comic books hanging on string by their centrefolds. Colours were almost faded out so I didn’t see them clearly. I stood up in peaking, my face pressed on glass. What I saw inside was awesome. Run into drug store to tell dad I go check out the store next door. 
    I entered the beat-down store and saw all the new comic books stacked up on shelves. Saw the comic books in bins. I soon realized that the store was actually a used bookstore turned into partly comic book store in process! I met the long-haired bearded hippie owner. He smiled at me, I smiled back and pointed to the comics on shelves. He waved me to let me look. 
    My dad entered to find me standing looked at new comic books. I grinned at dad in begging to buy a .. few.. more books! 
    My dad looked at the store and he looked at my face. He rolled up his eyes, knowing he will have to take me for more comic book trips ahead! 
    the hippie owner laughed.  I later learned the store was called “The ComicLand”, one of the few first comic book stores. The ComicShop on the 4th West ave is the first store opened. But this is another story to tell later.