A Thank You to Jetpack Comics

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A Thank You to Jetpack Comics

03/27/2012 2:21pm

Dark Horse is, was, and always will be a company whose roots are in the comic shops. Over 30 years ago, Dark Horse president Mike Richardson quit a steady job in the face of fatherhood to pursue a dream in retail. Like every comic shop owner, he wanted to sell what he loved, not what necessarily promised profits.

Starting around the age of three or four, long before my first trip to a comic shop, I would leave Hook's drug store with a stack of heroes and villains after every trip. My grandmother was always good to spoil me with four color fantasies that I would get lost in, day after day, over and over again. I can still remember my first trip to Comic Carnival on the south side of Indianapolis, where I grew up. Here was a place where all of the characters and stories that I had been reading so avidly, really came to life. Not only was I ecstatic to be surrounded by images of Iron Man, Spider-Man, Bat-Man, and the Hulk, but for the first time I met an ADULT who was as excited as I was to talk to me about the stories I had been reading, day in and day out.

This is part of what makes comic shops so special. The people who run them are just like you and me: fans. In my career, I am lucky enough to interact with the people who run stores across the country day after day. We talk about business and how to keep our industry strong, and most of all, we still talk about COMICS.

Last year, in a marketing meeting to discuss how to make a splash at retail with the release of the landmark tenth issue of Dark Horse Presents, we came up with an idea to tap into the communities that comic shops create around them. We decided to give stores the opportunity to bring Dark Horse president Mike Richardson to their store to host the official Dark Horse Presents #10 release party.

Stores were tasked with getting their customers to post on the Dark Horse blog to tell us why THEIR store deserved to host our president and founder for a day. Many stores participated, and eventually, the field was narrowed to five finalists: Jetpack Comics, Brainstorm Comics, Silver Snail Comics, Cup O’Kryptonite, and Graham Crackers Comics

While a great effort was made by all of the stores who took part, one stood out above the rest; Ralph DiBernardo's Jetpack Comics, from the town of Rochester, NH. The loyal customers and staff of this store overwhelmed our page with photos and comments.

This past weekend, Mike and I made the journey to this small New England town, and were greeted by Ralph and the very community of fans that brought us there. The store was full of enthusiasm from staff and customers, as Mike and I walked around and greeted the residents of this beautiful old town. The store was well stocked and organized, and packed with people who came out on a dreary Saturday for a chance to ask questions, and listen to stories from the big guy himself.

We headed into the game room next door, where every table was full of collectible card games and miniatures in the heat of battle. Mike spoke to a packed house of fans of all ages. We shared some laughs and some pizza, as they asked questions about the past, present, and future of Dark Horse, and comics in general. Afterward, Mike signed copies of Crimson Empire and The Occultist, and we asked some trivia questions and handed out prizes. Later, Mike spent some time with a select group of aspiring artists, who had won portfolio reviews through a raffle hosted by the store.

Me, I had the chance to do what I've always done in a comic shop: talk about comics. Ralph told me how the city supports his Free Comic Book Day efforts, and every year, Main Street is transformed into a street party for fandom, hosting thousands members of the Rochester community. I watched him greet every customer by name as they walked by, and allowed his staff to take turns spending time talking with us. Some customers even spent the day volunteering, and each of them thanked Mike and I warmly for making the trip out to the store.

Afterward, Ralph took Mike and I and his entire staff out for a delicious Italian meal, where Mike continued to hold court with stories of the old days, and the film industry. Our friend Atom Freeman, from Valiant Comics even stopped by to join us.

All in all, we had a fantastic time, and I was reminded again why I am lucky to work in this business. Ralph, his staff, and his store represent everything that makes comics retail special. They love what they do, and they love their customers. Not only that, they know how to show it.

Our sincere thanks go out to the customers and staff of Jetpack Comics for a great effort, and an all-around great time.

Hope to see you all again soon.

For a look at the complete photos from the day, click here.

Jeremy S. Atkins

Director of Public Relations

Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse Comics

A Thank You to Jetpack Comics

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A Thank You to Jetpack Comics

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