alternating Reality
I’ve been hitting up regional comic shops for years! In doing so, I’ve established connections with some regional shop owners, as well as it is my enjoyment today to bring you my interview with one of those shop owners: Tim Davis.
Me: I’m right here with Tim Davis, owner of alternating truth Comics found on 111th as well as Kedzie in downtown Mt. Greenwood in Chicago Il…my preferred comic shop! Hey, Tim! So exactly how as well as why did you get into the service of having a comic book store?
Tim: genuine work sucked, as well as I always wished to own my own business. I handled the Comic book shop from 1978 to 1983. I was planning on getting the store, however things didn’t rather work out with the owner, so I went to college, drifted for ten years with the intent of opening up a store, however I likewise wished to get a degree. I got a BA in visual arts as well as opened up alternating truth in 1994.
Tim Davis in his Fortress of Solitude
Me: Where do you get your enthusiasm for this type of merchandise?
Tim: Well, I grew up reading comics. I keep in mind my very first comic. My grandfather walked me as much as a drugstore, as well as there were comic books hanging on the wall on a clipboard. I saw a Superman comic, asked him to get it for me, as well as he did to keep me quiet, as well as I fell in like with it from that point on.
Me: So, we have these conversations rather a bit, however can you tell me two or three things that you would like comic shop clients to understand about coming into a comic book store? any type of concerns you get as well much?
Tim: If you are a routine customer, go to the web site since I put my shipping up there days early so you understand what’s coming out that Wednesday.
Me: So, do your research?
Tim: Well, do some research, yeah. To some customers, this stuff becomes the most crucial thing to them from the minute they walk across my threshold to the minute they leave. They don’t care about it otherwise. Or they don’t care to since they don’t put anything into it. people will are available in at 5:00 PM on a Wednesday as well as get upset that a hot book is offered out. “Did you save me one?” Did you ask me to save you one? since I would have. “I didn’t understand it was coming out!” That gets us back to the website.
Me: Do your research…
Tim: Yes, back to doing your research.
Me: What else do you desire you might tell customers?
Tim: get what you like, not what you believe is going to make money unless you are in the service of speculating. If you get with the sole function to flip stuff. Fine. however if you are a collector, as well as get Spider-Man monthly since you like Spider-Man, don’t get drawn into “I requirement to get this 1/25 or 1/50 cover” even though I’d like to take your money for it unless you are going to dump it ideal away, it’s most likely not going to keep its value. a lot of stuff that’s hot this week, will not be hot a month as well as a half from now.
Me: That’s great advice.
Tim: Some people walk in the door as well as state “I haven’t checked out comics since…I utilized to checked out the X-Men, however I haven’t checked out them considering that 1992. What’s been going on with them?” It’s like…I have no idea! I told one guy. There’s this fantastic tool to response all of your questions. It’s called Wikipedia.
Me: Going together with that, I assumption the comply with up would be, can you recall the strangest concern or request you’ve ever had?
Tim: a lot of of it revolves around people wanting the most popular book a while after it’s been out.
Me: When walking Dead was blowing up when the very first problem was going for like $2,000.00, were people coming in right here asking if you had it?
Tim: Oh, sure. as well as I always tell them, if you are trying to find the story, I have the trade paperbacks. “What about the very first issue?” Well, it’s going for about $1,500.00 on eBay ideal now.
Me: They most likely want the trade. They just don’t understand they want the trade.
Tim: Yeah, at some point, you have to steer them into that.
Me: particularly people that don’t come into comic book stores extremely often. have we seen anything that has had the power of a show or motion picture to getting comics like walking Dead?
Tim: Black Panther. When the motion picture came out it drove people into comic book stores trying to find Black Panther comics for a while.
Me: Last question, Tim. Hollywood is going to make a motion picture about this store as well as you. You get to pick the musician that does the soundtrack of alternating Reality. who are you picking?
Tim: (no hesitation) Bruce Springsteen. Working-class.
Me: I like that answer. That makes sense.
I’d like to say thanks to Tim Davis for his time. If you are ever in the Chicagoland area, try to stop by alternating truth found on 111thnull