I, like many of us, have loved comics seemingly my whole life. Growing up not particularly popular and without many friends, I could always escape into my favorite fantasy worlds of comics. I think that’s why I take them so personally. These guys weren’t just super heroes, I felt like they were my friends. And they’ve stuck by my side through thick and thin.
It all started growing up in Springfield,IL. There wasn’t always a comic shop in town, so many of my first comics were bought at various grocery stores and just wherever I could find them in the early 90’s. I remember excitedly hunting down all the parts of Maximum Carnage, Death of Superman, Knightfall, and X-Men’s Fatal Attractions (loved those holograms on the covers!). Luckily, eventually a comic shop did open (Comic Service, which is still open today!), and at just the right time for me, as I was getting older and looking for more than just the usual basic fare. I started getting such diverse titles as Savage Dragon, Preacher, Hitman, Sin City, Hellboy. 
It was an incredible time, no matter how much people try to tell you the 90s was a wasteland of garbage.
But as the decade wound down, I found my interest waning. I ended up taking a break from comics from about 2002 to 2008. I remember the last things I was still reading right before then was the Marvel Knights books (particularly Bendis’ Daredevil run). Life got a bit busy, and I got work as a wedding videographer and moved to Schaumburg in 2006. Luckily, the library there is amazing and had an incredible collection of trade paperbacks. My interest in comics was quickly reignited, particularly when I checked out Brian K. Vaughan’s Ex Machina. I was quickly grabbing everything I could get my hands on.
In 2010, I moved to the big city, in the Edgewater area and would you believe it, I was just a block away from a Graham Crackers! I loved this tiny, little shop and quickly became friends with the manager there: Shanna Berry. Before you knew it, I got a job helping out on Wednesdays. Then Thursdays. Then Tuesdays as well. I think you can see where this is going. I was working everyday I was allowed to and once Shanna left to pursue her dreams, I was asked to take over as manager. the rest is history: now managing the amazing Andersonville location!
Now I get to spend all of my days with comics surrounding me, constantly swirling in my head, trying to figure out what all to order. I love comics so much still and am incredibly thankful they get to be such a huge part of my life. I don’t get to read as much as I would like anymore, but keep on adding to what I call my “retirement reading”. That way, I am guaranteed to still have a life in comics even to my golden years. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
