Hello and happy New Year to all. The new year brings new possibilities as new challenges. I have had a lot of ups and downs this year but starting work at Graham Crackers Comics was definitely the highlight of my year. I started working at here last February, and it has been an interesting year filled with more comics than I have ever imagined seeing in my life. I have met some amazing people and learned new things and I look forward to more new experiences in the coming year. The new year is about new beginnings but it is also a great time to reflect on the path we have taken that lead us to this moment.
At a young age my dad would bring me along on his trips to Graham Crackers. He was mainly DC guy but did collect some Marvel comics as well. His favorite was Batman. He had hundreds of issues including Batman, Superman, the X-Men, and Spider-Man. He also had some more obscure titles like Groo, and Warlord. The one I connected to the most as a kid was The New Teen Titans. I loved seeing Dick Grayson take up the mantle of Nightwing and Raven overcoming her terrible family and become the white Raven. These comics ignited my lifelong love of comics and stories in general.
My dad eventually sold his comic collection (kids are expensive apparently.) I was in college at the time and has other interests but I still feel a pang of regret whenever I think about losing all those comics. When my dad was later diagnosed with dementia, I knew it was time to start my own collection and get back the books I grew up reading. I knew I had to start with The Teen Titans and I vowed to recollect every issue and rebuild his collection. They were more than just comics to me; they were a way to connect with my dad and hold on to a piece of him. This is about the time I rediscovered Graham Crackers Comics.
It took a while but once I had collected every Titans book, I knew that I could not stop there. I needed to subscribe to the new Titans books that were going to come out. I decided to return to my old friend Graham Cracker Comics and haven’t looked back since. I have widened my subscription list to include many more titles. Superman, Batman, the X-Men and many awesome independent titles such as Saga, and Minor Arcana. I spent a few years as a subscriber and Graham Crackers has proven to be the most reliable source for both new and old comics. When they opened the online location in my hometown, I knew I had to try to put in an application.
Working at Graham Crackers Comics has been the most fun job I have ever had. I have learned so much about comics and I have discovered so many titles that I love. I have enjoy seeing the behind the scenes of the online store and I feel lucky because I get to see the new comics before anyone else. My love of comics has only grown and I am looking forward to the future of comics as well as my future with Graham Crackers Comics. I hope you all have a great New Year filled with many comics and good memories. Until next time.
-Rob