My Comic Shop History

Host Anthony Desiato brings his comic shop odyssey to a close (for now) in the season finale of My Comic Shop History. Anthony's final stop is The Spider's Web in Yonkers, NY, owned by former Alternate Realities customer Paul Borrero. Paul and store manager Andrew Gonzalez reveal how their perspective has changed four years into running the store, air some industry grievances, and identify potenti...

Host Anthony Desiato launches a brand-new subseries: My Comic Shop Book Club! In the debut installment, Anthony and DC Comics artist V Ken Marion (HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS, TRINITY) discuss the first issue of the DC event series DOOMSDAY CLOCK by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.

Host Anthony Desiato concludes his trip to the Windy City with a stop at First Aid Comics in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. Anthony makes an appointment with owner James Nurss, the lab coat-wearing retailer who "prescribes" comics to his customers. They discuss vending at NYCC, how President Obama helped the store get off the ground in 2008, and why it's important to bag your trades. This episo...

Host Anthony Desiato shares some momentous Flat Squirrel news before sitting down with Patrick Brower, co-owner of the Eisner Award-winning Challengers Comics + Conversation in Chicago. Living up to the "Conversation" part of the store's name, Anthony and Patrick discuss how and why Challengers nurtures comic book fans and readers rather than collectors. This episode is Part 1 of a two-episode vis...

Host Anthony Desiato encounters his third husband-and-wife team of the season: Sarah and Patrick Titus, the owners of The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington, DE. The couple discusses how they have charted a new course for the store—in its third generation of ownership—through a robust series of inclusive, community-building events.

Host Anthony Desiato finally reaches the famed Acme Comics in Greensboro, NC, which will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2018. Anthony settles in for an epic conversation with the store's manager, the one and only Jermaine Exum (aka Lord Retail), about Jermaine's dual identity, his role at Acme, and inter-shop dynamics. This episode is Part 1 of a two-episode podcast crossover with Flat Squirrel...

In this special bonus episode of My Comic Shop History, host Anthony Desiato announces the launch of the Kickstarter campaign for his next documentary film: MY COMIC SHOP COUNTRY! The episode features conversations with Pat Callanan of Cave Comics (Newtown, CT) and Menachem Luchins of Escape Pod Comics (Long Island, NY) PLUS a special cameo appearance by Jermaine Exum, AKA Lord Retail, of Acme Com...

Host Anthony Desiato ventures farther than ever before with a visit to a pair of very young California comic book stores: Comic Asylum in Palm Desert (ft. owner Chicks Halay-Ay) and Interstellar Comic Books and Collectibles in Palm Springs (ft. owner Adrian Cuevas). Anthony speaks with each about first-year growing pains, tourism, retailing in the desert, and more.

Host Anthony Desiato concludes his trip to the Garden State with stops at two longstanding NJ shops: Fat Moose Comics (est. 1982) in Whippany and Dewey's Comic City (est. 1991) in Madison. First, the Flat Squirrel meets the Fat Moose! Anthony enjoys a casual chat with current Fat Moose owner Matt Potucek and employee (aka "heart and soul of the store") Shawn Hendricks about Diamond Comic Distribut...

Host Anthony Desiato continues his journey to comic book stores around the country with a visit to Zapp! Comics in Wayne, NJ. Anthony engages owner Ben Lichtenstein about his business philosophy, and Ben serves up a comics retail masterclass on: the importance of product turnover and diversification, the art of the deal in buying and selling back issue, and common industry pitfalls. This episode i...

Host Anthony Desiato continues his journey to comic book stores around the country with a visit to Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse in Philadelphia. Amalgam and its owner, Ariell Johnson, have received considerable media coverage from both industry and mainstream outlets since the store opened in late 2015. Anthony asks Ariell about navigating the attention, using her platform to effect change on...

Host Anthony Desiato continues his journey to comic book stores around the country with a visit to Midtown Comics in New York City. Anthony is joined by Ted Alexander (Store Manager, Downtown location) and Henry Varona (Marketing Assistant & Events Coordinator) to discuss how Midtown operates on such a large scale while still remaining a local comic book store. BONUS: Following his conversatio...

Host Anthony Desiato continues his journey to comic book stores around the country with a visit to Packrat Comics in Hilliard, OH. Packrat made industry news in early 2017 with a viral photo highlighting the problem of delinquent customers. Anthony welcomes owners Teresa and Jamie Colegrove to discuss the inspiration for (and reaction to) that photo, overcoming early struggles and staying positive...

Host Anthony Desiato embarks upon a season-long, cross-country journey to explore comic book stores and meet the people behind the counter. In the season premiere, Anthony visits Aw Yeah Comics (locations in Harrison, NY; Skokie, IL; and Muncie, IN) to speak with owner/manager Marc Hammond about launching and maintaining a family of stores, navigating different markets, and cultivating a sense of...

In this special prelude to Season 3 recorded live at Undiscovered Realm Comic-Con, host Anthony Desiato invites guests Dan Greenfield (editor of 13thDimension.com) and Gregg Schigiel (creator of Pix from Image Comics) to the stage to talk about memorable comic shop experiences. My Comic Shop History returns with Season 3 on June 21, 2017.

It’s Christmas time again on My Comic Shop History! For the second annual holiday special, host Anthony Desiato proudly presents a supersized double feature. First up: Anthony sits down with returning guest Chris Wilcock of Undiscovered Realm to talk market trends, moving a store, the inside scoop on running a comic book convention, and of course, Funko POPs! Then, in the second half, Anthony intr...

Host Anthony Desiato seeks the guidance of guests Mike Capolino and Craig Higgins as he tries to reconcile his nostalgia with his current experience reading "DC: Rebirth." Season 2 of My Comic Shop History concludes with the biggest piece of the collecting puzzle: Can you go home again?

Host Anthony Desiato brings in The Dads (John-Eric Aguilar, Matt Horton, and Joe Morciglio) to talk fatherhood and collecting: finding the time, space, and money to continue the hobby; charting a course for the next generation of collectors; and keeping those prized collectibles out of reach. It's the penultimate episode of Season 2!

Host Anthony Desiato reunites with his Season 1 Finale guests, Steve Oto and Bill Maio, to discuss the aftermath of Alternate Realities' closing and to answer the question, "Whatever happened to the man behind the counter?"

Host Anthony Desiato presents a special double-sized installment of My Comic Shop History: two episodes in one! First up is "In Defense of Batman v Superman," in which Anthony sits down with Doug Doescher, Ralph Puma, and Damien Torres to discuss the film and try to find some redemption for it. The second half, "Other Side of the Table," features cartoonist (X-Babies, Pix: One Weirdest Weekend) an...

Host Anthony Desiato interviews New York Times writer/editor George Gustines about his path from collector to journalist, the process of pitching stories at The Times, and the nature of comics journalism. Anthony and fellow Bleeding Cool reporter Mike Sangregorio also recount their San Diego Comic Con experiences, including a brief stalking of legendary writer Grant Morrison, a Steve Oto doppelgan...

Host Anthony Desiato enlists Zach Woliner and John-Eric Aguilar to discuss the relationship between fandom and collecting. How do changes to characters and their storylines affect our buying habits? Plus: Pop updates!

Host Anthony Desiato founds the Alternate Realities Book Club with Phil Hussain, Rich Roney, and Mike Sangregorio to discuss the Darwyn Cooke masterpiece DC: THE NEW FRONTIER. The group examines the story's sprawling scope, human heroes, and lasting legacy.

Host Anthony Desiato dives into the highly addictive world of Funko's Pop Vinyl figures with his collecting partner in crime (and fiancée) Stephanie Chow. Together, they welcome Undiscovered Realm owner Chris Wilcock (AKA the King of Pops) to talk about the appeal of these figures, the tricky task of self-policing one's buying habits, industry trends, and some must-hear tips for Pop collectors.

Host Anthony Desiato teams up with 13th Dimension's Dan Greenfield and former comic shop employee Sean McInerney to tackle the completist mentality that drives many collectors. Why do we continue to buy and read comics we may no longer enjoy simply to maintain that coveted complete run?