Store celebrates comics, Halloween

Many comic book stores have adapted to celebrate Halloween ComicFest during the last few years.

Comic book stores across the country are featuring their own rendition of the event, including Bloomington’s Vintage Phoenix Comic Books.

Halloweek, being put on through today, is a promotion by Vintage Phoenix offering a variety of discounts and giveaways.

Customers who dress up in costumes will receive free comic books from a selection of 20 different Halloween-themed books.

In addition, the store is also organizing a costume contest in which contestants will have their photo uploaded to the store’s Facebook page for people to view and vote on.

There will be a raffle, and the prize will be a giant wooden cutout of the winner’s favorite character.

Store Manager Matt Traughber said costumes have been creative this year, with customers going the extra step to dress up as more than just the usual superhero.

Costumes so far have included Iron Man’s Anthony Stark and Dr. Bruce Banner from The Avengers, Traughber said.

“This is a newer and smaller event,” Traughber said. “Right now it’s aimed more at our current existing customers, but we expect it to grow year after year.”

Other events the store organizes throughout the year include in-store signings.

The store’s most recent signing was in September, featuring Eisner Award-winning writer and illustrator Nate Powell.

Powell discussed his new book trilogy, MARCH, which he co-created with American civil rights icon and Georgia Congressman John Lewis.

The store’s largest event is in conjunction with comic book stores across the country, similar to Halloween ComicFest, called Free Comic Book Day.

Every year on the first Saturday in May, Vintage Phoenix customers are eligible to receive pre-selected free comic books just for walking into the store.

Traughber said promotions like Halloween ComicFest and Free Comic Book Day help expand the store’s customer base over time.

The events also draw in new people who might not be as familiar with comics or realize the wide variety of graphics that exist.

“We’ve got something for everybody here,” Traughber said. “Some people still think comics are one specific thing or that they’re only for kids or people into superheroes, but like anything in entertainment there’s something for everybody.”

— Brett Frieman