Six months ago, in the quiet town of Newbury Park, California, there was a great gathering. People lined the sidewalks and parking was hopeless. It was a day of celebration; a day history was made. It was the day Newbury Park got its own comic book shop.
Arsenal Comics and Games is located in my hometown, right off the 101 freeway. Nestled in a small shopping center with Baskin Robins and Stella’s Restaurant, Arsenal has quickly become every geek’s dream come true. I first went to Arsenal to find my floppy comic for class but soon returned to get a birthday present for a friend. On Friday, March 13, I went back again to conduct an interview with one of the owners and to get a feel for the store from an ethnographic point of view.
Started by Timmy Heague and Paul Roman Martinez, this quiet comic shop is home to comics, games, figurines, and the like, giving off an air of comfort and ‘welcome home’ to many fans. Previously known as Star City Comics and Games, the shop decided to change its name due to a small shop in N. Carolina having the same name. Many became confused, mistaking this shop for the other so a new name was chosen: Arsenal.
Arsenal Comics and Games is located in my hometown, right off the 101 freeway. Nestled in a small shopping center with Baskin Robins and Stella’s Restaurant, Arsenal has quickly become every geek’s dream come true. I first went to Arsenal to find my floppy comic for class but soon returned to get a birthday present for a friend. On Friday, March 13, I went back again to conduct an interview with one of the owners and to get a feel for the store from an ethnographic point of view.
Started by Timmy Heague and Paul Roman Martinez, this quiet comic shop is home to comics, games, figurines, and the like, giving off an air of comfort and ‘welcome home’ to many fans. Previously known as Star City Comics and Games, the shop decided to change its name due to a small shop in N. Carolina having the same name. Many became confused, mistaking this shop for the other so a new name was chosen: Arsenal.
When you walk up to the store the first thing you notice is the line of new comics along the left wall. Not only is this Wall of Comics a sight to behold, but I noticed that many were of superheroes. Batman, Green Lantern, Spiderman, Antman, Superman, Shazzam, X-Men, Wonder Woman, even Spider-Gwen, greet you was you walk in. Further down the wall are comics of Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, and other "lesser" comics. Right away, this shows where the big money is made (superheroes!). Two multi-level tables stand in the middle of the store, filled with various items, including Munchkin games, various board games, figurines, candies, and Pop statues. The placement of the tables create a holistic feel, offering a variety of items for a variety of people who my come into the shop. There is a long counter near the right wall that the register sits on, giving workers a place sit sit off to the side but still be able to look at and greet customers as they walk in. Inside, behind panes of glass, are collectable and rare comics. First editions, first appearances and hard to find comics are laid out with care, including early editions of Action Comics. The wall behind the counter is filled with Magic the Gathering cards, D-20 dice, drawing books and pens.
Making your way deeper into the store you pass the divide: tall shelves that separate the Wall of Comics from the back, where black tables are set up for tournaments and games. On the shelves are a variety of games, including the Firefly Board Game! Above these tables, along the left wall, are a variety of pictures. These are all done by Paul (as are the ones above the Wall of Comics). Not only is Green Arrow Timmy’s favorite comic, but you come to understand the personality of the owners based on the pictures.
I found the pictures displayed in the store to be most intriguing. While there were some villains displayed, like Ivy below, a lot of the pictures had to deal with heroes and/or anti-heroes. Not only does one see Batman and Green Arrow but the Guardians of the Galaxy are up on the wall in back. Images of Superman, Batman, Ironman, and others are shown. There are even pictures of Tesla, Stan Lee and other comic creators up on the wall. This give an indication of which superheroes are favored most, to the owners and fans, but also to the real-life heroes that have come to be admired.
I found the pictures displayed in the store to be most intriguing. While there were some villains displayed, like Ivy below, a lot of the pictures had to deal with heroes and/or anti-heroes. Not only does one see Batman and Green Arrow but the Guardians of the Galaxy are up on the wall in back. Images of Superman, Batman, Ironman, and others are shown. There are even pictures of Tesla, Stan Lee and other comic creators up on the wall. This give an indication of which superheroes are favored most, to the owners and fans, but also to the real-life heroes that have come to be admired.
Looking
to the right, you see the Graphic Novels section. Passed that are the
multitude of previous comics the store has, all sorted and placed in
alphabetical order for customers to find their comics with ease. Further
down there is a mini fridge, stocked with soda and water, for
customers to purchase, as well as a bin of chips if they should get
hungry. The dedication to the organization and thoughtfulness of the food/drink items offered shows the quality of customer service Arsenal provides, even if one never talked to someone working there.
Timmy and Paul are also never opposed to people just hanging out. I have spent almost 3 hours in one trip to Arsenal before, a record for me as I usually get bored being in one store that long. Not only do Timmy and Paul create a friendly environment but the staff are more than willing to talk comics with you. All of the staff are very knowledgeable, about comics as well as other comic shops, and willing to answer any questions one may have, even the multitude a newbie like me has.
There are times, according to Timmy, when the store has no customers and business is very slow. I witnessed this myself on the first two visits I made to Arsenal. Perhaps this is because of the location of the store. But then it can get rather busy. Wednesday is when many people show up, as it is the day the new comics arrive. If you wanted, the staff at Arsenal will pull your comics as they arrive and place them in their own section behind the counter. They are "more than happy" to do so, which just adds to the 'home' vibe the store has.
Despite the slow days, the store has a lot of regular customers, with about three or four new ones arriving each day/week. The demographic was the most surprising to witness. Not only did I see the stereotypical 20-30 year old boys in the store but there were a number of females who came in as well. And by themselves! But age does not limit the customer. Ranging from a guessed-age of 12-45, the variety of customers was pleasing to see. When I was conducting the interview with Timmy a friend of mine happened to stop in after work. Talking to him about the store, my friend stated that, though he had been to many comic shops before, Arsenal was his favorite, “due largely in part to Timmy”, the ease of the set-up, and “how nerd things all merge together” in the store.
Between the atmosphere of Arsenal and my new-found interest in comics, I see a future as a regular customer at Arsenal. The variety in the store offers something for everyone but you cannot escape the powerful image of the superhero no matter where you are in the store. The impact these characters have had on the lives of the people at Arsenal Comics and Games is shown in the placement of the superhero comics and the multitude of drawings that hang with pride on the walls.
Timmy and Paul are also never opposed to people just hanging out. I have spent almost 3 hours in one trip to Arsenal before, a record for me as I usually get bored being in one store that long. Not only do Timmy and Paul create a friendly environment but the staff are more than willing to talk comics with you. All of the staff are very knowledgeable, about comics as well as other comic shops, and willing to answer any questions one may have, even the multitude a newbie like me has.
There are times, according to Timmy, when the store has no customers and business is very slow. I witnessed this myself on the first two visits I made to Arsenal. Perhaps this is because of the location of the store. But then it can get rather busy. Wednesday is when many people show up, as it is the day the new comics arrive. If you wanted, the staff at Arsenal will pull your comics as they arrive and place them in their own section behind the counter. They are "more than happy" to do so, which just adds to the 'home' vibe the store has.
Despite the slow days, the store has a lot of regular customers, with about three or four new ones arriving each day/week. The demographic was the most surprising to witness. Not only did I see the stereotypical 20-30 year old boys in the store but there were a number of females who came in as well. And by themselves! But age does not limit the customer. Ranging from a guessed-age of 12-45, the variety of customers was pleasing to see. When I was conducting the interview with Timmy a friend of mine happened to stop in after work. Talking to him about the store, my friend stated that, though he had been to many comic shops before, Arsenal was his favorite, “due largely in part to Timmy”, the ease of the set-up, and “how nerd things all merge together” in the store.
Between the atmosphere of Arsenal and my new-found interest in comics, I see a future as a regular customer at Arsenal. The variety in the store offers something for everyone but you cannot escape the powerful image of the superhero no matter where you are in the store. The impact these characters have had on the lives of the people at Arsenal Comics and Games is shown in the placement of the superhero comics and the multitude of drawings that hang with pride on the walls.
*Just published Wednesday, March 18 on Arsenal's website is the beginning of DC's Convergence. While overwhelming to a newbie like me, I am excited to see what the hype is all about. Take a look at the blog post, as it details the Convergence extravaganza. Very informative.* Convergence Blog Post From Arsenal Comics and Games