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Photo by Corey Miller
Mark Welch, owner of the Comic Cubicle in New Town
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Photo by Corey Miller
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Photo by Corey Miller
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Photo by Corey Miller
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Photo by Corey Miller
Though superheroes have been with us in comic book form since the late 1930s, their popularity has increased two-fold in just the past decade.
For those who haven’t kept up with the craze, Hollywood churned out eight superhero films this year, including Captain Marvel, Glass, Shazam!, Joker Avengers: Endgame, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Hellboy–making 2019 the most prolific year yet.
“Everybody knew that Batman, Superman and Spiderman were comic books, but it wasn’t until Marvel did the Ironman movie that people started realizing there were other characters,” said Mark Welch, owner of the Comic Cubicle in New Town. “It’s hard to believe now, but back then most people thought Ironman was just a Black Sabbath song.”
Following the success of “Ironman” in 2008, the superhero movie genre took off. Movies based on both DC and Marvel comic characters exploded in popularity and became some of the most successful and highest-grossing film franchises in the world.
But, what about the comic books? Did the superhero movie craze also mean a resurgence in comic book collecting?
Not necessarily.
Welch, who has been selling comic books in Williamsburg since 1992, said the superhero movies have been great for awareness, but haven’t necessarily increased his sales.
“The reality is that comics is still a niche business,” he said. Though Welch’s comic store hasn’t profited off the success of superhero films, he does believe the movies get people talking about comics and pique their interest in the medium.
“In the 27 years I’ve been in business, I’d say my customer base has gotten older,” said Welch. “So, anything out there that can bring in a younger generation of comic book readers is a good thing.”
Comic Cubicle • 4809-2 Courthouse Street, Williamsburg, VA 23188• 757-229-5299