LeaguePodcast manager Matt Dursin and myself made our way to the celebrations at Hub Comics in Union Square, Somerville on Saturday to see what the Hub was about, Bub! The local comic shop (LCS) celebrated being open four years with a fresh new vibe. New owner Tim Finn has let the sunlight into the shop for the relaunch, both literally and figuratively, by unblocking the windows and by paying tribute to the memory of previous owner James Welborn, who passed away in May of last year.
Fellow MassArt alum Jesse Farrell is the store manager, friendly & helpful shop-keep, and swell guy. Both Tim and Jesse were game for some questions from the League as we all jammed vegan cupcakes into our faces.
LEAGUE: You’re formerly “The Comic Shop for NPR listeners”, Now you’re for “everyone”. Explain!
TIM FINN: When I was assuming responsibilities in July, the first priority was to either unblock the windows, which would let in too much sunlight, or to get some kind of artwork in the windows. The store’s reputation was hurting from its tough year, and it looked closed and shut down with street traffic and passersby unable to see in. While designing some emergency window posters, I stamped the store logo at the bottom of each, so in a finite space it became a mini marketing campaign.
We posted an image of Carl Barks’ Uncle Scrooge, another of a fighter pilot by Alex Toth, a panel from Maus, and a Jack Kirby Captain America. These are images that would pop and that show the diversity of the medium, and by extension, what the store offered. So the idea of “something for everyone” — kids, jaded teens, fanboys, mature collectors, girlfriends and moms who get dragged in — became “Comics For Everyone!”
LEAGUE: Last year was a tough year for your store, for obvious reasons. We were deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of previous owner James Welborn.
JF: Thank you. He was a good man and Hub was really his vision. I miss him a lot.
LEAGUE: Tim, you seem like the coolest guy ever! Where do you teach art?
TF: I teach comics storytelling, animation, animation history, and drawing at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.
LEAGUE: Including this, you have events at the store to build your community. Tell us about your annual “Dark Knight on a Dark Night” art show.
JF: In 2009, local comic artists Joe Quinones (Amazing Spider-Man, Star Wars) and Maris Wicks (MICE poster artist) had returned from a comic con where they’d done a lot of Batman villain sketches for fans. Maris commented that it was fun and I tried to figure out a way to have as many artists draw Batman-related art as possible. And what better time for the show than the Winter Solstice, darkest night of the year?
"Smile everyone!"
LEAGUE: Game Night on Tuesday…are we too old / desperate for company to attend?
JF: Game Night is a free event we host every Tuesday from 7-9pm. If you have a game and are looking for a group to play it with, bring it by!
LEAGUE: Are Ming Doyle (Girl Comics, Fantastic Four #600) and Joe Quinones regulars?
JF: Somerville has got to have one of the highest concentration per-capita of amazing comic creators in North America! Ming just recently visited and was kind enough to do a signing! Joe and Maris visit with some regularity.
LEAGUE: What’s in store for 2012 at Hub?
JF: In addition to our beautiful new bookshelves, organized by categories such as SCI-FI, FANTASY, SUPERHEROES, SLICE OF LIFE, etc. we also have a creator spotlight section (featuring the likes of Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Robert Crumb & many others), a Young Adult section, and the ubiquitous ‘Employee Recommendations’ section.
TF: Our “Local,” “Books About Comics,” and “Art Book” sections are still in revision. We’ve got new ceiling and wood cabinet lights, and our outside awning should arrive by March. We’re extending Free Comic Book Day from a single Saturday (May 5, 2012) to all four Saturdays that month and calling it Free Comic Book May.
DigBoston: You guys aren’t on Facebook, right? Or Twitter?
HUB: Oh, but we are!
Facebook: Hub Comics on Facebook
Twitter: @hubcomics
BUT WAIT … THERE’S MORE! CHECK OUT LEAGUEPODCAST HERE.
D for Dursin, the "Other" Superhero
In Episode #104: John, Clay and Dursin rock the house with more reboot and spinoff possibilities, bad movie etiquette, The Hub Comics party, and why Snake-Eyes wore that rubber mask!
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