Local Comics Store Spotlight: Fantom Comics

The foundation of ComicBook.com is comics. While we love to cover all aspects of pop and geek culture, our roots lie in the comics community and the plethora of characters and stories that have sprung from it. If you speak with anyone in the comics community about what has made the medium successful in North America, you'll quickly discover one answer that stands far above the rest: local comics stores. They are the bedrock of comics in the United States and Canada, supporting fans, communities, and conventions with open doors and a dedicated staff.

This year on ComicBook.com we are highlighting this important aspect of comics and culture by taking a look at one local comic store each week. These are stores that embody what it means to support culture and community. We hope you can visit some of them throughout 2017.

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Washington, DC is a city of transplants. Walk down the street wearing a sweater from a midwestern university or college in the Pacific Northwest and you're bound to hear a few shouts of recognition from alumni or fans.

It is a place filled with residents from across America and the rest of the world. That means it has one of the most diverse populations of comics readers anywhere, and that requires a very special comic book store.

Fantom Comics is that store.

When Fantom Comics was first opened in 2005 they had a very clear mission: to be a store for absolutely everyone. While that may seem like a good idea for any comics stores, actually implementing and promoting that goal is a very different challenge. It's one that Fantom has tackled each year in business as they develop a variety of programs for readers who come from a wide range of careers, backgrounds, and areas of the world.

Jake Shapiro, the store's new general manager, says, "Ever since we moved to our current space in 2014, that mission has extended into becoming a community space for people from all walks of life." That concept can be seen in the very layout of the store. Even in the limited sorts of spaces available in Washington, much longer than they are wide, Fantom Comics has managed to make itself seem big and inviting. Wood floors and tall shelves leave the center of the store open with low tables that encourage movement and interaction. It's easy for the staff to keep an eye on all customers, ready to offer help at a moment's notice.

Among the current focuses of Fantom Comics are workshops and book clubs, encouraging both comics creators and readers to share their passion and ideas with one another. These gathering fit well in the store, although they are sometimes capable of filling it from front to back, and show off the diversity of the city. They are the foundation of Shapiro's idea of creating a community space, building new friendships and collaborations within this very active community.

Find out more about how Fantom Comics has taken advantage of its unique locale to grow and what new opportunities they plan to pursue.