Finding a

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 3, 2005 by J. Scott Bowman Capital-Journal

INSIDE THIS SECTION: Topekan opens new tire franchise. Business, Page 4B

FUTURE

in a

PASTIME

Comic books aren't just about reliving one's childhood for collectors

1977: Scooby-Doo (#1) and Flintstones (#1) are published. Yogi Bear is introduced.

LEARN MORE

For more information on comics, visit these Web sites:

David Van Domelen's reviews: www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/Rants

DC Comics: www.dccomics.com

Dark Horse Comics: www.darkhorse.com

IDW Publishing: www.idwpublishing.com

Marvel Comics: www.marvel.com

Slave Labor Graphics Publishing: www.slavelabor.com

PHOTOGRAPHS BY LINDSEY BAUMAN/SPECIAL TO THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Rod Cruz, a student at Kansas State University and resident of Junction City, looks through his cards while playing the Marvel VS trading card game at the Patch and Crow's Nest in Manhattan.

Kenny Bates, of Manhattan, talks with Patch and Crow's Nest employee Dan Adams.

Comic books are some of the many items available for sale at the Patch and Crow's Nest in Manhattan. The store also offers card games, role playing games, table top games, figures and hobby supplies.

By J. Scott Bowman

SPECIAL TO THE THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

- a small, second-story storefront in the back of the Wildcat Landing shopping center, two men have built a company, the Patch and Crow's Nest, from their childhood pastime: comic books.

Christopher Conner, co-owner of the Patch and Crow's Nest, 1800 Claflin Road, was 13 when he received his first comic book, a Sears giveaway.

It was the 1980s when Conner started reading comic books on a regular basis, which was a great time for comic book readers.

"There was a boom in the '80s," Conner said. "A comic you bought for $1 could be worth $3 to $4 in a week. So you could really build up or turn over your collection really quickly if you wanted. Eventually, I became a heavy collector, spending $60 to $70 a week."

Daredevil was the first comic book that Conner really liked, because he saw the main character as an ordinary person.

Conner continued to accumulate comic books for several years, accumulating thousands of books until he met his future business partner Jon Miles, who was working at The Gatekeeper 2, the Manhattan branch of the Topeka comic book store The Gatekeeper.

When Miles found out The Gatekeeper 2 was going to close, leaving Manhattan without a comic book shop, they considered buying it. Instead, they opened their own store.

"We plotted and planned, and I convinced Jon that there was a market here that wasn't being fulfilled," Conner said.

Miles said he considers himself a late-bloomer in the comic book world. He didn't start collecting until he was 21.

Most of the standard comic books of old --- Spiderman, Superman, X-Men and the Hulk --- are still considered the standard comic books of today, Miles said, adding that there has been a push for different comics of late.

"There have been a few crossovers, like 'Young Avengers,' " Miles said. "There's been a big push for independent comics, which are more like a comic strip than anything.

"But most of the stuff that was popular in the '80s is back again, things like 'Masters of the Universe,' 'GI Joe,' things that people who are college-aged, or a little older, enjoyed when they were younger, are back again."

David Van Domelen, a Manhattan collector, said he frequents the Patch and Crow's Nest. He started collecting in the eighth grade, and it snowballed from there.

Van Domelen said he had about 6,000 comics in his collection but ditched about 3,000 when he started working on his doctorate.

Conner said you have to stay open-minded with comic books and not rely on other people's opinions.

"I think like most things, you get attached to the first thing you see," Conner said. "It's like George Lucas having trouble selling the new 'Star Wars' because everyone remembers the originals.

"But you have to be open-minded. You might follow a title through hell or high water, but it's like any other art or literature, if you're a fan of romantic comedies, you won't see anything else the film industry has to offer, and there might be some other good stuff out there."

J. Scott Bowman, of Topeka, is a student at Kansas State University. He can be reached at jsb5135@ksu.edu.

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