Bob Gordon has seen plenty of change since he opened his comic book store in 1991.
From behind the counter at Acme Comics, 2218 W. Glen Ave., Gordon can recall doing business before the internet, a time when there was real retail competition. “I think there were as many as 11 comic book outlets across central Illinois in the early 90s,” he said.
Today Gordon says, aside from his Peoria store, there’s only an outlet in Pekin still dispensing printed accounts of superheroes and fiendish villains to attract comic-book fans in the area.
While Acme’s bread-and-butter are comic books—old and new—along with the graphic novels that have moved into prominence in recent years, Gordon stocks other merchandise—used records, toys and vintage video games. "I look at as a pop culture store," he said.
While the number of stores declined, competition from the internet has grown over the years, said Gordon. “The internet is a double-edged sword,” he noted.
Gordon said Amazon initially decimated his graphic novel business with prices that were 40 percent below list. On the other hand, the Acme owner is able to identify vintage comics that will fetch a good price and sell them online.
Gordon, 61, said the internet became the great leveler. The auction site eBay set the prices in the market.“ One store can’t price something $30 higher than what it’s priced on eBay,” he said.
As for digital comics, Gordon concedes they continue to grow in popularity but he still has plenty of customers who like their superheroes on paper.
Like other brick-and-mortar retailers, Gordon said he’s had to find a niche.
“The name of the game now is to find what you can do that others can’t. One answer for me is serving as an information center. Customers like spending 15 minutes a week here. They’re among friends. It’s like TV’s ‘Cheers.’ I know most of the folks who come into the store. They know they can be themselves in my store,” he said.
The continued success of comic-book heroes in the movies and on television — as evidenced by upcoming attractions like "She-Hulk," a Black Panther sequel and a "Guardians of the Galaxy" holiday special — doesn’t surprise Gordon.
“People probably don’t recognize it but they’ve been watching material from comic books all their lives. Superman got popular through radio and TV. Batman was popularized by the 60s TV show while the Fantastic Four found an audience on Saturday morning cartoons,” he recalled.
Speaking of the Fantastic Four, Gordon said “if they do it right,” he expects the four to pick up a movie following when the next film comes out.
