CORTLAND, N.Y. — The owners of a local comic book shop have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to keep a contract with a major comic book distributor.
Diamond Comics Distributors, a company that transports comic books from publishers to retailers, has given the owners of Heroes and Villains a deadline of July 18 to come up with $6,000, according to co-owner Stephen Vincent, Jr. If the store fails to come up with the money, their account with Diamond Comics will be closed.
While the store itself would not be closed, Vincent said it would be "devastating" to his business, as Diamond Comics has exclusivity agreements with Marvel and DC Comics.
The $6,000 the owners are asking for would cover any outstanding debt with the distributor, he said.
"We are in a battle for our comic book lives, and we do need help in this fight," Vincent said in a Youtube video posted July 8.
"Getting over this hurdle will allow us get back to focusing on things to better the community," Vincent wrote on the GoFundMe page. In April, Vincent and co-owner Vanessa Mielke organized a free "Heroes and Villians Con" to celebrate the store's first year of business. Hundreds attended the event, which included guest signings from comic book authors and illustrators.
"There hasn't been a comic shop in this town for like 10 years, so we have the uphill climb of reintroducing comics and the genre to this great little city," Vincent wrote on the GoFundMe page. "Our store is one of the only alternatives for our town's youth to have something to do that's positive."
Vincent said they will also accept in-store donations. The store is located in the Cortland Corset Factory building at 75 E. Court Street.
Here's the link to the campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/thavs
