Creative Comics makes it personal

Many local card and comic shops in the area offer quality merchandise, but none offer the personal attention customers receive at Creative Comics in Griffith.

Owner James R. Rhone sells comic books, graphic novels, role-playing books, dice, card games and materials for preserving cards and comics. Creative Comics also carries figurines, tee-shirts and other related merchandise.

Rhone opened Creative Comics in May 2003. He taught comic book art for 10 years prior to opening the shop and used the Griffith store as a place to give lessons in addition to selling merchandise. Now taught by Rhone's friend, comic art lessons for all ages are on Tuesday nights from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Rhone said owning a comic shop was something he always wanted to do.

"It's more of a hobby than a money-maker. I still keep my full-time job. I like coming here - it's not like a job," Rhone said.

For those who buy comics regularly, the shop offers a subscription service. Those who subscribe to between 1-29 comic books receive 10 percent off each new book and 20 percent off back issues. Anyone who subscribes to 30 or more comic books will receive 13 percent off new issues and 25 percent off back issues.

The shop has a slightly out-of-the-way Griffith location with hard access during peak traffic times, but is worth the effort to reach because it provides a comfortable environment for all interested in comics and gaming.

Crystal Kolasa, a freshman majoring in hospitality/tourism management, enjoys browsing at Creative Comics because of the pleasant environment. Kolasa added that she has - as most women who enjoy comics and/or gaming have - looked for comic shops where female customers are treated the same as male customers, not leered at or ignored.

With no employees, Rhone relies on help from friends who can help out with the shop occasionally so he can spend some time with his family. Rhone gets to know his customers individually.

"I like to make it more personal," Rhone said. "You get to hear everyone's story; you get to know people. "I've made a lot of friends through the shop."

Brian J. Lynch, a Hammond resident, visits Creative Comics weekly and subscribes to approximately 20 comic books a month.

"It's not the largest shop I've ever been in, and sometimes I have to dig through boxes to find what I'm looking for, but there's always a hidden gem to be found," Lynch said. "I've been reading comics since I was 8 years old, so I've been in quite a few shops - and I have to say, Jim's is hands-down the friendliest and most comfortable,"

Between people perusing the large selection of comics and the crowded tables of gamers, the small shop is often abuzz.

Creative Comics is host to weekly games of HeroClicks, Pirates, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-gi-oh, and the Legend of the Five Rings. The games are open to everyone and generally have players ranging in age from 9 years old to 45 years old, according to Rhone.

Those interested in learning about game tournaments, tournament prizes, special events, and the upcoming week's comic book release list should visit Creative Comics at 216 E. Main St. in Griffith or call 924-1600.

Originally published in The Chronicle in February 2007 as Jade Lee Culberson.

Bye bye to the Buffy I knew

Many of us who obsessively watched "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" mourned the loss of this show after season seven, realizing "Buffy" was truly gone from television forever - less, of course, cold comfort from reruns. We watched (in the last episode) as a school bus drove characters - some familiar and dear, others newer and less connected - away from the large hole where Sunnydale was, and they took with them a little piece of our hearts.

I cried. I mourned the loss of a show I'd watched since high school, feeling a connection with Buffy (the character), who was then my age. I wondered briefly if we'd see a return for season eight - maybe even on a new channel - but realized that I'd never again tune in to see a new episode. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was saddened by this fact.

When I recently learned that Joss Whedon would be bringing us season eight after all - in comic book form - I was excited. I was ready to find out what Buffy, Willow, and Xander were up to. And, of course, I wondered what life after Sunnydale was like for Dawn as she worked through her complicated adolescence. I wanted to know more about the reference near the end of the series "Angel" in which we hear that Buffy is dating The Immortal. I was even curious as to how all those new Slayers were balancing their previous lives with their new Slayer duties.

I made a special trip to Creative Comics in Griffith to pick up the first issue of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," season 8. When I got home, I devoured the issue with high hopes.

When I put the issue down, it was with disappointment. The "Buffy" world, once so small and intimate now feels too vast. The first issue alone dealt with space travel, cloning, and the army. This larger world feels filled more with "clever science" than emotion.

I'll keep reading and hoping the first issue was meant as a catch-up issue - that the intimacy will return and the feeling from the show will come through the pages of upcoming issues.

Originally published in The Chronicle in April 2007 as Jade Lee Culberson

Wizard World Chicago

Entering Wizard World is like stepping into a sprawling city. Comic book enthusiasts, video gamers and self-proclaimed nerds find themselves at home during this yearly event - Wizard World Chicago, held at the Rosemont Convention Center. This year's event, held from Aug. 9-12, was host to countless celebrity appearances, product premieres, vendors selling everything from clothing to Japanese toys to DVDs and, of course, comic books of all genres.

Video gamers could hang out at the Sony PlayStation area where attendees sampled PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable games. Participants of all ages (and skill levels) stopped by for the "SingStar Pop," a PS2 karaoke game, competition. Prizes were awarded several times a day, and the competition stage was surrounded by waiting competitors and curious onlookers from open to close all three days. Andy Denst, a sophomore majoring in computer graphics design, took a break from perusing comics on Friday to join in the competition during his fifth consecutive year attending Wizard World.. "It's my vacation," he said.

For video gamers looking to preview new games, a stop by the "Bioshock" booth yielded a look at the survival game for X-Box 360 and Windows which was released Aug. 21. "Bioshock" producer Anthony DeLuca defined the game as "a mix of first-person shooter action and story." Wizard World was the public premiere of "Bioshock."

"People are enjoying the game, it makes [the effort] worth it," said DeLuca. According to DeLuca, the game is fun because of the story and the accessibility for the player. "You have choices, [the game is] concentrated on using your environment to your advantage," DeLuca explained.

Ashley Kroc, a senior majoring in psychology, worked at the "Bioshock" booth during the convention. Kroc said her first impression of "Bioshock" was positive. Kroc recommends the game to "people who have an appreciation for the supernatural. [In the game] you can make bees come out of your veins."

While Wizard World is host to the premiere of many products and comic books, many who attend the convention seek old, unique and/or collectable comic books. Vendors from around the country sell individual issues, collections and bound collections (known as trade paperbacks) at the convention. Denst explained he enjoys his yearly visit to Wizard World because he can shop around the vendors to get good deals on comic books and related items. "This year, mostly I've been looking for collections," he said.

Large companies, such as Marvel and DC, have booths with their writers, artists and products, but Wizard World is also hosted to many other comic book publishers. Deeper inside the "city," smaller up-and-coming publishers were represented as well. Small press Legion Studios sold copies of the newest issue of "Queen of Sin," published Aug. 7, as well as their older books and a special convention edition called "Warring With Wolves."

Scott C. Guffey, a graduate student in English, is the managing editor of Legion Studios. After attending Wizard World for years as a participant, Guffey attended this year as an exhibitor for the second time. Writing comic books is Guffey's passion. "I returned to college so I could improve my ability to write so I could go back to doing comics," he said.

The main character in "Queen of Sin" is modeled after the historical and mythological character Lilith. "We've retold her origin and given the story of where she is today," said Guffrey. In addition to the historical and mythological aspect of Lilith, Guffey explained the importance of the psychological premise in which Lilith is part of every woman, rebelling against submission and craving power. Guffey said Legion Studios plans to continue the "Queen of Sin" book, begin a new series called "Sadistic Stories of Suburbia" (by Nov./Dec. 2007), and publish Part 3 of the "Book of Legion" trilogy (in early 2008). Legion Studios will also be at Wizard World in June 2008, said Guffey.

Rosemont Convention Center has been host to Chicago's Wizard World in August for the past few years, but the convention is scheduled earlier next summer, with preview night on June 26 and the convention running from June 27-29. Robert Felton, Vice-President/Associate Publisher of Wizard Entertainment, said the convention - established in 1997 -originally started in an earlier time slot.

According to Felton, the convention will return to an earlier spot because exhibitors requested space between other shows. The new dates are already planned for the next five years. With the convention earlier in the summer - and further from the start of the semester for students - Felton recommends a first time or return visit. "There's so much to do. It's worth the trip; you can't possibly see everything in one day," he said.

For attendees seeking amusement other than comic books and video games, there are many activities. The Wizard booth hosted the Wizard Wheel of Doom, a trivia challenge where participants could choose a category, receive a question and - if their answer was correct - spin the wheel for a prize. Participants who answered a question wrong were faced with a physical challenge followed by their chance to spin.

Attendees were able to meet and receive autographs from celebrities including Tricia Helfer ("Battlestar Galactica"), Lou Ferrigno (TV's original "Incredible Hulk") and Michael Madsen ("Kill Bill" and "Sin City"). From the premiere of the Marvel stamps by the U.S. Postal Service to talent searches for new writers and artists to Wizard School - hour-long educational sessions on how to write, illustrate, color and pitch comics - the weekend offered a myriad of comic book related activities.

While fans were busy seeking out collectibles, aspiring writers and artists were able to learn about the trade and network. Art devotees strolled through Artists Alley for a peek at the wares of artists from around the country -and sometimes around the globe - often purchasing prints or commissions (personalized pieces). Whether you're looking to buy, look, learn or play, mark your calendars for next summer's Wizard World Chicago.

Originally published in The Chronicle in August 2007.

Y comic books are more than just fluff

I've been reading an interesting story about survival and love, a tale that uses an abstract concept to illustrate the importance of perspective. This story is epic in length, well over 1,000 pages, yet absolutely captivating.

"Y the Last Man," the tale of a young man named Yorick who is searching for his fiancé in a post-apocalyptic world, is written by Brian K. Vaughan. "Y the Last Man" is also a comic book. It has substance, addresses issue of philosophy and contains fantastic art. When I started reading comic books (unlike most comic book enthusiasts, I didn't start reading them until college), I imagined most comics were focused on superheroes. However, after reading many series - distributed by various publishers, written by a myriad of authors and covering many genres - I realized, to my happy surprise, that I was wrong.

I've been avidly reading comic books and graphic novels for many years now. I look forward to regular trips to the comic shop - my husband and I frequent Creative Comics in Griffith - to pick up some of our monthly subscriptions (we're up to approximately 30 titles). For me, comic books are a form of entertainment. But, in my graduate research, I've discovered that comic books, graphic novels and even comic strips can be educational tools as well. These things can help students (elementary through high school students as well as college and non-traditional scholars) who are reluctant or remedial readers, or who have English as a Second or Other Language (ESL) concerns, gain context for language.

Many great pieces of literature - including Kafka's "The Metamorphosis," a shortened version of Melville's "Moby Dick," and several Edgar Allen Poe tales - have been translated into graphic novel form. But for those who prefer tales of history, political intrigue, science fiction or actual science, there are comic books/graphic novels for you as well.

I really believe that people - even fairly hard-to-please individuals - willing to spend a bit of time looking at various books will find a genre, author and/or series they enjoy. So, for those of you who have never picked up a comic book - or whose former collection is collecting dust in your basement between high school year books and posters of 80s bands - I suggest stopping by a local comic book shop and perusing the selection. Who knows, maybe next year I'll see you at Wizard World Chicago.

Originally published in The Chronicle in September 2007.