The Comic Hero University store in Los Angeles

Voyage LA interviewed the manager of Comic Hero University, a specialty store, and he tells them that:

We’ve been impressed with Comic Hero University, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Comic Hero University has always strived to be a place that breaks the stereotypes of comic book stores. We want to create a place that is community-first, business second (without sacrificing the business part so we can keep our doors open). We have a large number of products- comics, toys, and collectibles- to entice people to come inside, but the real gem is the people that work here who actively want to create the best experience for anyone new to the industry. One thing we did during the pandemic was create a pay-it-forward program where people could donate money to the business, and we’d use that money to buy comics that we could give away to kids (community first, business second). That program got national press at the time and helped us get through the dark pandemic days. We continue to run our business with the intent to bring new readers and kids who struggle with reading and comprehension, with the hope to build and create lifelong readers and help end the battle against illiteracy.

Here is a link to news report from NBC in regards to our program:

How do you think about happiness?

The moment I see a child pick up a comic for the first time and know that we have created a lifelong reader fills me with joy, as it gives what I do direction and purpose. People’s genuine joy and appreciation fill me with pride, knowing that I did a job well done.

Provided the comic in question is suitable for children, certainly it's something to feel great about. I just hope he doesn't rely heavily on Marvel/DC, based on where they've been going over the past quarter century, and there's plenty of independent creations that could use some notice, whatever age they're aimed for. That could, for all we know, be the way to avoid too many stereotypes about comics stores.