A Setting Sun in Phoenix

I started collecting comic books when i first moved to Phoenix back in '92.  I remember my father and i traveling around the valley to find  me some comic books and one of the stops was this place called Atomic Comics.  I will admit it wasn't the best experience for me but that was my fault since what i was looking for wasn't exactly for my age bracket.  They pointed that out to me and i went on my way to other places to begin my collection.

Years later, and i inherit a boxholding deal from my sister who had landed a job at Atomic Comics.  She is the picture of someone utterly not geeky, but she could pass just by grilling me with endless questions of Marvel Comics and DC.  I held that box for a long time, moving it from one location to another when i grew up to live with my wife in our first apartment.  Sadly now, I can no longer spend my time after work on Wednesday afternoon at Atomic, bumping into a load of comic book friends and colleagues.

The news made the rounds last night amid the various social network tools out there that of one of Arizona Premiere Geek landmarks had closed its doors for the last time.  For more details go here: www.bleedingcool.com/2011/08/2…

Sad to see such a great place to buy comics become another statistic nowadays due to the modernization of comic books being available dgitially.  People wanted ease of use and their comic collection in hand upon their mighty ipads and tablets but it comes at a cost.  No longer will i be able to drive to the closest comic book store, peruse their new books and talk trash about other comic books or creators to the great people they had behind the counter.  i know of no person who would want their digital comic book signed by the creators, if it even becomes possible....though i'm sure it will.

a sad day for comic book people in Phoenix, AZ.

it just sucks.