37 – Villainous Grounds and Hairball

38 – A to Z Comics and Void Rivals Vol 1

While visiting relatives in the Kansas City, MO area, Mike naturally found time to seek out a comic shop. He struck gold when he met A to Z Comics owners Debby and Steve Welch and their grandson, Damon. A to Z Comics is located in Blue Springs, MO, just outside of Kansas City, and has been in business for over 35 years by Debby and Steve Welch. It has some of the most friendly and knowledgeable staff Mike has met, and it has a massive inventory that spans generations of pop culture. Mike had the pleasure of talking with Debby and Damon and hearing about the history of the shop. A family owned and operated business is always an added touch. Then, Mike is joined by his comrade from across the Atlantic, Greg Stephenson, to discuss Void Rivals Vol 1. Greg is a skilled and professional artist that Mike met in the UK a couple of years ago and is an avid comics fan. His love of comics in general, and particularly comics from the Energon Universe, shines through in this review. Be sure to check out Greg’s Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/gregory.stephenson/ to see some magnificent art and inquire about his commission work! Find and follow A to Z Comics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AtoZComicsBlueSprings and be sure to stop in to visit this marvelous shop next time you’re in the Kansas City area. You won’t be disappointed! You can contact them at (816) 224-0505 and find them at 1300 SW US Highway 40, Blue Springs, MO, United States, 64015. Many thanks to Greg for joining me for the great discussion and to Debby and Damon for their super recommendation of Void Rivals!

37 – Villainous Grounds and Hairball

This episode Mike travels a whole 20 minutes and visits…and no exaggeration…the most beautiful comic shop he’s ever seen. See for yourself in the Facebook post! It’s Villainous Grounds in Perryville, MO, and upon entering the 140-year-old building in the historic Perryville town square, you will feel right at home at the coffee bar, at a table in the nook, or in the second floor Mad Hatter’s Room. And if this isn’t enough, Villainous Grounds has for six years co-hosted the “Heroes for Kids Comic Con,” raising more than $11,000 for regional and local organizations each year for the past two years. It’s not local bias that has Mike raving about Villainous Grounds…every bit of the praise is well-earned. And the owners, David and Mary Jo, are absolutely inspiring! If you ever get the chance, you will be as amazed as Mike at the atmosphere and customer service at Villainous Grounds, one of the few comic shops where you can get a caffeinated beverage of your choice at the same time as you buy your comics. Mike is joined by the one and only Clinton of the Coffee and Comics Podcast. I mean the choice in cohost made itself. Find and follow Villainous Grounds at https://villainousgrounds.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram. You can contact them at (573) 605-1333, or better yet, visit them at 26 N Jackson St, Perryville, MO, United States, 63775. Be sure to catch Clinton and his podcasts on your favorite podcast feed and follow him on Facebook. Many thanks to Clinton for joining me for the great discussion and to David and Mary Jo for their great recommendation of Hairball.

36 – Fantom Comics and Blue Period

This episode we travel to our nation’s Capital, Washington DC and one of the coolest comic shops Mike’s ever experienced, Fantom Comics! Located on the second floor of a beautiful building in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood in DC, Fantom Comics was everything Mike expected and more! The co-managers, Sarahti and Jacob, were just as charming as the area, and passionate about comics to boot! Their website says it best, that Fantom Comics was established in 2005 with twin goals, to offer a wide selection of comic books and graphic novels to comic book fans, and to introduce this underappreciated yet quintessentially American art form to the public at large. Fantom Comics is an open, inclusive store that welcomes all people, even if you've never read a comic book in your life. So, whether you're a fan who wants to talk comics, a novice who wants to learn comics, or you're just looking for the right gift for the comic book devotee in your life, they are always ready to help. It was a blast to hang out with the fabulously friendly Fantom Comics crew! Then, Mike is joined by comic podcaster extraordinaire, Ian Levenstein! Ian is the host/producer/founder of Comic Timing podcast and was a big part of Comic Geek Speak for years! Find and follow Fantom Comics at https://stores.comichub.com/fantom_comics, as well as on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. You can contact them at (202) 241-6498, or better yet, visit them at 2010 P St NW, Washington, DC 20036. Be sure to catch Ian and the Comic Timing podcast at comictiming.net. Listen to Comic Timing on your favorite podcast feed and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. It’s a top-notch show with an amazing cast! Connect directly with Ian with a version of i_am_scifi on the socials. Many thanks to Ian for joining me for the great discussion on Blue Period and to Jacob and Sarahti for their great recommendation of Blue Period!

35 – Blackbird Comics and Coffeehouse and East of West Vol 1

For this episode Mike goes to the theme park capital of the world, Orlando FL. While it was a grueling trip…delayed in St. Louis airport for 16 hours, then stuck in the Atlanta airport overnight due to wintry weather…Mike finally landed in Orlando 36 hours later and was able to arrange for an interview at one of the coolest comic shops ever, Blackbird Comics and Coffeehouse. Winner of the 2024 Spirit of Comics Retailer Award winner, this shop has a vibe like no other. It’s atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and the owners are the best one-two punch Mike’s ever met. Once you visit, you’ll find it difficult to leave this comic shop and bookstore with a cozy café set in the center of it all! Dave and Candice’s story is unique, and the spirit they imbue into their business is contagious. So, buckle up and prepare your ears for the chat with Candice and David at Blackbird Comics and Coffeehouse! Then, Mike is joined by the inimitable DC Dave, half of the dynamic duo hosting The Monitor Tapes, A Crisis on Infinite Earths Podcast to discuss East of West Vol 1! And yes, Dave had to break out of his routine and review a non-DC comic! Find and follow Blackbird Comics and Coffeehouse their website at https://www.theblackbirdroost.com/, as well as on Facebook and Instagram. You can contact them at (321) 316-4296, or better yet, visit them in person to get the full experience, because this podcast simply can’t do it justice. They are located at 500 E Horatio Ave STE 3, Maitland, FL 32751, just outside of Orlando. Listen to The Monitor Tapes on your favorite podcast feed and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, BlueSky and Mastodon. Their direct webpage is www.themonitortapes.com. It’s a fantastic show! Many thanks to DC Dave for joining me for the fun discussion on East of West Vol 1!

34 – Knight Vigil Comics and Conan the Barbarian 1

This episode, we take a trip south to Dothan, AL, on the Alabama/Florida border. Mike struck gold when he found Knight Vigil Comics. Embedded in an antique mall, this shop has a humble presence, but what it lacks in size and flashiness it more than makes up for in style and old-fashioned comic goodness. The owner, Tim, is a consummate gentleman, has a deep love for comics, and he has a remarkable story. The shop is wall to wall back issue comics and sports some great art all around. Tim also has a significant presence on eBay. So, get ready for Tim and his super story about Knight Vigil Comics! Then, Mike is joined by longtime podcaster podcast editor extraordinaire, Steeven Orr of the Steeven Or Else Network! Steeven has to be one of the most creative people in podcasting. He not only uses his sound editing skills to make every episode of the Roadshow sound as good as it can, but he is also the brain and the voice behind the promos for Roadshow AND the Campus Comics Cast. Considering his love for all things Conan, not to mention the fact that one of his shows is called Hither Came Conan, he was the natural choice for a guest host! Follow Knight Vigil Comics on Facebook and contact them at (334) 797-1389. Explore the multitude of podcasts by Steeven at somanypodcasts.com and follow him on all the social media sites. Also, if you are in the market for a podcast editing service, you simply must contact Steeven at edityourpod@gmail.com. It’s a fantastic service! Many thanks to Steeven for joining me for the fun discussion about Conan the Barbarian 1!