“When I moved here last year and noticed there wasn’t one around, it kind of made sense,” said LeVick. “It’s close to home and I noticed Hamilton is supporting local businesses. I liked the opportunity to grow with the city.”
The new business is offering scores of new titles from various comic book publishers including DC, Marvel, Image, Valiant and IDW, as well as a growing back catalogue of collectible comic books at reasonable prices, some of the same as when the edition was first published, as well as a selection of older editions for 99 cents each.
The store also offers toys, gaming and interactive events and contests, including Dungeons & Dragons, which is planned to launch in several weeks.
“We’re actually going to have workshops geared toward people who have never played it before or people who haven’t played in years and are looking to get back into it,” LeVick said.
LeVick’s even worked with an old box of beat-up comic books that he “just couldn’t throw out,” letting his wife Marnee show off her artistic talents by turning each battered edition into one-of-kind coasters, magnets, bookmarks, notepads, bracelets and pendants.
There’s a reading nook toward the front of the store to allow customers time to peruse their just-purchased titles. The store even plays comic-book-movie themed music to enhance the whole in-store experience.
“From the 1960s Batman blue on the walls to painting Batman (himself), to the music, I wanted it to feel like you were jumping into a comic book page and just enjoying the experience,” he said. “I really wanted to make it more inviting than what people are used to normally.”
The opening of Future Great Comics comes at a time when interest in comic book heroes is surging, LeVick said.
“Five years ago, comic book stores were barely making it,” he said. “With (CBS comedy) ‘Big Bang Theory’ and big superhero movies, it’s kind of made comic book stores a profitable business.”
LeVick said he wants to be part of Hamilton’s revitalization efforts and offer something with an environment that would be welcoming to families looking to do something together.
Future Great Comics is also highlighting a different area comic book artist each month.
"They could be the next big Marvel or DC artist," he said. "They might need that break, especially when you never-know-who might walk through these doors especially with Hollywood doing so much filming (in Hamilton), but it also gives them a good outlet, (and) some positivity in Hamilton."
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