In Darkest Night
Jesse | Jul 12, 2009 | Comments 0
The latest installment in the DC Comics Green Lantern series is coming to Edwardsville.
by Jesse Gernigin
Coming into HomeTown Comics in downtown Edwardsville I meet Douglas Diel, owner and comic aficionado. When I first meet Douglas he is dressed casually and talking to customers. I take a few moments to take in Douglas and the shop. The shop is a small space, no bigger than a large living room, and is packed with every kind of comic book and comic book related item, giving it a very colorful ambience. Douglas is dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and is slightly grizzled, the way you expect interesting college professors to be. Douglas is an Edwardsville resident who, like so many local business owners, found himself wanting to return from where to his hometown and bring his passion with him.
Douglas’s passion is for stories is what drew me here today. In a few weeks a story arc will finally be realized in the DC Comics universe that is drawing great publicity, and Douglas is excited about it. Sitting me down, Douglas quickly explains the premise behind “Blackest Night.”
“You see,” he begins, “This will be a great story because it ties in the entire Lantern Core and focuses on the final color in the ROYGBIV color spectrum that the Lantern Core works around.” For more information on the story I suggest you go here.
On July 14 DC will release its much anticipated series on the Black Lantern, and HomeTown Comics will be participating in the release of the story. To create interest and help explain the story to interested readers, Douglas is also giving out a free comic book. The comic gives a quick overview of the story and definitely creates interest in it. DC has, in conjunction with the comic’s release, included a free Black Lantern ring with purchase.
“However,” Douglas tells me, “HomeTown Comics constantly gets new releases in every week. Not just small comics but also graphic novels, t-shirts, and everything related to your favorite stories.”
Before I leave Douglas gives me a tour of HomeTown Comics, taking care to explain to me that comics aren’t just for children. Looking around I understand why. Douglas store is filled with stories and interests for every appetite, and although he carries the usual superhero fare he also populates HomeTown Comics with a diverse range of graphic novels and serials. However, HomeTown Comics doesn’t need my realization to make its point that comics are for everyone. Douglas caters to a large, demanding and diverse clientele that more than well speaks for his point. Worried that you might be overwhelmed at all of the choices available to you? Worry not, Douglas has a MySpace page where he posts reviews and commentary on different comic books in his store.
Douglas’s shop is opened from noon to 7 pm.
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