In a world of digital entertainment options – one comic book store is flying against the trend.
Nostalgia and curiosity are driving fans through KINGS Comics, still wanting the power of their heroes in their hands.
Many stores were afraid they would go out of business when digital first launched a decade ago.
But KINGS Comics owner George Vlastaras says fans keep returning despite the digital revolution threatening to wipe out printed comics.
“We’ve had dark times in the world and superheroes are a way of feeling like there’s something there or someone there to provide a bit of goodness,” George says.
“We’ve had dark times in the world and superheroes are a way of feeling like there’s something there or someone there to provide a bit of goodness"
He says demand for new release and back issue comics, graphic novels and collectibles is as strong as ever.
“It’s difficult to read on a screen. And eventually what happened was everyone started coming back into the comic book stores to pick up something in their hands.”
Young and old visit KINGS Comics in Sydney’s CBD. More than two thousand people attended the store on Free Comic Book Day, held on the first Saturday of May this year.
George is the owner of King's Comics. Source: SBS
George says a growing fascination in super-hero movies has helped grow its comic book audience.
“Superhero movies have been a shot in the arm for us. They’ve been great. It has brought in new customers and they’ve stayed.”
“Superhero movies have been a shot in the arm for us. They’ve been great. It has brought in new customers and they’ve stayed.”
KINGS is now running a monthly reading group for women out of its store.
“It’s everyone, anyone there’s no gender, there’s no age. Ethnic diversity, like I said its anyone and everyone,” George explains.
George has always had a passion for comics.
George's store won the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retail Award in 1996 for its service. Source: SBS
He migrated to Australia with his family from Greece when he was five years old – reading comics helped him improve his English.
“One reason why I enjoy Comics is I picked it up when I was young to learn the language. It was difficult showing up in Australia and going to school the first day and not understanding anyone.”
“One reason why I enjoy Comics is I picked it up when I was young to learn the language".
George started the business as a teenager in the 1980s wanting the extra cash to help him keep his car on the road. He built up the mail order business while studying a degree in engineering.
“In the long run I worked out I could make more out of selling comics than working as an engineer. And it just went from there.”
George opened his first retail store in Sydney in 1986 before moving to their Pitt Street location in 2002 where they now have almost 15,000 comics on their shelves.
The store sells 8,000 comics on average every week and has more than $2 million worth of collectibles stored in an offsite warehouse.
George imports around 10,000 comics from the US weekly to meet ongoing demand.
George's store is located on Pitt Street in Sydney's CBD but will soon be moving location. Source: SBS
He says importing all their comics from overseas can expose the company when turnover fluctuates.
“When the dollar tanked, unfortunately, the price went up and people stopped buying.
"I remember the dollar hitting a point of about 42 cents against the American dollar.
"That almost wiped out the local industry and that’s why cash flow is really important.”
Both George's sons and his daughter have worked at King’s Comics.
His son Angelo says the family business has overcome many challenges to today.
“There were a lot of times when Dad would be up at crazy hours, doing work just kind of getting through everything,” Angelo says.
And George is hopeful the family will keep sharing comic book stories for years to come.
“We’re going to be around for a long time. I think it’s going to be a generational type of business. So we’ll be here for another 40 years if not another 60 to make it around 100.” 
Angelo Vlastaras is one of George's three children who have worked in the store. Source: SBS
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