Mike's Comic Shop Roadshow

HI-SEAS (The Hawai‘i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) is an analog space research station on an isolated Mars and Moon-like site on the Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawai‘i at approximately 8200 feet above sea level. And on this episode of the Road Show, Mike is nearby on the island of Oahu at 808 Collectibles.

This comic shop is small but has huge heart, and the owner Art is a super guy. Plus, he has a very interesting story of how he got started.

Meeting Art was a great experience, and his story is inspiring. Be sure to stop in at 808 Collectibles the next time you visit Hawaii and experience it for yourself!

Enjoy the interview with Art and then join Mike and his co-host, Shag Matthews of Fire and Water Podcast Network fame, as they discuss Art’s recommendation: Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade!

A big thanks to Art for letting me hang out with him!

You can find 808 Collectibles at 945 Kamehameha Hwy # 10, Pearl City, HI 96782, (808) 230-5980.

Explore the multitude of podcasts by Shag Matthews at http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/. Follow Fire and Water on X @FWPodcasts and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FWPodcastNetwork.

A big thanks to Shag for joining in on the fun!

For the Mars Perserverance Rover landing, researchers studied salt crystals in the Utah's Great Salt Lake for a method to detect ancient microbial life. And speaking of Utah, Mike visits Dr Volt's Comic Connection for episode 11 of the Roadshow.

On this episode, join Mike as he returns to his home away from home, Salt Lake City. Dr. Volt’s Comic Connection was his hometown comic shop and Saturday hangout for 3 great years.

Despite being under new ownership, the welcoming spirit of Dr. Volt’s is as strong as ever. Jeff is the manager, and he has done some great things with the shop. It’s open, airy and nicely lit, and just chock full of awesome stuff.

As the oldest comic shop in Utah, it’s been supplying collectors with comics, toys and games for over 30 years!

Catching up with Jeff was a blast, and that sentiment will hopefully show through when you listen to the interview. Be sure to stop in at Dr. Volt’s next time you visit Salt Lake City!

So please listen to the interview with Jeff and then join Mike and the dynamic duo of Professor Alan and Em Middleton, of Relatively Geeky Network fame, as they they passionately discuss Jeff’s equally passionate recommendation, Hellblazer, issues 41-46, Dangerous Habits!

A big thanks to Jeff for letting me hang out with him!

You can find Dr. Volt's Comic Connection at 2043 E 3300 S, Millcreek, UT 84109, (801) 485-6114 and [email protected]. The official website is https://drvolts.com/ and you can follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DrVoltsComics.

Explore the multitude of podcasts by Prof. Alan and Em Middleton at http://relativelygeekypodcast.blogspot.com/ and http://dorknesstolight.blogspot.com/. Follow them at https://www.facebook.com/relativelygeeky/ on Facebook and @Relatively_Geek on X. And please drop them a line at [email protected] to tell them how much you enjoyed their conversation.

Big thanks to Prof. Alan and Em for joining me!

Did you know that Region 6 of the Military Auxiliary Radio System, aka MARS includes Texas, and that is where Mike happens to be for this episode of the Roadshow.

This episode features a wonderful comic shop in the far southern tip of Texas. It is named The Comic Cave, and is located in the heart of the Sunrise Mall in Brownsville, TX where it gets an amazing amount of foot traffic. The Comic Cave has everything you might expect at a comic store, and they do it with style and a welcoming attitude.

The founder and owner is Bill Taliancich, who is one of the nicest shop owners I have met. His demeanor is reflected by the staff as they are super welcoming to everyone that comes in. In fact, his one word description of the Comic Cave is “welcoming”.

Meeting Bill and his staff was fantastic, but do not just take Mike’s word for it...listen to this interview with Bill and then join Mike, Scott and Shaad as they discuss the recommended book, Cowboy Bebop: Supernova Swing. And be sure visit The Comic Cave next time you get the chance!

A big thanks to Bill for sharing his time and telling his story!

Be sure to visit or contact The Comic Cave at 2370 Frontage Rd 83 Suite 1522, Brownsville, TX 78521, (956) 372-1042 and at [email protected].

Follow The Comic Cave follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheComicCaveSunriseMall/, thecomiccave1 on Instagram and @thecomiccave on Twitter.

Mike might not be from Mars and Matt might not be from Venus, but this episode of the Roadshow is out of this world.

This episode features a great comic shop in St. Charles, MO, a suburb of St. Louis and very close to my home stomping grounds. Its name is STL Comics, Toys and More, and wow . . . More is an understatement in all of those categories.

The founder and owner is Eric Meyer, who describes the shop as a place to relive your childhood, with a ton of nostalgic appeal.

Listen to this interview with Eric, and then join Mike and longtime friend and founding member of the Campus Comics Cast, Matt Martin, as they review volume 1 of Bill Willingham’s Eisner Award-winning Fables.

A big thanks goes to Eric for sharing his story!

Be sure to visit or contact STL Comics at 4117 Old Hwy 94 S, St. Charles, MO, (314) 537-9971, and [email protected].

Check out STL Comics online at: http://www.stlcomics.net/ and follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StlComics/

Find Matt @wookieecopilot on just about all of the social media platforms you can find.

Many thanks to Matt for helping reviewing Fables, one of our favorite books!

Also, a big shout out to Steeven Orr of Steeven Orr Else Podcast Services. This is a great service folks. For all of your podcast editing, mixing and cleanup needs, he’s your guy. Find him on all the standard social media locations.

To quote Mark Ronson and featuring Bruno Mars, "Julio, get the stretch, Ride to Harlem, Hollywood, Jackson, Mississippi." Not sure if the Atch-Attack had a stretch limo for the visit, but he did stop in at Offbeat.

On this episode, like Johnny and June, the Roadshow is going to Jackson. Jackson, MS, that is, and unlike Johnny and June, the fire has not gone out...in fact, this comic shop has the Roadshow all fired up!

This episode's featured shop is OffBeat, one of the most unique and inspiring comic shops Mike has been to.

The founder and owner is Phillip Rollins AKA DJ Young Venom, who describes OffBeat as an “Alternative Culture Store” and a refuge. It is Mississippi's only Black-owned record and comic book store and also serves as “an art gallery for young minority artists and a venue for up and coming musicians, comedians, and poets of all ages. In short, a space for people to be themselves.”

Listen to Mike's interview with Phillip, and then join Mike and a very special co-host, Peter Rios from the Daily Rios, as they review Eisner Award-winning Rob Guillory’s excellent first volume of Farmhand.

Next time you are “going to Jackson”, you really must experience OffBeat...it has Mike's highest recommendations! A big thanks to Phillip Rollins for giving the Roadshow the chance to hear your great story!

Be sure to visit or contact OffBeat at 109 North State St., Jackson, Mississippi 39201, (601) 376-9404, and [email protected].

Check out OffBeat online at: https://www.offbeatjxn.com/ and follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Objxn.

Follow Peter on his podcast adventures at https://thedailyrios.com/. You’ll find his shows on Apple, Stitcher and other podcast clients. Follow him on Twitter @peterjrios and on Instagram @thedailyrios. You can also contact him by email at [email protected].

Many thanks to Peter for joining me and reviewing Farmhand by Rob Guillory!

Did you know that the St Louis Science Center has a Mission Mars exhibit? And while you are in St Louis, you should check out All American Collectibles.

In this episode the Roadshow returns us to the Gateway to the West, grand old St. Louis, and Mike's hometown shop, All American Collectibles!

The owner is David Schmidt, and he is not only a friend, he has few peers when it comes to comic knowledge...from the Golden Age to the present, and the success of his shop shows it.

Join Mike as he interviews Dave, and then as an added bonus, join Mike and a very special co-host, Eric from the Longbox Review, as they wax rhapsodic about the outstanding Archie Goodwin/Walt Simonson Manhunter series reprinted in many editions, but particularly the Deluxe Edition recommended by Dave. This series was originally presented as backup stories in Detective Comics issues 437 to 443.

Mike highly recommends the next time you are in St. Louis to visit All American Collectibles, and like Judy Garland sings, “Meet Me in St. Louis!”

Check out All American Collectibles at: http://www.allamericanstl.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063801750422

Find Eric and all of his adventures at https://longboxreview.com/, https://www.facebook.com/longboxreview, on Twitter @Longboxreview, and longboxreview on Instagram and many other social media outposts!

Many thanks to Eric for joining me and exploring the rich history of Paul Kirk, Manhunter!

If you think the planet Mars is read, you should have seen Mike's face after he returned to the balmy climes of Panama City, Florida to a shop that nearly has it all, just like the name implies. New and back issue comics, statues, and all kinds of geek culture merchandise. The shop has a large gaming area in the back, and they have supplies galore.

The owner, James Finlayson, is not only a successful business owner, but he’s also one of the most passionate comics fans you will meet.

You are truly missing out if you do not stop in when you are in Panama City!

Join Mike as he interviews James, and then hear the Campus Comics Cast crew as they “chew the cud” over James’ recommended book, volume 1 of the Eisner and Harvey award-winning Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory.

Check out Arena Comics and Gaming at: https://www.facebook.com/ArenaComics/.

It isn’t Mars the god of war; it is Mike the king of podcasts (at least this one anyway.) On this episode Mike steps into a wonderful comic shop where all your wishes come true, Emerald City Comics, and chats with co-manager Adrian, who handles the games part of the business, but sure knows his comics.

Next to Mile High Comics, this is the biggest comic shop Mike has been to. It is amazing! Join Mike and Adrian and get the virtual tour of this awesome comic shop. Then, as an added surprise, welcome back an old Campus Comics Cast host, Dan Brown, as he imparts some of his encyclopedic knowledge on not only Invincible, but Image Comics and the comics industry as a whole!

Check out Emerald City Comics at https://emeraldcitycomics.com and https://www.facebook.com/EmerladCityComics, and find them on Instagram and TikTok as well.

Find Dan Brown @detective651 on Twitter, Instagram, and TeePublic, and Comic Plug on YouTube.

Ready for a giant-sized team-up between Mike, Scott and Shaad? Ready for giant-sized action in this Marvel Treasury Edition? Ready for giant-sized exuberance from Comic Emporium’s self-proclaimed associate geek, Alex? Well, you are at the right place!

Join Mike as he interviews Alex at the Comic Emporium, and gets the grand tour of this cool comic shop. Then hear the Campus Comics crew’s thoughts on the book Alex recommended, Marvel Treasury Edition #9 - Giant Superhero Team-up!

Check out Comic Emporium at: https://www.facebook.com/comicemporium

If you thought one episode covering a comic shop in Australia was enough, you thought wrong.

In episode 3 of Mike’s Comic Shop Roadshow, we meet Jason, the owner of the appropriately named The Comic Shop, in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia. Join Mike as he interviews the affable Jason and then hear the Campus Comics crew’s thoughts on the book Scott recommended, Beta Ray Bill: Argent Star by Daniel Warren Johnson.

Check out The Comic Shop at: https://www.thecomicshop.net/ and at https://www.facebook.com/theComicShopLiverpool/

For some photos of The Comic Shop and lots of other content, go to: https://www.facebook.com/campuscomicscast

So now, join Mike and Beta Ray Bill beyond the orbit of Mars in this episode of Mike's Comic Shop Roadshow.