Thunderground Comics & Collectibles: Where collectors congregate and gamers unite

Thunderground
Comics at a Glance

Location: 31 Fairview Blvd

Owner: Roy Kim

Specialties: Comic books,
games, apparel and collectibles.

Interesting Fact:
Thunderground
Comics & Collectibles is
St. Albert’s only specialty
comic book store.

Fans of The Big Bang Theory might say Roy Kim is St. Albert’s very own Stuart Bloom: a helpful store owner who makes sure our city’s Sheldons, Leonards, Rajs, Harolds and Pennys get their -weekly science-fiction and superhero fix. Kim owns Thunderground Comics & Collectibles, a retail store that has cornered St. Albert’s comic book and board game market for over 20 years.

Kim opened his 1100-square-foot store in 1993 with two other partners, who have since left the business. “My partners and I met through common interests. We knew each other from conventions and Comic Fever, a comic store on the north end,” explains Kim. “We all wanted to open a store but couldn’t do it on our own, so we made a business plan together.”

Today Kim runs the store with help from five part-time employees. About 15,000 comics line Kim’s shelves, with new releases arriving weekly. With so many options, Kim offers a subscription service to customers; he explains that customers tell him which titles they want to collect, and he holds them. Subscribing customers simply drop into the store and their comic books are waiting. “Customers have something to look forward to each week and don’t have to worry about their favourite titles selling out,” says Kim.

Although the retail side of his business is important, Kim does much more than sell product, hosting regular meet-ups and tournaments for the games he features in store. For example, customers meet at the store each week to challenge each other at Magic: The Gathering, a strategic card game with a global following. “People come out to trade cards, test out their deck, meet new people and just have fun,” says Kim. “They play in our tournaments to put their skills into use or even just to practice.”

Kim says all kinds of people frequent his store, including teenagers and kids, “There are seven schools in walking distance, so a lot of students come in.” Kim knows many of his customers by name; many have been coming to the store since it opened. “I’m super grateful for my customers and the game community. I wouldn’t be here without them. I’m so appreciative.”

Kim encourages anyone who wants to venture into the world of comics or games to stop by the store. “With comic books, the medium is so creative and so visual. They can do things in print that they can’t in movies. You see the characters’ facial expressions and read exactly what they’re thinking,” says Kim. “As for games, we offer an open environment. People will come to an event just to watch the first time, then will play the next time. Everyone hangs out afterward. People have gotten to know each other.”

So, whether you want to know what Bruce Wayne is doing these days or want to see if you’ve got the Magic touch, Thunderground Comics & Collectibles just might be the place for you. t8n

The first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day! Publishers send free comic books to local retailers to give out to customers. Free Comic Book Day is a big event at Thunderground Comics & Collectibles; it appeals to kids and adults alike.