Games

Oregon’s Dark Horse Comics is closing its last 3 physical stores, launches new games division

ByCOMICALAXY

May 21, 2026

The chain of comics shops, Things From Another World, started as a single store in Bend more than 40 years ago, founded by former Dark Horse CEO Mike Richardson.

The chain of comics shops, Things From Another World, started as a single store in Bend more than 40 years ago, founded by former Dark Horse CEO Mike Richardson. Oregon’s Dark Horse Comics is closing its last 3 physical stores, launches new games division Read More

ByCOMICALAXY

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COMIC SHOP NEWS

More than comics: Inside the Chatsworth shop that turned fandom into family
by Contributing Writer on May 8, 2026
“I’ve been buying and selling comics for over 30 years, and I just never thought it’d get to what it is now,” said owner Julio Galvez.
Comic Books are Helping Vancouver Learn how to Connect Again
by Denenae Tingala on May 7, 2026
Comic books are helping Vancouver learn how to connect again #top .av_textblock_section.av-movtppi6-fa1a71f055ea08bc865d377d106dfa5f .avia_textblock{ color:#919191; } As digital life and AI reshape creativity, Vancouver’s comic community is offering something rare, real human connection. #top .flex_column_table.av-equal-height-column-flextable.av-klhobiz-ff0fe6d683c8f5e51438ad9e0b779c75{ margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px; } .flex_column.av-klhobiz-ff0fe6d683c8f5e51438ad9e0b779c75{ width:17.6%; margin-left:0; } #top .flex_column_table.av-equal-height-column-flextable.av-klhobiz-ff0fe6d683c8f5e51438ad9e0b779c75 .av-flex-placeholder{ width:3%; } .avia-image-container.av-movxz6sf-364c90940fa513eca6c480e50c5e8840 img.avia_image{ box-shadow:none; } .avia-image-container.av-movxz6sf-364c90940fa513eca6c480e50c5e8840 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{ color:#ffffff; } #top .flex_column_table.av-equal-height-column-flextable.av-h4xwuqj-7828bdb8c600e3c121f3ac30ec3d1f28{ margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px; } .flex_column.av-h4xwuqj-7828bdb8c600e3c121f3ac30ec3d1f28{ width:79.4%; margin-left:0; } #top .flex_column_table.av-equal-height-column-flextable.av-h4xwuqj-7828bdb8c600e3c121f3ac30ec3d1f28 .av-flex-placeholder{ width:3%; } Denenae Tingala / May 7, 2026 #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-1a5rhi3-c7b2d82e554d807a697039a97e3389f7{ height:30px; } .avia-image-container.av-movxy6qv-79fa1bdd4d574455bfd5d5f5eccdad28 img.avia_image{ box-shadow:none; } .avia-image-container.av-movxy6qv-79fa1bdd4d574455bfd5d5f5eccdad28 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{ color:#ffffff; } Hank Pattison enthusiastically poses with a free comic. (Denenae Tingala/BCIT News) #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-jim5y3-d569e7f843217e0030eee11e782c5f99{ height:20px; } What’s better than comic books? Free comic books! On a sunny Vancouver day, people were packed inside Golden Age Collectables as Spider-Man posed for selfies, Harley Quinn handed balloon animals to children and long-time comic readers dug through piles of free issues beside curious first-timers. Free Comic Book Day transformed Vancouver’s oldest comic shop into space that allowed for genuine human connection. “People are feeling this lack of community,” said Jeffery Ellis, President of Comicscape Comics Society. “There’s an appeal in just the direct contact of like face to face because you get that tone of voice, you get that eye contact, you get the facial expressions.” The annual event, launched in the early 2000s as a publishing industry promotion, has evolved into one of the biggest days of the year for comic shops. But in Vancouver, artists and organizers say the celebration now represents something deeper than Fandom. Harley Quinn cosplayer Teanna, who was helping out the event at Golden Age Comics said,“Fandom truly brings us closer together” .avia-image-container.av-mow21ua5-3507c7341972d3e107c46b5f5379ccc1 img.avia_image{ box-shadow:none; } .avia-image-container.av-mow21ua5-3507c7341972d3e107c46b5f5379ccc1 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{ color:#ffffff; } Harley Quinn welcomes customers to this year’s Free Comic Book Day! (Denenae Tingala/BCIT News) At Golden Age Collectibles, manager Hank Pattison said the day is about making comics approachable again after years of pandemic struggles and declining in-person gathering spaces. “There’s something really fun about, sort of like with giving out candy on Halloween, just giving out free comics is awesome,” Pattinson said. “Comic books are supposed to be an art form that anybody can get into.” This year’s crowd reflected how broad the audience has become. Parents browsed beside university students, young children clutched manga, and older readers hunted for the newest titles. Teanna also says events like Free Comic Book Day help remove the intimidation many newcomers feel towards comics, “Comic books are not the most approachable thing in this day and age, just due to how extensive the lore is at this point,” she said. “But free comic book day just gives you a really good bouncing off point.” .avia-image-container.av-mow24rhv-f545036a185558ed779286966c6a9220 img.avia_image{ box-shadow:none; } .avia-image-container.av-mow24rhv-f545036a185558ed779286966c6a9220 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{ color:#ffffff; } Free comic books waiting to be picked up by new owners. (Denenae Tingala/BCIT News) At Golden Age Collectibles, manager Hank Pattison said the day is about making comics approachable again after years of pandemic struggles and declining in-person gathering spaces. “There’s something really fun about, sort of like with giving out candy on Halloween, just giving out free comics is awesome,” Pattinson said. “Comic books are supposed to be an art form that anybody can get into.” This year’s crowd reflected how broad the audience has become. Parents browsed beside university students, young children clutched manga, and older readers hunted for the newest titles. Teanna also says events like Free Comic Book Day help remove the intimidation many newcomers feel towards comics, “Comic books are not the most approachable thing in this day and age, just due to how extensive the lore is at this point,” she said. “But free comic book day just gives you a really good bouncing off point.” From the Artist’s Perspective: Across the city at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown, members of Cloudscape Comics Society gathered around sketchbooks, iPads, and unfinished pages during one of the group’s weekly meetups. Founded nearly 2 decades ago, the nonprofit has become an important part of Vancouver’s independent comics scene, offering workshops, publishing opportunities and community for artists at every level. .avia-image-container.av-mow2cyg2-77009ffbedea98a711732d0e8ea11c58 img.avia_image{ box-shadow:none; } .avia-image-container.av-mow2cyg2-77009ffbedea98a711732d0e8ea11c58 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{ color:#ffffff; } A Cloudscape Comics Society banner greets you at the entrance of their space helping you feel like you are entering cloud nine. (Denenae Tingala/BCIT News) “For years and years I didn’t have anyone who I could talk to about comics,” said Owl MP, a new member of the group. “Being in these events and seeing all of these different people working in comics, it’s just… really refreshing because I finally get to be with people who understand me.” Many of the artists in Cloudscape also yearn for that connection. “For me, it’s very important, especially like, I remember, COVID-19 times when you were locked in your house, in your apartment,” said Lukasz Sidorkiewicz, who moved to Vancouver from Poland six months ago. “I don’t find virtual meetings productive. So I really look for this kind of contact.” Parker Juryn described the meetups as a growing support system in a city where creative work can often feel isolating, “In this day and age, it’s more important ever to maintain the in-person contact,” Juryn said. “There is a massive support system going on for people who want to, like, get going into comics.” For Kelly Chen, the Vice-President of Cloudscape Comics Society, that support extends beyond socializing. It allows space for public art projects like ‘Comics in Transit’ Comics that are displayed in Vancouver bus shelters. “Our ultimate goal is to uplift the artists of the scene,” Chen said. She also noted that comics are increasingly entering academic and public spaces. “There’s been a shift of using the comics as a way to bridge the gap between academia and the general public,” Chen said. .avia-image-container.av-mow2hlcg-fd42935edc84eb0116e976989a302501 img.avia_image{ box-shadow:none; } .avia-image-container.av-mow2hlcg-fd42935edc84eb0116e976989a302501 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{ color:#ffffff; } Kelly Chen happily working on their new comic! (Denenae Tingala/BCIT News) “For years and years I didn’t have anyone who I could talk to about comics,” said Owl MP, a new member of the group. “Being in these events and seeing all of these different people working in comics, it’s just… really refreshing because I finally get to be with people who understand me.” Many of the artists in Cloudscape also yearn for that connection. “For me, it’s very important, especially like, I remember, COVID-19 times when you were locked in your house, in your apartment,” said Lukasz Sidorkiewicz, who moved to Vancouver from Poland six months ago. “I don’t find virtual meetings productive. So I really look for this kind of contact.” Parker Juryn described the meetups as a growing support system in a city where creative work can often feel isolating, “In this day and age, it’s more important ever to maintain the in-person contact,” Juryn said. “There is a massive support system going on for people who want to, like, get going into comics.” For Kelly Chen, the Vice-President of Cloudscape Comics Society, that support extends beyond socializing. It allows space for public art projects like ‘Comics in Transit’ Comics that are displayed in Vancouver bus shelters. “Our ultimate goal is to uplift the artists of the scene,” Chen said. She also noted that comics are increasingly entering academic and public spaces. “There’s been a shift of using the comics as a way to bridge the gap between academia and the general public,” Chen said. .av-horizontal-gallery.av-mow2ogm0-50b9fdb59c336dcbf7701b7ac288cb69{ padding:3.75% 0px;; } .av-horizontal-gallery.av-mow2ogm0-50b9fdb59c336dcbf7701b7ac288cb69 .av-horizontal-gallery-inner{ padding-bottom:25%; } Previous Previous Previous Next Next Next12345 Open image in lightbox: Patrick Wong 01 (1) Open image in lightbox: Patrick Wong 01 (1) Open image in lightbox: Patrick Wong 02 (1) Open image in lightbox: Patrick Wong 02 (1) Open image in lightbox: Philip Open image in lightbox: Philip Open image in lightbox: Janice Comics in Transit 2021 FINAL copy Open image in lightbox: Janice Comics in Transit 2021 FINAL copy Open image in lightbox: Alina 1 Open image in lightbox: Alina 1 Comics in Transit by Patrick Wong, Philip Barrett, Janice Liu and Alina Pete. (Kelly Chen, Cloudscape Comics Society) Death, taxes, and the fight with AI Still Vancouver’s comic scene faces growing pressures like AI and threats to their space. Many artists are grappling with the rise of artificial intelligence in the arts. Chen said “99.9999 per cent” of artists she knows oppose AI-generated art because of plagiarism and ethical concerns. Ellis argued the issue goes beyond economics. “I feel like we’re losing something very fundamental to being a human,” he said. “You can definitely see what is real, what is genuine, and what is fake,” Sidorkiewicz adds. “While seeing those AI stuff, I feel that it’s really fake, and it doesn’t have emotions.” Even so, optimism remains strong. “I think the community comics scene in Vancouver has always been strong,” Chen said. “I think we’re just gonna continue and grow.” Vancouver’s comic scene offered something refreshingly analog, people gathering together, sharing stories and trying to create something human.
Stockton community rallies behind comic book shop owner after robbery
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Covering Local News That Matters
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In true West Reading fashion, help showed up quickly. Not just to clean, but to check in and show support.
Free Comic Book Day gets fans into local comic shops
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Alternate Universe keeps comic books super in New Haven
by Yale Daily News on April 10, 2026
The store, which has two locations in Connecticut, is supported by a loyal customer base.
Community rallies after 98-year-old Stockton comic shop owner loses thousands
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Stockton community rallies together to help Al's Comic Shop after break-in
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Al’s Comic Shop in Stockton once again became a target of vandalism and theft this week, resulting in thousands of dollars lost in merchandise.
‘FCBD’: A cryptic sign on a vacant storefront is good news for Oregon City comics fans
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Monstress, Powers, Steel Ball Run and More!
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Full June 2026 DC Comics solicitations: Dream Girls and Absolute moves
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New Middlesbrough comic shop owner doing bit to help home town, and pays tribute with store name
by John Rogan-GAZ on March 15, 2026
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Heroes and Villains — theft case highlights comic shop rivalry
by Jon Moreno on March 6, 2026
A comic shop rivalry with a twist has emerged on the Isle of Wight
Comics Shop Tok
by PublishersWeekly.com on March 6, 2026
Comics retailers are stepping out from behind the counter and in front of the camera as business booms.

GRADED COMICS NEWS

The Authority™ Becomes First Company in the World to Authenticate and Grade Published Comic Artwork
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Page Not Found
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Oregon’s Dark Horse Comics is closing its last 3 physical stores, launches new games division

ByCOMICALAXY

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