Comicazi offers the public a great place to buy, trade, or sell comic books and various collectibles, as well as participate in special events. — Photos courtesy of Jill Carter

By Angelina Parrillo

On a warm summer day, Comicazi is one of the coolest destinations for comics and collectibles in Davis Square. The storefront beckons passersby with a promise to entertain, displaying action figures and toys for sale by the bunch and an ever-present offer of free comic books.

Inside the store is a sprawling collection of items stacked to the ceiling, all for sale. Shelves and boxes throughout the center of the shop contain multitudes of literature; anything from decades-old superhero stories to new comic editions released weekly. At any time of day, the winding aisles are filled with customers of all ages and interests, first-time visitors and seasoned regulars alike, poring over the unique inventory.

The back of the store features rows of folding tables, often populated by special guests or attendees of after-hours events. The Somerville Times met with Tom Majkut, director of operations for Comicazi, and Jill Carter, store manager since 2016, at one of these tables ahead of a busy workday.

While preparing to sort through a robust new collection delivery, the pair offered insight on the effort behind the store’s daily operations and the history that has heralded 25 years of business and the 2017 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, also called “one of the absolute highest honors in the industry,” by Majkut.

Founded in 2000 by co-owners Michael Burke and Robert Butman, Comicazi began its journey on Highland Avenue in Somerville, located just up the street from its current address at 407 Highland Ave. After gradual relocations, expansions, and a satellite store in Arlington, Comicazi sits firmly established in the small business landscape of Davis Square. Embracing its role in the community, Comicazi often works with other local companies and organizations to, according to Majkut, “produce community events for the sake of producing community events that enrich the cultural atmosphere of Somerville and bring people together from all over the country.”

The store’s annual CaziCon, which took place on June 1st this year, is held at the Somerville Armory. Described as a “home-grown” convention, CaziCon spotlights marginalized voices and identities in the industry with programming that encourages literacy and celebrates diversity. Comicazi also hosts several charity events throughout the year, such as “Battle of the Comic Shop All-Stars” and “Cookie Clash,” two challenge-based events benefiting Boston Partners in Education.

“We’re really fortunate in that people want to participate,” said Carter. In May of this year, Comicazi hosted an estimated 400 customers for a signing event with Fall Out Boy’s Joe Trohman, one of many celebrity visits in the store’s history. For large and small creators alike, Comicazi strives to hold space for collaboration. “People reach out to us a lot to work with us. We do whatever we can make work,” emphasized Carter.

While crowds gather almost nightly for book clubs, tournaments, performances, and more, the business has learned how to adapt and succeed through industry and world changes. Since the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, Comicazi has harnessed growth in its book subscriptions and online selling platform, as well as its in-house comic publisher Bad Kids Press. Carter explained, “We have a diverse way that we source things from collections or from different distributors, and I think that really helped us.”

Furthering its expansion in the present day, Majkut announced that Comicazi will soon be launching an online store. For the first time, customers will be able to access inventory from anywhere, offering an opportunity to sort through the shop’s vast collections and find items that may have been missed in person. 

The store remains open seven days a week for customers to shop or sell their own collections. Fans can stay tuned for upcoming events like Boston ToyCon, held in collaboration with Nick’s Comic Strip, as well as the 25th Annual Comicazi Halloweeniversary, both scheduled for October. Weekly events and other information can be found on Comicazi’s website www.comicazi.com.