 Company: ZEUS COMICS
Owner: RICHARD NEAL
Established: 2000
Contact: 3878 OAKLAWN AVE, SUITE 100E
DALLAS, TX 75219
Type: COMIC BOOK STORE
Instinct: How did you get started?
Richard Neal: I had my first mid-life crisis seven years ago. I say first because I was only 29 at the time. I was in a career that held no excitement or passion for me. I decided to follow what I love, so the inspiration for a comic book store was easy. There are a lot of folks out there who want to open a comic book store. Opening one is simple. Keeping it open is hard. My biggest advice to folks that want to do it? Don't spend all of your capital in the first year. Comic buyers are loyal to their present shops. Plus they're accustomed to stores opening and closing fast. You need to be financially prepared to last a couple of years.
Do you remember the first comic that you read?
It was the now infamous body switching issue of Justice League of America. My parents and I were on a road trip so they grabbed a couple of comics for me to read on the drive. I was hooked.
What separates you from your competition?
I worked to build a store that didn't look like someone's garage. Zeus has custom wood fixtures gallery lighting and tiled floors all in a brightly colored box. The real key is the relationships you build with your customers. It feels like every day at Zeus, I'm throwing a party and inviting friends over. I blame everything I've said so far on the gay gene. It's that extra attention to detail that sets Zeus apart.
It certainly helped win you the 2006 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award--the Oscar of your industry.
When we traveled out to San Diego, we had no idea of the outcome. It hadn't been determined at that point. Let me say that Comic-Con is overwhelming. It's like Comic Mecca. I don't know if it was the nerves in anticipation of the Eisner awards, but I was in a daze the first few days. The night of the ceremony, when they got to the retailer award, I put on my game face. I was ready to clap for the winner. Then they called out Zeus. Everything in head went right out. I don't know what happened next. I remember my partner Chris kicking my chair and saying “get up there!" Suddenly I was on stage with lights and people and an award in my hands. I said, “I sell your comics books. I love what I do. Then I squealed and ran off the stage.
How did it feel?
It's a lot of hard work what I and other retailers do. It was good to bring this home to everyone that has put so much love and energy into Zeus. The staff, the comic talent, and the customers--all of whom are friends now--the Eisner award is for all of us.
How does Zeus support local and yet-to-be discovered creators?
We carry a tremendous amount of local and independent work. Anybody who walks in with a comic or mini-comic gets shelf space at Zeus. In addition to the basics, we also host our own free comic book day event, CAPE. Aspiring and professional comic talent get a free table to show off their work for fans and new readers. The evening of CAPE we also host a live art show with a DJ in a local watering hole. Giant matte boards, paint, markers, music, comic artists--it's an amazing experience to watch the comic artist jam before a crowd like rock stars.
Is that the key to success? If you're bored on a Saturday night, go to Zeus Comics?
Ha! Any reason for a good party. Mine just happens to be a comic book store. Zeus is my social outlet. I've made so many good friends. I'mm watching new love. I'm watching new parents. I'm watching kids grow up and adults become kids again through comics. This is my home that I get to share with everyone.
Know a gay-owned business we should feature? E-mail business@instinctmagazine.com!
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