Welcome to this edition of Shop Talk, where we delve into the heart of comic culture by spotlighting the vibrant personalities and innovative approaches of various comic shops in North America as part of our Mad Cave Store of The Month initiative! In this installment, Ana Escalera sits down with owner Mike Kwolek and the vital team of Four Color Fantasies to explore the origins, mission, and future aspirations of this 38 year running comic refuge in Winchester, VA.
Q: Where did the name of your store originate from?
Mike: I wanted a name that hinted at comics without the word comics in it, so I turned towards the printing process used at the time, and the name of the longest comic series. I also wanted something that would roll off the tongue, and since most comics are pretty far from reality, Four Color Fantasies was born.
Q: How did your store come to be in business, and how many years have you operated?
Mike: I was finishing up my Bachelor’s degree in Library Science when the owner of a used book store I had worked at called me up in October and offered to sell me the small comics section she had started. It had started with a box of old comics she had bought, and she had started carrying new books the year previous, but found it too stressful without someone that knew the product. Since I was about to graduate in December with no job prospects, (school library jobs are usually filled during the Summer months) I decided to take a chance and Four Color Fantasies opened on Jan 2, 1987, almost 38 years ago.
Q: What does your store specialize in?
New comics, back issues (over 70,000 different issues), and non–M:TG games.
Q: What store achievements are you most proud of?
Erik: I’m most proud of FCF Covers Literacy, our yearly charity raising money for Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area. We’ve raised over $40,000 since we started in 2019 by auctioning off sketch covers and other art from amazing artists all around the world.
“I’m most proud of FCF Covers Literacy, our yearly charity raising money for Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area. We’ve raised over $40,000 since we started in 2019 by auctioning off sketch covers and other art from amazing artists all around the world.”
Q: What do you hope your store provides to your community, and what is your approach to providing the best experience to your community of fans?
Mike: I always wanted to find a comic store with friendly, knowledgeable staff who were excited to find customers something that would excite them! I want the store to be a community, with every person who comes in being able to be greeted by name by someone on staff after 2 or 3 visits, having something for everyone, and being able to meet all customers at their level – from the long time collector to someone just dipping their toes in the hobby, and being dragged in by someone else with no idea that there is a comic out there somewhere that they would love.
Erik: I’d like to think we provide just that, a community. That’s something Mike has always pushed, even when I was a kid shopping here. Folks can ALWAYS come in and talk about their favorite comics and feel welcome here.
Q: What is the legacy and future of Four Color Fantasies?
Mike: The legacy of Four Color Fantasies will be the family of people we have, all brought together by their joy of comics – reading and art.
Erik: The legacy is what Mike has built here since 1987, an amazing community of people who love comics. I’d like to think that’s what the future holds as well.
“The legacy of Four Color Fantasies will be the family of people we have, all brought together by their joy of comics – reading and art.”
Q: As a member(s) of the industry, what do you hope to see for the future of comic book stores everywhere?
Erik: I’d love for more shops to remember that we’re all fans of comics and you should be running the kind of comic shop you would want to visit. If someone comes in there’s a pretty good chance they’re there because they’re interested in comics. You may disagree on anything else, but you’ve got that at least. Make your customers feel welcome and make them want to come back.
Q: What are your best-selling Mad Cave, Maverick, or Papercutz titles?
Erik: Skeeters did REALLY well for us because of our very first store exclusive cover and having Kevin, Bob, and Kelly in at various times to sign, but it was also just a really fun book.
Q: What are your Mad Cave, Maverick, or Papercutz recommendations?
Mike: Dark Empty Void – Zach Kaplan does killer sci-fi – combine that with psychology and I am all in!
Erik: Skeeters! I love schlocky, gooey, horror.
Angie: The Devil that Wears my Face
Q: Favorite genre and why?
Erik: Horror
Mike: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Realistic, Adventure (shout out to Uncle Scrooge!), Super-Hero – you name it and I’m game.
Q: Who would win in a fight (choose your fighter)?
Erik: The Flash can beat up anybody.
Mike: Well, John Gaunt is my favorite, but I know GrimJack can’t always win…
Q: In your opinion, is there an existing remake movie that’s better than the original?
Erik: John Carpenter’s The Thing.
Mike: With reading one of each comic that we carry every week, who has time for movies?
Q: Hot Topic Industry Take:
Erik: There are too many variants in comics these days, especially incentive covers. 1 to 2 covers, max! Please! Also you should buy our store exclusive cover for Skeeters #1.
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