Picture Story: The Comics Place

A passerby admires The Comics Place, a local comic book store, that sells a variety of comic books and collectors items. The Comics Place just recently moved locations, from across the street to where it is now on the corner of Bay street and East Holly street.

Jeffrey Figley, 24, helps a customer in The Comics Place were he works. Figley has worked at The Comic Place for about eight months and had previously been a faithful customer, visiting the store every week when they released the newest books. “Every wednesday I was outside the door waiting to get in before it opened,” Figley said. “It was probably my favorite place.” 

Customers meander the inside of The Comics Place, a store in downtown Bellingham. The Comics Place has recently expanded to a new, larger building, where they are continuing to promote self-expression. “I don't think that the shop should ever be limited to the idea of comic books, I think that comic books are a really great analog for creativity, and self-expression, and sharing yourself, and being genuine, and that’s sort of what super heroes mean to me,” Figley said. “I want that idea to be the store not just a comic shop but a real hub for creativity or open-mindedness.” 

Jeffrey Figley, 24, helps one of the stores younger patrons pay for a few new comics. Figley has been a fan of comic books since he was young himself, and promotes comic books as a means of self-expression. “It’s almost like a life-style. Nostalgic people who are always trying to be kids and be imaginative, trying to create, explore and beat-up bad guys,” Figley said. 

A family walks through The Comics Place, a store that sells a variety of comics and collectables in downtown Bellingham. 

The Comics Place has a large variety of comics, action figures and other collectors items. Located on the conner of Bay street and East Holly street in downtown Bellingham, The Comics Place caters to connoisseurs of comics and comic newbies alike.

Creativity Through Comics

Downtown Bellingham’s The Comics Place, a store selling comics and collectors items, caters to connoisseurs and newbie comic fans alike.

Store manager Roman Stadtler, 45, as well as the only other full-time employee Jeffery Figley, 24, run the store almost entirely by themselves.

Both Stadtler and Figley are big fans of comics having both been raised reading them. In Stadtler’s case, since before he could read his mother read him comics.

Recently relocated to the corner of Bay street and East Holly street, The Comics Place has expanded its size from a small room to a full store.

What keeps the industry alive according to Figley, is people who can pick up a random comic and read it without being overwhelmed by the many years and theories behind every comic book series out there.

“It’s almost like a life-style,” Figley said. “Nostalgic people who are always trying to be kids and be imaginative, trying to create, explore and beat-up bad guys.”

Stadtler and Figley hope to eventually add a lot more to The Comics Place, allowing people to express themselves in a variety of creative outlets.

“I don't think that the shop should ever be limited to the idea of comic books, I think that comic books are a really great analog for creativity, and self-expression, and sharing yourself, and being genuine, and that’s sort of what super heroes mean to me.” Figley said. “I want that idea to be the store not just a comic shop but a real hub for creativity or open-mindedness.”

Illustration

E-Cigarette use spikes controversy as to whether or not it promotes smoking or eliminates it. An ongoing debate has been taking place as to whether or not it is helping or hindering the public, as well as when e-cigs will be regulated by the FDA.

Link to article about E-Cigs: 
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/health/a-hot-debate-over-e-cigarettes-as-a-path-to-tobacco-or-from-it.html

Controlling Motion

Western Washington University alumni, Ethan Leonard, 23, plays the banjo ukulele in the middle of Red Square. “This I have only been playing for about six months now,” Leonard said, “because I bought it in South Korea.” Leonard graduated in 2012, then after taking a year off moved to South Korea to teach english. Now back in the states, he is attending Western’s Anime Club to which he was once a part of as a student.

Emotional/Relationship Photo

Jon Donahue, 18, runs down the walkway with his dog, Toby, at Boulevard park on a sunny afternoon. Donahue has had Toby for nearly four months now after getting him as a puppy. “He has been an absolute blast,” Donahue said. “He’s overall a really happy, energetic dog. I love him to death.”

Environmental Portrait

Francis Nicholas Perry, 34, returns to his bicycle, unchained to a street sign, after having rummaged through garbages around the block. After being asked how old he was, he replied, “My body’s 34 years old, but I feel older because my skull is about 500 years old, it’s partially silicated, it’s glass.”

“Why is that?”

“Some people have a gene where they can have their spinal chord fused back together but some people don’t…”

What makes you happy?

Anthony Masters, 38 (right)
Randie Whittier, 49  (left)

Randie: "Being alive. God does."

Anthony: "Still above the ground. Life itself."

Claire Krause,  19

"I think what makes me happy, or when I notice that I am feeling happy, is when I'm doing something that either betters myself or other people. Happy to me isn't just sitting on a couch, watching, T.V. and being content doing nothing, I feel like it’s doing something new and enjoying it while you are doing it. Whether or not it’s meeting somebody new, or going to a new place, or just doing something that you have never done before that is beneficial to yourself or others."

Cody Anderson, 20 

"Of course piano makes me happy, I love playing my instrument and I love being out here and playing for people. Honestly, I'm very cynical in a lot of ways especially about the world and society, and somehow that makes me happy. Just like seeing the world in a dark light and being okay with that. In my point of view, the world is a dark place and it’s not a depressing kind of thing, I'm not sad about it, it’s like okay, the worlds really shitty, cool. You just learn to accept it."

Katelyn McHarness, 20

"You know, I have a really great relationship with my family, I guess fulfilling my dreams which is pursuing something exceptional, being good at whatever I do, and doing it for work. Pursing my relationship with God."

Madison Kacatin, 22

"Mostly basketball, I like playing basketball, I like to watch basketball, I like to ride my bike. I hiked the Oyster Dome the other day, that was really fun. I like my dog, she's a golden retriever."

Sean Carlisle, 23

"I like cooking. Smoking weed. Being outside. Just seeing something new everyday. Meeting new people. Thinking about being happy makes me happy. It’s a lot easier to be happy than to be upset. You got to think about something specific to be upset about, so if you just don’t let yourself become upset, than you have no other option than to just be happy."