Kamloops store caters to new generation of comic book fans

The door into a small bookstore in downtown Kamloops is like a portal into a superhero universe, thick with the familiar aroma of comic books.  

Displays at High Octane Comics & Collectibles are lined with tabletop games, rare collectibles and models of vintage superhero characters, along with vibrant collections of comics and graphic novels.

Behind the counter is longtime store manager Nick Klie, who is also the author of four comic books. He said the trend for comic books is high these days, and includes a resurgence of high school kids wanting to hold physical copies in their hands.

“I’ve been here for two decades and you see these trends happen,” he said. “The last time was probably when the Marvel movies started coming out. These days, young people are so sick and tired of doing everything on their screens, they want to go out to the store. People want that tangible, personal experience. Phones have their place, but books have survived for a reason.”

Klie’s employee Emily Thibert echoed his sentiment.

“Comic books are big right now, especially a new series called the Absolutes which is part of the DC Universe,” Thibert said. “There are the same characters like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman but the plots have unique twists to them with more depth and relatability. The stories are more engaging to certain people.

“Kids come by with pocket change they’ve saved from their allowances to grab the latest issues. They still want that physical copy and be able to tell their friends about it. It’s exciting to see.”

Thibert said Pokeman cards along with other vintage era collectables are also seeing a resurgence.

“You have a lot of people rediscovering that love and nostalgia and sharing it with their kids, but then you have other people that are scalpers,” she said.  “There is kind of a gambling aspect, it’s that hope of pulling that 500-hundred-dollar card. With collectibles, people are seeing it both as an investment and a passion.”

This month Klie is running a kick-starter for his fourth comic book entitled Life the Necopolis, Six Doomwrecked Knights to generate funds to print it. The comic features the same main character as his first three.

“The story is about a wondering mercenary named Life,” he said. “He always inevitably finds a group of losers to get involved with and they go on some crazy adventure. He gets hired by a princess to go to a planet to battle these things called the six doomwrecked knights who are wandering around collecting talismans for this dead king’s power to unleash some sort of cosmic horror on this planet.

“It’s this kind of fun, old-school fantasy science fiction story.”

Klie creates his comics by drawing them by hand on paper, scanning the copy onto a computer and using photoshop to edit and colour them. Every book takes roughly a year to complete, and all of them are vibrantly coloured.

“Those bright colours are very intentional and eye catching,” he said. “I have a tough time with colour. I apply basic rules of colour theory and use simple contrasting colours that are really bright. I describe it as a toxic assault on the eyes.”

The kick-starter runs until the end of March.

“I’m offering bonuses, stickers and postcards and I’ll sign the comics or hand draw something for my supporters,” he said. “It’s a way to support independent artists to get out there and get noticed.”

Klie suggested other artists take the leap to pursue their own creative passions.

“I think people get intimidated taking that leap, we get ground down and don’t want to try. There’s a community of people out there trying. A lot of people in the community are doing cool things, you just have to find it.”

Go here to see what High Octane Comics & Collectibles has to offer.