Gary’s Comics and More is the place for comic book fans

Take a stroll down High Street. Do it.

Once you wander past the rowdy nightlife and bustling traffic, your eyes will become audience to something else – an economic system with personality and charm.

Small shops, a rarity in this modern era, populate the concrete sidewalks.

These are businesses with intention of service and aesthetics rather than the mathematical automation Walmart accustoms us to.

Restaurants with taste, boutiques with inspiration, and oddball establishments usually deemed unprofitable hinge their doors open. And, if you trot far enough, the sight of blue paint and a neon Bat-signal should be noticable.

Such a calling card belongs to Gary's Comics and More, a college town comic book store.

Opened in November of 2004, Gary's Comics hit the ground running with strong public interest.

Gary Loring, owner, cites the excitement as a reaction to his need to genuinely serve the local comic enthusiasts.

As Loring suggests of other comic stores he'd seen, "They were not serving the public."

In result, comic readers migrated to the new business. Local residents and West Virginia University students have supported Loring's business ever since.

The physical store takes pride in its appearance by way of its clean space and favorable lighting. Gary's resembles nothing of the expected comic book store experience.

Product is organized, plain and simple, and the business' employees provide friendly interaction. Loring makes a point to emphasize a personality as well as a sense of care.

"An employee at Walmart probably doesn't know much about what you want to buy," Loring said. "I employ people who are knowledgeable about the product, as well as eager to talk."

This strategy shapes Gary's Comic into not just a place of purchase but also a hangout, or as Loring describes it, "a safe haven for nerds."

The store seems to be the focal point of Morgantown's comic scene.

Walk in on any given Wednesday, and you can expect to see people hanging out by the register.

In the background, some new release will buzz on the store's television set, providing inspiration for conversation.

Organization also plays a big role in Gary's success. The store makes a shopping experience easy with its attractive layout.

For Loring, it is a simple manner of keeping things "easy to find."

"There's already a confusion in comics – numerous titles, an extensive backlog of reading material – so organization is very helpful for interested people coming in off the street," Loring said.

Gary's Comics offers a specialized stock as well. Marvel and DC Comics populate the shelves like any other retailer, but just as easily you can find a volume of Dave Sim's "Cerebus" or the latest issue of "Butcher Baker, The Righteous Maker."

These choices in stock show that Gary's Comics holds concern for a variety of audiences rather than a single, core group.

Comic books are comic books though, no matter the genre or subject matter they present, so for Loring it all comes back to a love for the books.

"I love what comic books do to people," Loring said. "It's a good field, and comics do good things for people. I wanted to be a part of that."