Celebrating three decades of bringing comics to life, the comic bookstore at 214 Fairmount Ave., has officially turned 30.

Steffens highlighted that his wife playfully asserts that she was the driving force behind his career in owning a comic bookstore, as it was her suggestion to start the business. Before establishing a physical storefront, they operated Chautauqua Comics for five years from the back of his van, where he transported boxes of comic books and toys while attending various comic book conventions.

Steffens said the initial five years of his soiree into the comic book industry involved a significant amount of trial and error, but it was also a beneficial period.

“I’ve been a fan of comic books my whole life, and at first, I only stocked items I thought people wanted – hard lessons learned. I quickly started carrying merchandise that I wanted and not just what I thought people wanted.

Batman stands next to Al Steffens, the owner of Chautauqua Comics, in front of the comic store located at 214 Fairmount Ave. Submitted photo

After five years of navigating the comic book industry, Steffens successfully amassed sufficient inventory to establish his esteemed retail storefront, which is presently situated at that location. However, the initial years of this endeavor were not without their challenges.

“Two years after acquiring the storefront business, a fire broke out in the apartment above, resulting in damage valued between $50,000 and $60,000,” he explained. “The irony is that there’s a fire station located right behind the store, but at that time, they were rotating their opening schedules.”

Steffens expresses that one of his biggest pleasures in the comic book industry is the opportunity to “talk shop” daily with others who share a strong enthusiasm for the superhero genre.

“I love discussing comic book history and exploring the various characters with my customers and friends,” he shared. “The landscape has evolved dramatically; we now have card games like Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon. I’ve had the pleasure of hosting authors and artists at the store for autograph signings, and we organize game nights featuring Dungeons and Dragons, as well as other role-playing and tabletop games. It’s a great deal of fun.”

In discussing the evolution of comic book sales and the pop culture merchandise market, Steffens highlights significant changes over the years. He notes that during the Golden Age of comic books, narratives centered around World War II were particularly popular. One notable comic book cover from that era depicts Superman lifting Adolf Hitler in one hand and Emperor Hirohito of Japan in the other, showcasing the period’s patriotic sentiments. Another famous cover features Batman with a machine gun, accompanied by Robin, who is ready to feed ammunition into the weapon. This portrayal is particularly striking considering Batman’s character history, as he is typically depicted as opposed to the use of firearms, a stance rooted in his backstory involving the tragic murder of his parents by a gun.

In reflecting on the evolution from the early 2000s to today, Steffens contends that many comic book values are largely driven by speculation.

“Generally, when a comic-book-based film performs exceptionally well, the corresponding value of the comic book tends to rise; conversely, if the film underperforms at the box office, it’s likely that the comic’s value will decline,” he explained.

Steffens, who began his comic book journey with D.C. (Detective Comics) in his childhood, has since transitioned to favor Marvel Comics as his primary reading choice. Nonetheless, the comic book market is diverse, featuring a variety of other publications alongside the well-known brands.

According to statista.com, the comic book market is led by Marvel Comics, which dominates with a robust 35.5% market share. D.C. Comics follow in second place with 25.5%, while Image Comics captures 10.6%. Boom Studios and Dark Horse Comics contribute 4.7% and 4.1% respectively. IDW Publishing holds 3.6%, VIZ Media accounts for 2.6%, and a collection of other publishers makes up the remaining 12.5%.

Steffens points out that even though the industry has seen a lot of changes over the years, some things haven’t really changed at all.

While many movies and comic books have transitioned to digital formats and are downloadable, the majority of my customers continue to prefer having a printed copy in hand, he said. “I’ve seen an influx of my customers’ children and even their grandchildren visiting the shop to pick out their favorite books.”

In an era of social media, downloads, and things on instant demand, Steffens has clearly found his niche.

For more information, visit Chautauqua Comics on its official Facebook page or call (716) 664-2287.