Calum Johnston Appointed to ComicsPRO Board

Retailer Organization Announces More Board Changes

ComicsPRO, the trade organization for comic book specialty retailers, is announcing changes to its board of directors. Calum Johnston, owner of Strange Adventures in Halifax, Nova Scotia has been selected to fill the spot vacated with the resignation of Chris Powell, general manager of the Lone Star Comics’ chain in the Dallas metroplex, effective immediately. Gary Dills, co-owner of The Laughing Ogre, with stores in Virginia and Ohio, has been named Vice-president of ComicsPRO, taking on the post left vacant with Powell’s departure.

"It’s great to welcome Calum Johnston to our board as the first ComicsPRO director from north of the border, " said Joe Field, ComicsPRO President and owner of Concord CA’s Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff. "I’ve known and admired Calum’s work as a retailer for many years and I’m sure he’ll bring new energy and a fresh perspective to the ComicsPRO board. This should also send a message to comic specialty retailers everywhere that ComicsPRO is serious about about representing the interests of all our retailing brethren."

"I'm very honoured to be asked to join the board," said Johnston. "The aims of the group are to help comic book retailers and I will do my best to help the board and the membership anyway I can."

Buying, selling and trading comics since high school, Calum knew at an early age that he wanted to be in the comic book business. After years working as a disc jockey, pressman, graphic designer, bartender among other jobs, in 1992 Calum took the plunge and started his own business, Strange Adventures, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with a second location added in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1995. Operating on the premise that "comics are good and people should read them", Calum and his staff at Strange Adventures have enjoyed some measure of success in sharing that philosophy. Calum received the prestigious Will Eisner "Spirit of Comics" Award for retailing excellence in 2001.

Outgoing board member Chris Powell served on the ComicsPRO Board of Directors for the last four years and was recently named President of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. He said in a statement "It’s become clear in the weeks since I ran for re-election that the stresses of running seven stores and a mail order business during ‘interesting’ economic times, plus being on the Boards of Directors of two non-profit organizations is just too much for me. I will remain an active member of ComicsPRO, available to help out on the mentoring forum and other projects. I love what this organization has done, and am very optimistic about what it will accomplish in the future."

ComicsPRO is the retailer trade and advocacy group comprising 140 members and 180 storefronts. The goals of ComicsPRO are to be the united voice of advocacy for direct market retailers, to provide educational and mentoring opportunities to current and future retailers, and to offer opportunities to reduce some of the mutual fixed costs retailers incur. Information and membership applications are available
HERE!

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FREE Obama variant incentive for New Members!

Contact Amanda Emmert info@comicspro.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Marvel supports new ComicsPRO members with variant Obama comic

Retailers who join ComicsPRO as Full Members can get a hand from Marvel. Marvel made available some first printing variant covers of "Amazing Spider-Man" No. 583, featuring President Barack Obama, This hot, sold-out issue has gone for more than $100 at auction, and retailers who join now can get one for free while supplies last!

Marvel Comics showed their strong support with these books of ComicsPRO, the association of direct market comic-book retailers. ComicsPRO, founded in 2005, has grown to more than 140 members with more than 180 storefronts.

"Amazing Spider-Man" 583 topped the sales charts for an unprecedented
two months in a row, and this in-demand variant was a minuscule part
of the print run, causing high demand at stores across the country.

Carr D'Angelo, ComicsPRO board member, said more than 100 people
jammed into his store on the day of release seeking the in-demand
comic book.

"The inaugural edition of Amazing Spider-Man #583 was wildly popular
at our store and we still get requests so it's great to see Marvel
donating a bunch of these to our membership drive," said D'Angelo,
owner of Earth-2 Comics in Sherman Oaks, CA. "This is a terrific
opportunity for new members to join ComicsPRO and get a highly
desirable product in return. It's just another great way that
ComicsPRO generates benefits to offset the costs of membership."

Marvel is also offering an additional promotion for ComicsPRO members.
"It was a long time coming, but an organization was greatly needed by
comics retailers to help support and grow the industry. We're happy
to show our support for such an important group," said Marvel's Senior
Vice President of Sales David Gabriel. "To further help out ComicsPRO
retailers, Marvel is please to offer an extra $10 discount off the
Marvel Retailer Resource Center, a service that not only provides
retailers with inexpensive websites and marketing tools, but actually
does all the work of updating the site for them. Check out those
details at www.marvelretailers.com."

New full members will receive an Obama variant cover along with their
ComicsPRO Welcome Kit, after ComicsPRO processes their payment and
membership. Stores can get more details about a Full Membership here
http://www.comicspro.org/apply.html#fullmem

Existing Full Members can get a free Obama variant copy with an early
renewal of 2009-2010 dues. Contact info@comicspro.org for details.

ComicsPRO, the Comics Professional Retail Organization, is the
retailer trade group for comic book specialty retailers. The goals of
ComicsPRO are to allow comic retailers to speak with one unified voice
on important industry issues, to mentor new and future retailers, to
work for growth in the comics specialty market and to help reduce the
risks associated with being independent business owners. More
information is available at http://www.ComicsPRO.org.

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