What a year to celebrate 30 years in business! Carol and John’s Comic Book Shop, like many other businesses, have been required to think creatively and adapt quickly in response to the global health crisis. John Dudas, owner of Carol and John’s, explained how the shop has shifted inventory to get their fans new reading material. For the last couple of months, there have been no new comic books released, so they have added their staff’s favorite graphic novels to encourage customers to explore new works and authors.

What is a graphic novel? A graphic novel is a subgenre of comic books meaning they are written and illustrated in the format of a comic book. It uses text, images, and word balloons to tell the story. Graphic novels have always been around, think back to the days of Archie Comics, Garfield, Calvin & Hobbes, and Peanuts.

For decades parents, educators, and librarians shied away from encouraging or purchasing comic books or graphic novels to help aid in reading. Luckily, there has been a shift. Graphic novels are now accepted and encouraged as reading material. Jamie Laurver, the librarian at the West Park branch of the Cleveland Public Library (CPL), agrees that early readers love the graphic novels. For those who may be looking for new reading materials for their children, Jamie has shared some of the most popular series. Disney stories, Disney Princesses, Lego Friends, and Star Wars fly off the shelves. Grade school readers check out DC Superhero Girls, Minecraft, Pokémon, Star Wars, Baby Mouse, Dork Diaries, and Manga (Japanese comic books). Riverdale, Harley Quinn, and Marvel Avengers are series that junior high and high school-ers check out frequently. John Dudas has established a strong reputation in the comics and graphic novel community, so much so that the shop serves as the vendor for the periodicals division for CPL and Cuyahoga County Library Systems and advises in ordering their comic publications.

Why think about checking out graphic novels? Graphic novels can motivate kids and adults to read, encouraging the unmotivated, apprehensive reader to pick up a book that is colorful with simple text block, and even includes their favorite characters. Those challenged with learning disabilities or delays find the illustrations helpful to match the words to the story unfolding. Graphic novels are also helpful to those learning English and can help sharpen their proficiency.

Just like many great comics, Carol and John’s has its own origin story. John’s grandfather, a Polish immigrant, lived in the Slavic Neighborhood and used comic books to learn English. John remembers vividly their family visits and reading from his grandfather’s collection. The true turning point in John’s obsession with comics was in 1976, when four-year-old John’s mom, Carol, took him to the Super Friends Water Show at Sea World. He was hooked and purchased Superfriends Treasury Edition. A 12 foot mural, created by local artists, of the Sea World show, hangs in the shop. After his grandfather passed away, John received his comic book collection. Using his lunch money to add to his collection, John became a frequent customer at the comic book shops in his Parma neighborhood. At the time, Pearl Road was home to several stores. With his knowledge, he landed a part-time job at North Coast Nostalgia, one of the comic book shops in Parma. Four years later, his mom Carol was hired as the bookkeeper in the shop. At the age of 11 years old, John was traveling out of state to assist the owner with comic book conventions. In 1984, John traveled out of the country for the first time to Toronto for a large comic book convention.

In 1990, both he and Carol were laid off. With a collection of 56 boxes of comics, they decided that John’s collection could serve as a start-up inventory for their own shop that opened on October 28, 1990. Easy access to all major high-ways and Lorain Avenue made Kamms Plaza a prime location. The store was named Carol’s Comic Book Shop – since John was so young when they opened. In 1992 when they updated the name to Carol and John’s Comic Book Shop. The shop’s annual Free Comic Book Day in May has historically brought thou-sands of followers to West Park for a weekend of events. Carol’s strongest memory of being a shop owner is of the first Comic Book Day in 2002. She ex-plained, John, like anyone hosting a large event, said out loud, “I wonder if anyone will show up?” Carol said she walked out of the store followed the line of people all the way to Gene’s Place, turned left, and then headed north up Rocky River Drive, where the line stopped at Oxford Avenue. Carol went back to the store after talking and chatting with the frequent shoppers and new customers and told John, “Don’t worry, I think people will show up.”

This year, because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the day is postponed, but true to spirit Carol and John’s will not let the tradition pass without notice. With any purchase, customers will receive a Free Comic Book Day Can-celled Until Further Notice print.

For up-to-date information on store hours and inventory at the shop visit cnjcomics.com, 17462 Lorain Avenue, 216-252-0606.