CCL faithful, you guys have been AWESOME! Thats what I want to say first and more importantly. I'll try to give a blanket State of the Union here. Bear with me!
Without going into detail about my health issues (We all got 'em), Ive had almost zero success in the last year and half of getting to and from the store because of a physical injury as most of you have noticed/heard.
In the interim, Zack had handled most of the messaging and pulling, while I did my best to pack and ship them remotely. SO much thanks to my longtime friend and co-worker.
Late summer last year, a move of our store and inventory was underway without any direct supervision from either of us, resulting, unfortunately, in a further misfiling of our CCL system (it had major problems post COVID when all of us were working and pulling ) as well as significant theft. We pursued the matter as far as we could, but "missing books" without being able to identify the specific ones wasnt enough so we let it go.
For a myriad of reasons, we had to cut our losses and trust ourselves to carry on. Zack departed Comics MD fall last year due to financial issues on our end (hes still an invaluable asset to me as a friend and to the CCL store also) so Mark has been doing his damndest in the last several months.
Mark and I worked at Big larrys Comic Cafe (half restaurant, half geek store) in the late 2010's before Comics MD returned to a sole entity upon Big larry's closure in 2020, and he (by his own admission) knows nothing about comics, yet stepped up to help me on CCL. Incredible worker and incredible friend.
He's been pulling/messaging/shipping most in the past few months and he and I both thank you for your patience. Its been rocky, we know.... >.>
ANYWAYS, in January this year, Comics MD learned of the Diamond apocalypse, and our distributors were stripped away, one by one, as were many stores who couldnt afford FIVE separate distributors. Last month, when Marvel left Diamond, Comics MD closed down its physical location, and we exist now as a Unit full of back issues.
Heartbreaking but also inevitable due to all circumstances. Its life! No problem.
This site has been largely my sole source of income for several years now because of the decline of the retail store anyway, as my employees have worked off of what I'd consider a pittance, while the store died a slow death. Any criticism of service, listing, messaging, or packing should be directed at me. I've been blessed with awesome friends and "coworkers" to cover for me.
All this isnt meant to be a downer, as I'm personally feeling better than I have in months and want to get back to listing and engaging with the community here on CCL. The loss of the retail store (which dates back to Comics MD in Accokeek Maryland in 2001 and in many ways, BEETLE COMICS of Waldorf Maryland from the late 80's) pains me both emotionally and financially, but Im committed to continuing our CCL store for the longterm future.
im currently listing the last of our new-release books from Diamond as well as overseeing the packing/pulling of our delinquent orders. There;s still a storage bin full of back issues to dig through.
Thanks to ALL COMICCOLLECTORLIVE Users.
Special Thanks Steven Boyd for saving the site and his eternal patience
Even more special thanks to the Comics MD faithful (as many as I can name)
POTTERSAN
DOMINICROCCO1975
CYUAN
LEVERAGE
LONGBOXENT
THE_BROTHERHOOD
BXITCHWXISTS
RONS717
THE_VALIANT_ONE
CALEB
WESTCOASTSCARFACE
BWILLY
NKURTZ
WRAITH1978
US99FAN
HUNTER255
ANDREWTROTH
STUMAN1
ALPHACOMICS
DEVILDOC
JASON RVS
AHILL16
CHESTERGV
JACKOFALLTRADES
LWJUSTIN
SFHEROBOY
AVENGERSFAN2
LWJUSTIN
RTMODE
CHESTERGV
GRATOM2
XYZWISE
Thank you all, and the rest I couldnt list. Ill be continuing to list back issues as fast as I can. I appreciate everything all of you have done for Comics MD, and my personal Health.
James
6/30/2025 1:39:53 AM