A customer peruses the comic racks. Photo by Darren Castro
Everybody needs a hero.
The decision to move away from selling comics by longtime comic book shop Vector Books in the Bayonne, New Jersey area was a painful punch to the heart of the city’s devout superhero following. What was once a thriving market in the 90’s now struggles to survive in the face of digital distribution, iPads, games and movies all taking the medium’s characters to bigger and wider audiences. This has left fans of the old brick and mortar stores with a dilemma as comic book and trading card shops (often one and the same these days to help bolster sales) face tough competition from the Internet Age.
Father and son browse the DC Comics section. Photo by Darren Castro
Manifest Comics looks to fill the gap left by Vector and other long-gone shops such as Bayonne Comics by being leaner and smarter than the stores of old. Located on the second floor of an apartment complex between 33rd and 34th street on Bayonne’s Broadway district, Manifest is a humble little shop that seeks a more intimate connection with its customers.
From card game jockeys to comic book aficionados, Manifest hopes to excite the city’s fanbase with special product launch events that let the people of Bayonne enjoy their much beloved hobbies with familiar friends who have been through all the unfortunate closings of the past.
Owner Michael Chen with a customer. Photo by Darren Castro
Owner Michael Chen is not afraid of the digital age encroaching on traditional shops. “I wanted to make sure that people could have a place to hang out,” says Chen. “People buy their books online because they don’t have a place like this.” Manifest has a spacious area with couches, tables and chairs to facilitate both comic readers and card players.
Chen says, “I know how much a comic shop means to a community. There’s something really visceral about holding really great art in your hands.”
