It's quiet on these back streets. Almost too quiet.
"Are you sure we're in the right place?" I ask my fiance.
"Google says West Park Street... see that's Jewett so this has to be it."
"...Okay."
Not convinced, I maneuver the car up a street labeled Selwyn Way and we both squint as though that will somehow make this fabled comic book store appear.
Lightning cracks and the side of the nondescript building we are idling in front of is briefly illuminated, revealing painted lettering. "RAH-CoCo!" we exclaim.
We make our way through a tall chain link gate and up the side stairs. A sign reading "Collectables" hangs from the railing, and inside the open doorway we spy familiar signs -- a glass display counter, colorful covers and bindings, collectors cards, character busts, colored pencils, columns of cardboard boxes.
An unseen barking dog announces our entry and we are cautious, captivated.
"Hello!" a friendly male voice calls, and we turn to each other, smile, and return the greeting. This is going to be awesome! Animated conversation commences, in-depth browsing of motley titles is undertaken, and purchases with a generous student discount (20%) are made. We retreat to our vehicle with a stack of trade paperbacks including Gail Simone's Birds of Prey and Greg Rucka's Wonder Woman, with an invitation to attend the Free Comic Book Day RAH-CoCo participates in which happens to fall on my birthday this year.
Okay, so there was no lightning, but the rest is true. If you are expecting this comic book store to jump out and grab you, it's not going to. And Google Maps won't be any help either, sending you up into a residential cul de sac and forcing you to turn around in someone's driveway. RAH-CoCo is actually on the other side of West Park Street, which somewhere along the way got bisected. I've attached a screen shot of Google Maps to help clarify this; the location indicator in Google Maps is what corresponds to their address, but I've placed the Streetview marker on the actual location and included the Streetview image of the storefront.
This is a store for folks who love taking their time, combing through comics and comic detritus. The genial store-owner has resisted mall culture and survived the changing neighborhoods of this city for the last 30 years. The store is not that neat or organized but that's a large part of its charm, and it definitely resists comparing to a rummage sale. Talking to the owner of RAH-CoCo and exploring his store gave me a tangible sense of a comics community and revealed a soul that can't be found at Newbury Comics, making our trip to the back streets of Smith Hill into an awesome adventure. read more