One student explores comic culture

I like a good adventure every once in a while.

Given the name of downtown Fredericton’s Strange Adventures, I was expecting an adventure as soon as I walked through the doors on an exceptionally rainy Friday.

The only comic books I’ve ever read have people named Archie, Betty and Veronica in them, so I spent a few minutes browsing the store when I went in. Did you know they make Toy Story comic books? Tucked in the same section as the Archie books, I felt like I was in the 1990’s, but with better hair and without the splash pants that made it into my wardrobe far to often in that decade.

Loud rock music played from a boom box and it wasn’t long before a tall guy in round glasses, wearing a Strange Adventures t-shirt, rolled over to assist me.

***

Aaron Mitton is 39 years old. He’s been working at Strange Adventures for the last four or five months, but he’s been frequenting the store much longer.

“It’s something that I’ve always had a passion for all my life,” he said.

Mitton grew up in Fredericton and started reading comic books when he was 12. His family was on a trip across Canada when he picked up an Indiana Jones comic book. Spider-Man and Warlord came later.

Reading comic books was a different experience then. Mitton would spend $10 on used comic books, read them all and then trade them at a used bookstore in the city.

But Mitton says comic books changed while he was growing up during the 60s and 70s.

“The storylines grew up. The storytelling grew up. It wasn’t just superhero teenage fare anymore…it became more mature, a little bit more sophisticated storytelling.

“But it still kept the kids involved in it, it’s just that as it grew up, it included the 30, 40 and 50 year olds.”

***

I’m not sure about society’s fascination with zombies.

The only thing close to a zombie fascination I had was around 1997 when I spent a weekend watching my Mom try to beat Zombies Ate My Neighbours on Sega Genesis. I don’t think she ever made it past the level where zombies attack you in a shopping mall. The crazy fools were on escalators and everything.

But I digress.

Mitton showed me a board game called Zombies during my tour of Strange Adventures.

Not only do they sell zombie game pieces, but they also sell blue glow-in-the-dark clowns.

“Can you play the game in the dark?” I asked Mitton.

“The board itself is not glow in the dark, just the pieces. It just makes it look cool,” he replied.

I grew up in the era where card games, like Pokemon, and video games eclipsed the popularity of board games.

But board games are in a renaissance right now, Mitton told me.

“People are realizing that they just don’t want to stare at a TV, they just want to participate with other people,” he said.

***

Strange Adventures is owned by Cal Johnston. In addition to the Fredericton location, Strange Adventures also operates a location in Dartmouth and in Halifax.

The store doesn’t just sell comic books and board games. If you want a Spider-Man plush doll wearing a Santa Claus hat or a hammer like Thor’s, they’ve got those at Strange Adventures.

They also have Harry Potter scarves and Barack Obama action figures. I know they don’t have any Lord Voldemort dolls though, because I asked. Mitton thinks they would be popular though.

New shipment comes into the store on Wednesdays, which is usually the big day for the regulars who frequent the shop.

Mitton calls Strange Adventures a “curiosity shop.” Tourists visiting from other countries and parents and their children often come in the store just to look around.

“There’s something for everybody here at Strange Adventures,” Mitton said.

This writer doesn’t really do the comic book thing and only occasionally has the attention span for board games.

But I do like cute cats and Strange Adventures has a comic book about cats. It’s called Cats are Weird.

I guess there’s something for everyone at Strange Adventures after all.