Muncie, Ind. — Comic books are a doorway to new and exciting worlds. Full of superpowers, intense action and high-flying fun, they make what would normally be impossible possible. With characters who are larger than life, comic books provide readers with extraordinary adventures. But at Aw Yeah Comics, in downtown Muncie, the owners are working to show people that comics can be much more than that, all while creating a strong connection in their community.
Christina Blanch and Jeff Torres are the owners of Aw Yeah Comics, and together have created an approachable atmosphere for the store. Hoping that anyone who walks into their store will feel welcomed.
“A first-name basis goes a long way with people, just the recognition when they walk through the door. You’re welcomed into a space; it’s just a tremendous weight off people's shoulders when they walk in through the doors. They can kinda forget what’s going on in their own personal lives, or what’s going on in the world,” said Torres.
Whether customers are just looking to start comic collecting or are veteran collectors, Aw Yeah Comics is dedicated to helping. Not only is helpfulness in their nature, but the owners of Aw Yeah Comics engage in meaningful conversation about all sorts of comic books and how they have impacted their lives. One loyal customer, Troy Lenhart, has been going to Aw Yeah Comics for years and collecting comics for longer.
“I’ve sailed the many seas in the Navy and had comic books with me. I took comic books with me into combat zones, and they always gave me a sense of escape, you know. Escape is the best part,” said Lenhart.
For many people, just like Lenhart, comics can do much more than just entertain. The impossibility of the characters in comic books makes them feel more than human, but the situations they experience and the emotions they feel connect them with readers. Blanch, who has a doctorate in education, wrote a dissertation on comic books and scholars. She often used comic books in her classes to connect better with students.
“What’s great about comics is that they’re cultural mirrors, and they’re put out relatively quickly. It gets written, drawn, printed and given to the people. They don’t take as long as novels. They are cultural mirrors, reflecting what’s happening in today's society,” said Blanch.
Greeks and Geeks is a title Blanch gave to one of the classes she taught. In that class, she observed Greek life students who would never ordinarily read comics start to read and enjoy comics. On the other hand, she watched as students who were already obsessed with comics shared their enthusiasm with the rest of the students. Blanch believes that comics were the bridge needed to connect students “who would never interact normally.”
The owners of Aw Yeah Comics believe that comic books provide readers with a way to express themselves that they otherwise wouldn’t have. Connecting the world through the world of superheroes.
Contact Aiden Murray with comments at aiden.murray@bsu.edu.
