Local Business Spotlight: Hero Hunter Comics

So you’re on the west side of town and you have a comic book emergency, what do you do? You don’t want to drive to Tunnel road or Woodfin, and everybody knows that comic shop in Candler is only open every other Tuesday from 4:08p.m. to 4:14p.m. right? Not according to Will Hessling, the man who took over ownership of Hero Hunter Comics back in August of 2013. For almost two years now the Candler comic store has been open five days a week and most days eight hours a day, but the short hours rumor still lingers.

When asked about why the store used to be open for such short periods of time, Will had nothing but good things to say about past management. “That was actually one of the main reasons the previous owners decided to hand over the reins. They were extremely busy people, full time teachers and managers, so I was surprised they were able to keep the short hours they did. They did it because they had a passion for it, and despite being open for three hours a day were able to foster an amazing crop of customers, subscribers, and friends which I’ve been honored to inherit. I’ve expanded the hours to 11am-7pm Wednesday-Saturday. You can catch me there on Tuesdays as well, getting the weekly shipment/inventory done, kind of an 11am-? thing, but closed Sunday and Mondays.”

So there you have it. Despite what you may have heard, there is one more place with regular hours near Asheville to get your superhero or Archie fix, but a broader question remains.  Is now really a good time to get into a medium that is seen by some as just for kids? If you’re not reading comic books, SHOULD you be?

“That’s a pretty broad question that I think I could probably pontificate on all day, and then some. In fact, come down to the shop and talk to me about it sometime! Comics, and indeed fiction in general, have been prevalent in pop culture for a long time, and they are often right at the forefront of addressing social issues, but the short answer is yes, it’s a great time to be into comics. I’ve never seen imagination and wonder as childish or silly, but rather engaging and refreshingly honest. From the casual reader who enjoys stories to the most engaged of fandoms, it’s always a great time to be into something you love. The great thing about comics is that there really is something for everyone.”

Hero Hunter comics is located at 1107 Smoky Park Hwy in Candler. If you’re out that way and need some comics, you should stop by. Trust me, it’ll be open.

Do you own, work at, or know of a local business that had a bad rap, but managed to turn it around? Does it deserve a feature to try and dispel the myths and rumors? If so, email me at benny@ashevilleblog.com!

Check out Hero Hunters in this gallery of photos taken on Free Comic Book Day last year!

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