New Comic Book Store Brings the 'Fantastic' to Oak Lawn

Another empty storefront is being filled on 95^th Street just in time for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday.

Chimera Comics, already famous in LaGrange for discovering a decent conditioned, No. 1 Spider-Man comic, is opening a second store at 5307 W. 95^th St. in Oak Lawn (next to Congressman Lipinski’s office).

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Oak Lawn entrepreneur and law student Carmelo Chimera, 23, hopes to create a social scene as special as the LaGrange store, where comic books fans can come and hang out, and talk to people of similar interests about the stories they love and hate.

“We want this to be a cool place to go,” Chimera said. “It’s like going out with friends to a bar or restaurant. Our customers want to go out, socialize and have a good time.”

The Oak Lawn Chimera store caters in comic books, graphic novels, Manga, toys, apparel and will expand in other pop culture areas, such as Star Trek and Lord of the Rings.

If you have a cardboard box full of old comic books, bring it into Chimera and staff will let you know if you have anything valuable, like the debut Spidey that a customer brought to the LaGrange store last year, that was eventually sold for $10,000.

“It was stored in the customer’s attic for 40 years,” Chimera said. Most of the time you’re telling people their comic books aren’t worth very much, but when we came to that we’re like, ‘Merry Christmas.’ When you’re talking about the first appearance of Spider-Man [in 1962], it will always be worth something.”

Chimera’s interest in comic books was sparked back in the dark ages of VHS. His dad would bring home comic books and circa-1960s cartoons on video. While attending Brother Rice High School, Chimera worked in an Oak Lawn comic book store and began collecting.

When Chimera and his partner opened the LaGrange store in the depths of the recession, everyone told them they were crazy.

“Yamaha sold more pianos during the Great Depression than any other time in history,” he said. “The world today is a big scary place. People are extremely clever, tough and resilient. They need a place to recharge their batteries and relax. They need a boost to handle all those problems they want to escape from.”

While books and newspapers are transitioning to Kindles and the Internet, Chimera says that comic book aficionados still want the tactile and interactive experience of holding a comic book, no matter if it’s hard cover, soft cover or a special edition.

Most fans—including Chimera—read free comics online as a way to decide whether to buy the print version.

“Generally speaking, I think the successful stories of all fiction is that it creates a universe and a whole sandbox of opportunities,” he said. “It’s not just one story it’s a whole world that captures the imagination. When Star Trek first came out it referenced history and other planets. Lord of the Rings is not just a story, it’s a whole world with its own languages.”

The all-ages store also offers a kids’ section and wants to start holding cartooning classes, gaming nights and other in-store events.

When the doors open this Saturday, Chimera, like thousands of other comic book stores across the nation, will be handing out free comic books for Free Comic Book Day, traditionally held on the first Saturday in May.

Retailers, publishers, suppliers and distributors work together to make certain comics free in an effort to reward comic book veterans and draw in new fans on this day.

“We’ll be hitting the ground running,” Chimera said. “We try to spice it up. We’ll have face painters in the Oak Lawn store on Saturday, and some sort of door prize or raffle. We’ll have it all set up.”

Titles to be on opening day include Superman, the Walking Dead, Sponge Bob and more, while supplies last.

Chimera Comics is located at 5307 W. 95^th St. in Oak Lawn; phone 708-352-1230. The store opens Saturday, May 4. Store hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Follow Chimera Comics - Oak Lawn on Facebook.