Superheroes on 724

Many folks have a soft spot for a certain superhero. Their serialized adventures represent the best and worst of humanity.

That love affair for these enduring figures is what brings people into Humungo Comics.

"I think it's that childhood passion that most people carry with them," said store manager Brad Lingenfelter. "Most of the guys that we get that are reading comic books either read them as children or want to get their kids into them because they remember when their dad got them into it."

Those customers find a beguiling collection of comic books lining Humungo's  shelves. Located in the King's Furniture building at the corner of Rt. 724 and River/Laurel Road, Humungo is stuffed to the gills with superheroes and stories of all kinds.

"We carry the full range of Marvel and DC including all their kids' comics. We carry three quarters, I'd say, of all independent titles, which actually makes up more titles than Marvel and DC combined," Lingenfelter said.

This dazzling array helps set Humungo apart from other sellers, such as a bookstore or newsstand. 

"Bookstores, they do carry a little bit of comics, but they don't carry what we carry here," said Lingenfelter.

Humungo also offers subscriptions for its customers. 

"Every week we pull around 600 comics for repeat customers that come in," Lingenfelter said. "We do that every week . . .  just as a service for them for coming in and bringing us their money."

So if, for example, a customer wanted Amazing Spider-Man every time it came out, the staff will pull it for them and set it aside?

He nodded affirmatively. "We have 23 subscribers for Amazing Spider-Man every month," Lingenfelter said, rattling off the number from memory.

Lingenfelter and his staff care about what they sell and are willing to help other aficionados and first-time buyers.

"Working here, we have to know every comic," he said.  "We've had customers come in with very specific questions about 'which issue of Superman was it where this happened? ' "

If a staff member can't answer a question, they'll typically research the topic.

"Sometimes it takes a couple days to get (an answer back to a customer), but we usually do (research)," said Lingenfelter.

Humungo also carries various collectable card games and tabletop strategy games that pit players against each other using elaborate cards and rule systems or custom painted miniature armies.

"Kind of like Risk, but much, much more advanced," Lingenfelter said and laughed.

Besides selling the cards and miniatures, Humungo provides painting, modeling lessons and strategy sessions for area players. They can then test those skills on game night.

"We run a game basically every night of the week," Lingenfelter said. "Tuesday nights we do Yu-Gi-Oh (played with trading cards). Thursday nights are pretty much open right now and Friday and Saturday are packed with Magic (card game) and Yu-Gi-Oh." 

The store also runs Dungeons & Dragons games, and there is no charge for people to come in and play.

With a passionate and knowledgable staff, Lingenfelter hopes Humungo provides a unique and satisfying experience for his customers. Store members suggest new titles they think will fall into a fan's wheelhouse, and take suggestions on new comics to carry to heart.

"What we want to carry is irrelevant, it's what our customers want," Lingenfelter said. "And at the end of the day, if they're happy, then we've done our job."