"Have you heard the big news?" It;s a question I've been asking a lot in this past week or so to our regular customers. The concept of big news can be subjective, but I think this is pretty big.

Starting August 29th, Dark Star Books will no longer be selling new, single issue comics or running a comic subscription service. On that date, Super-Fly Comics & Games will open on 134 Dayton Street in Yellow Springs. Super-Fly will be a new, independent store from Dark Star, but will be owned and operated by myself, Dark Star manager Tad Cleveland and Dark Star employee Tony Barry. We're the young, skinny white guys. I'm the one with the beard and glasses. Tony is the one with the beard and glasses also. But he occasionally has different colored hair. Okay, so we're pretty plain on paper, but hopefully you loyal 'Star fans know who we are.

Here's some specifics, from the Super-Fly myspace ( http://www.myspace.com/superflycomics)

"So yes, Super-Fly will be opening its doors August the 29th, which, coincidentally, is the first day of school here in Yellow Springs. Not planned, but some nice serendipity. Serendipity has been the watch word for this entire enterprise, from when Tony and I decided to start this crazy venture, to storefronts we wanted being open, the rented, then finding another (better) one right after. There's the not-really perfect serendipity of the opening day being the Wednesday after I get married, but this is how the cards were dealt and everyone, my future-wife especially, has been very supportive.

"So the nitty-gritty: Super-Fly came about because Dark Star, great as it is, was just kind of out of room. Used books did great. Comics did great. Of course, the book people and comic people never really intermingled, or went to the opposite sides of the store to check out something new, which always made the demographics of the place rather skewed. Tony and I have both always wanted to have our own shop, and then one day it hit us: buy the comic business of Dark Star and open it in its own store. After negotiating with Dark Star owner Mary Alice Wilson, an agreement was made and here we are. Dark Star gets to focus on books, we got to focus on comic books and role-playing games and videos and video games and well, the nerd shit. That's not to say Dark Star is out of the nerd business, they'll still have graphic novels and manga (like any good bookstore should), as well as Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon cards. Of course, we'll have all those things too, but it's a big enough schoolyard for everyone (except Wal-Mart, they can get the hell out). Dark Star will carry back issues, mainly because of the large volume and variety that being a comic shop for 25 years grows. We won't have back issues, but we will have discount sets of comics, as well as 25 and 50 cent comics, mainly because of the volume of comics two guys who have been reading comics all their lives have acquired.

"Super-Fly (named so because, let's face it, it's an awesome name. No relation, but all respect, to Youngblood Priest), is going to hit the ground running. All of Dark Star's new comic product, as well as the comic pull file system, will belong to us (like all your base). We'll have some other surprises when we open as well. things even the most loyal Dark Star customer hasn't seen. That said, we're still going to be new, so there are going to be plenty of areas that we're going to grow into.

"One thing our little shop will have is a lounge for folks to hang out, play games, cards, Magic, Chess, whatever in a nerd-friendly environment. We're going to be expanding on that shortly, but one thing you can never have enough of is places to hang out with cool people. Like we say in the profile, it's not just a store, it's a way of life.

"Ultimately, what Tony and I want to do is continue the tradition of customer service and fun that we had at Dark Star. I've met a lot of great people working their, and I'm hoping that all of those people will be following us over to Dayton street. We also look forward to bringing that service and friendly atmosphere to Super-Fly that so many other comic and game shops lack. It's not a boys club, it's not a tree house, it's a place for everyone, nerd and nerd enabler alike.

"We look forward to the opportunity to hang out with you in our new place."

To reiterate, Super-Fly opens on the 29th. My last day is the 21st, Tony's is the 24th. Dark Star will continue to have Graphic Novels, Manga, trading card games and back issue comics. For more Super-Fly info and breaking news, visit our MySpace (superflycomics).

One of my biggest regrets is that there wasn't more crossover in the book and comic book markets. Like chocolate and peanut butter, these really are two great tastes that taste great together. I love both equally, although you could make the argument that I'm choosing one over the other here. For those of you that consider yourselves book readers and not comic book readers, I encourage you to check us and the graphic novels at Dark Star out. Comics are so much more than super-heroes, and they have as much to offer as your favorite novels. Comic book readers, I make the same plea. I defy you to say you can't find something cool to read at Dark Star. With no hyperbole, I can tell you Dark Star is one of the finest book stores that I've ever been to. One of the great things about a small town, it's not that far to go from one store to the other.

In any case, I hope to see all of you at the new store. I also hope to see all of you still shopping at Dark Star. Working here has been one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs I've ever had.

I'll see you on Dayton Street,
Thacher E Cleveland