By Lewis Buzbee

When Frank McGinn opened Amazing Fantasy in August 2000, he thought it would take weeks of painting, cleaning and stocking before the comics shop would open. But on the Sunday he took possession of the storefront, Irving Street neighbors poked their heads in to see what was replacing the old Comics and Comix location. They immediately dove into to help: cleaning and painting, whatever it took. One neighbor brought his truck to take away loads of rubbish. On the following Saturday, the shop opened. Community, it seems, has always mattered here.

Named after the first appearance of the Spider-Man character, Amazing Fantasy is a treasure trove for lovers of comics. There are, of course, new release, single-issue books – those bound with staples – along with collections of comics series – much like trade paperbacks.

“There are thousands and thousands of titles,” McGinn said, “I’d never be able to count.”

The shop also carries graphic novels, toys, T-shirts, model kits, hats, keychains, Pez dispensers, stickers, etc. If you are just browsing, there are a host of collectible props on display: hanging inflatables of Wolverine and Spider-Man, Iron Man and Thor helmets, Superman’s cape, Captain America’s shield.

“Locals often bring out-of-town visitors just to see the props,” McGinn said. Amazing Fantasy is one of the last shops in San Francisco to sell used comic books. It is never just about commerce, however; community remains central. When the shop’s regulars meet up here, “they gather and talk comics,” McGinn said. “They love talking comics.”

It is a community that continues to grow.

“I’ve had customers who were kids then had kids, then those kids had kids. Generations,” McGinn said.

The community that gathers today started many years ago, when Frank first started working at the Comics and Comix chain’s Lombard Street location in 1982. When he became manager of the chain’s Irving Street storefront in 1985, many of his customers followed him there and continued to stay loyal after it became Amazing Fantasy.

Bob Torbensen and Kevin Tom are two of these regulars. Torbensen became a fan of comics when he read a Tarzan single-issue in 1964; Tom became a fan in 1973, when a buddy casually asked him to stop at a comics shop in North Beach, where he bought an issue of The Eternals. Though Torbensen and Tom no longer live in the City, they drive up from the Peninsula every other Wednesday to buy new releases (Wednesdays are officially new release days) talk comics together, then go to dinner with McGinn and a few other regulars, up to 10 at a time. This tradition has lasted almost 30 years.

Robin Williams was another such regular, also following McGinn to Irving Street. McGinn always did his best to put space around Williams, so he could shop in peace. But when he was done, Williams would happily sign autographs and, of course, crack everybody up.

Stan Lee was another long-time patron of the shop.

The community continues to grow. Eric Garcia, along with his father Ray, started coming to Amazing Fantasy this past February. Eric bought his first Spider-Man collection and since then has gathered some 300 books.

“I’ve seen some of the movies,” Eric said, “but I really prefer the books. The art is so good, and you can take your time to enjoy it.”

A lot of Amazing Fantasy’s younger customers, pre-teens and teens alike, often come first to purchase Manga, Japanese comics in graphic novel format, but then begin to branch out.

“Last week I saw these two young kids, a boy and a girl, on their knees going through the back-issues boxes,” McGinn said. “They didn’t know each other and were too focused to even notice. They were finding these old comics and buying them. It was great.”

Amazing Fantasy’s customers are not what one might imagine, rather a surprising diversity.

“All ages,” McGinn said, “About 60% men, 40% women. There are so many types of books these days, from classic superheroes and horror to fantasy and romance, there’s always something to discover.”

When asked if he regrets taking on the burdens of small-business ownership 26 years ago, McGinn said, “not at all.” He does have his own collection at home but considers the store his true collection.

“I’ve always loved comics and still do,” McGinn said. Like many of his customers, McGinn started young, at eight, when he purchased “Silver Surfer #18.” It was his love of reading comics that led him into the business of them. During college, he got into debt some $500 to his twin brother, so he took a part-time job in a comics shop, planning to do it for only a few months, to pay his brother back. But he immediately became passionate about the business end of the art form and never looked back.

Recently, McGinn started taking off a second day every week. That first Thursday off affirmed his passion.

“I spent the whole day listening to music and reading comics,” McGinn said. “What’s not to like?”

Amazing Fantasy is located at 650 Irving St. and is open Monday-Saturday, 11-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-3 p.m.