Rick’s Comic City Clarksville Manager Talks Turning a Passion Into a Job

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We’re excited to announce a new way to collect comics: a vending machine! (You can see it here.) It’s a fun way to build your collection and find new comics you’ll love. All our comics come from local shops, and today we want to give a shout-out to one of our favorites: Rick’s Comic City in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Many comic book fans hope to work in the industry, and George Alexis has done just that. He manages the Clarksville location of Rick’s Comic City, a well-established comic book store originally from Nashville, Tennessee. Recently, Chris Killian from ComicBook interviewed George for the ComicBook Shop Talk series to discuss his career path and his thoughts on why comic books will continue to be a vital part of pop culture for years to come.

But first, check out a video of our shopping spree at Rick’s Comic City!

As a huge comic book fan, I’m always on the lookout for awesome local shops! The team at ComicBook is doing something really cool – they want to visit and feature amazing comic shops like yours on their show, ComicBook Shop Talk. If you think your shop deserves some spotlight, just shoot them an email at shoptalk@comicbook.com and tell them what makes it special – I’m talking about what you love about it and why other fans would have a great time there!

Rick’s Comic City Clarksville

Website: rickscomiccity.com Instagram: @rickscomiccity2
1923 Madison St, Suite H, Clarksville, TN 37043 Facebook: @rickscomiccitytn
Phone number: (931) 401-1014

How Running a Comic Book Shop Works

Chris started by asking what comic book first sparked the other person’s love for the medium.

George: I’m gonna say… Way back in the day, when Giant-Size X-Men came out.

Chris: Nice.

George: I think that was probably the first comic book that I bought.

Chris: That’s a good one, man. My first one was Frank Miller’s Wolverine #1, so…

George: I think that might have been the second one that was rung up.

It seems like everyone I’ve talked to is either into X-Men or Spider-Man. So, can you tell me about Rick’s Comic City and what you do there?

George mentioned the owner has been running the Nashville store for about 25 years, though he wasn’t certain of the exact number. He also said the Clarksville location will celebrate its 11th anniversary in November.

Chris: Oh, wow.

I used to shop at Rick’s in Nashville, and one day I was driving on Madison Street when I saw a sign for Rick’s Comic City. I couldn’t believe it might be the same place, so I stopped to check. Turns out it was! I was one of the first customers. I ended up working there after I retired from the Army. They were opening a store in the base exchange, and they needed someone they didn’t have to run a background check on. The interview was quick – they just asked if I wanted a job, and I said yes. Now, almost 11 years later, here I still am.

Chris: So what’s your absolute favorite thing about working in a comic book shop like Rick’s?

I enjoy seeing the vintage toys people bring in – they remind me of happy times. Plus, I get to meet all sorts of interesting people here.

Chris asks: Many companies selling physical media have failed, but Rick’s has stayed successful for a long time. What’s the key to that success? Also, looking at current trends, where do you think the comics industry is headed over the next five to ten years?

George believes the comic book industry’s success and lasting power comes from truly understanding and giving customers what they want, rather than just pursuing trendy ideas that might not sell. He feels this customer focus, combined with the industry’s 80-year history, suggests comic books will continue to thrive for many years to come.

Chris: Yeah, just a little bit. Do you have any concerns about the AI craze?

George believes that even though digital comics are currently available for free or through subscriptions, someone will eventually find a way to make money from them, likely by selling the digital versions in stores for around $12 to $15. He points out that technology always evolves, and a paid model will inevitably emerge.

Chris is wondering what the most surprising or misunderstood aspect of owning a comic book shop is – something people on the outside wouldn’t realize.

George thinks the hardest part of his job is staying up-to-date on everything related to comics – all the new issues, toys, and other merchandise.

Chris: Are you saying you don’t know everything about every comic book ever coming out?

It’s crazy that people think we have inside information! We get asked all the time when things are coming out, and we honestly don’t know. I’m constantly placing orders, but the suppliers don’t always tell us about upcoming releases. I rely on a coworker, Ryan, to keep me updated on what’s trending online – things like Key Collector and YouTube. We really try to stay informed. The key is to focus on what customers want, not just what we like. If we only buy what we’re interested in, it’s just going to end up sitting in our own homes!

That’s really good advice for someone running a comic book store. By the way, did you read any comics when you were growing up that you still enjoy now?

George: X-Men, Spawn. Really, that’s it.

Chris: Those two?

There’s just so much new content coming out all the time. I do read, but not as much as I used to. Everything’s changed a lot, especially with comics. For example, there are so many different first issues of Spider-Man and Batman – it’s hard to follow all the storylines. I usually just quickly look through new issues to see if anything catches my eye, particularly if it’s a number one issue. That way, if someone asks me about a book, I can at least give them some information. I used to collect a few other titles, but not since I was a kid.

Chris: What’s the most recent book that you’ve read that you absolutely loved?

I think I’ll choose Absolute Batman. While it’s not brand new, it’s relatively recent, especially considering the The Batman Who Laughs series and the Death Metal event. I’m also enjoying the new Transformers comics.

Chris: Nice, those are good.

George mentioned that new content is released constantly, like the recent Ben 10 release on Wednesday. He quickly looked through it and doesn’t think it’s a very good book.

Chris asks if there’s any writer or artist whose work he automatically seeks out, no matter what they create.

I’m a fan of several comic book creators. Specifically, I enjoy the work of Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Skottie Young. Young isn’t just a talented artist; he also creates compelling stories.

Chris: Bro, this was your chance to say “Chris Killian,” and you totally let me down. It’s fine.

George: I was getting there. Your book was really cool.

Chris said he’s already receiving scripts for the sequel, and he’s really excited about it. He’s thrilled for everyone to see what’s next.

George: Are you going to come here when it comes out?

Absolutely, we’ll definitely be back. We have a few other projects in the works, including Creepshow later this year, Spawn, and something with Skybound. So, we’ll find another opportunity to collaborate.

George: You’re always welcome here.

Chris thanked the person and asked one final question: what was the highest-priced comic book they had ever sold?

I’m going with Hulk #1. We sold it for around $18,000 – somewhere between $15,000 and $18,000, but I don’t remember the exact amount. I do remember getting it in and posting it on Facebook. That night, Rick called and asked if I could bring the book in right away. I told him I was working alone, and he asked if I could bring it first thing in the morning, which I agreed to. It hadn’t even been in the store for a full day.

Chris: Dang. Do you remember what you guys paid for it?

George: I don’t. It was a couple of years ago.

Chris: Okay.

I’d estimate it was worth around half the price, perhaps a bit more. It was in really good shape. I heard the buyer had it professionally graded, and it came back with a score of either 3.5 or 4.5. That was the main item we had.

Chris: Absolutely! Well, I don’t want to keep you any longer. Thanks so much for your time, I really appreciate it.

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If you run a comic book or card shop and think we should host a shopping spree there, or if you’re a customer with a great store in mind, please email us at shoptalk@comicbook.com. We’re building a list of shops across the country – and even some around the world – that we’d love to visit!

We sincerely hope you’ll give the Vending Machine a spin – and wish you luck in your pulls.

– Pull the egmr.ru Vending Machine – Right Here –

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2026-05-14 20:22