{"id":34368,"date":"2021-09-03T21:43:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-04T03:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/tales-of-tomorrow-comics-shop-closing-reluctantly\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T02:18:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:18:07","slug":"tales-of-tomorrow-comics-shop-closing-reluctantly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/tales-of-tomorrow-comics-shop-closing-reluctantly\/","title":{"rendered":"Tales of Tomorrow comics shop closing reluctantly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Dakota
Dakota Joplin, manager at Tales of Tomorrow, rearranges a few of the comics at the store on Farmington\u2019s West Main Street. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cKeep moving forward, and if it\u2019s time to go, it\u2019s time. Nothing lasts forever.\u201d \u2013 Stan Lee, comic book author and publishe<\/em>r<\/p>\n

FARMINGTON \u2013 The city\u2019s beloved comic book store, Tales of Tomorrow, will soon close its doors and hang up its superhero cape for the last time, victim to the one villain even Marvel\u2019s Stan Lee didn\u2019t see coming \u2013 COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Tales of Tomorrow has been in operation for the past three years and is the only dedicated comic book store between Farmington and Albuquerque. Its customer base also reaches westward, deep into the Navajo Nation.<\/p>\n

The store boasts wall-to-wall bookcases, filled with graphic novels at the front, and stacks of comic books. The checkout counter doubles as a display to show off props and figurines.<\/p>\n

The comic lover\u2019s safe haven hasn\u2019t always stopped at the side wall. Before COVID-19, like Batman adversary Two-Face\u2019s coin, the store had two sides. The second was a coffee house that featured a barista, free comic book samples, a replica of the Tardis from Doctor Who, and tables and chairs for trivia nights, art nights, Dungeons & Dragons games and other gatherings.<\/p>\n

Dakota Joplin, the store operations manager who has run the store since the initial shutdowns, said a pandemic-induced run on manga was the store\u2019s kryptonite.<\/p>\n

\"New
New monthly comics line the walls of Tales of Tomorrow while back issues are organized on a table toward the center of the store. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Manga are Japanese-style graphic novels. They differ based on their content and creators. They were one of Tales of Tomorrow\u2019s biggest money-makers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe largest contributing factor is lack of product,\u201d Joplin said. \u201cProduct like manga and Gundam (model kits and the like depicting vehicles and characters from the \u201cGundam\u201d manga and anime franchise), there\u2019s printing shortages because the hobby has become so popular that the manufacturers and the printers cannot keep up with demand for back stock.\u201d<\/p>\n

The books were available only the week they were released, and when Joplin went to order more, the supply had run out. Manga and Gundam counted for about a third of the shop\u2019s revenue.<\/p>\n

With that gone, Joplin said, they tried to focus on other things, such as obtaining more consignment items and toys. But Joplin said the demand for those was no match for the demand for manga.<\/p>\n

Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, once said, \u201cNo man can win every battle, but no man should fall without a struggle.\u201d While Tales of Tomorrow put up a good fight, the high demand and short supply of the pandemic combined to form a too formidable foe, and the small business lost the battle.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Cosmic Cafe, which is part of Tales of Tomorrow comic store in Farmington, hasn't reopened since the COVID-19 shutdown. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Tales of Tomorrow will close at an undetermined date. Until then, it will remain open at 220 W. Main St.<\/p>\n

Sean Sharer, a Farmington City Council member, Batman fan and a weekly visitor to Tales of Tomorrow, said the store\u2019s closing will be devastating not only to customers, but also to the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think having anything local, when you support local people who pay local taxes to help take care of local programs, I mean that\u2019s important things,\u201d Sharer said.<\/p>\n

\"Sean
Sean Sharer has made it a habit to check out new releases on new comic day on Wednesdays at Tales of Tomorrow comic store in Farmington. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Sharer\u2019s daughter also became a frequent visitor, and their visit became a weekly father-daughter date. Now, Sharer doesn\u2019t know where he and his daughter will go for their comics and little \u201cBaby Yoda\u201d statues.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just been a really cool place, and I\u2019m really sad to see it going,\u201d Sharer said. \u201cIt breaks my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sharer said that as a city councilor, the renovation of downtown Farmington successfully provided a new environment for novel and small businesses. It was exactly what the council wanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo see them shuttering down, it\u2019s just not fun,\u201d Sharer said.<\/p>\n

\"Tales
Tales of Tomorrow comic store is at 220 W. Main St. in Farmington. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Joplin said he doesn\u2019t know what he will do when the doors close a final time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very daunting,\u201d Joplin said. \u201cThis dream will never die, and I will never feel fully satisfied unless I am behind the counter selling comic books. \u2026 That\u2019s the hardest thing, is going back into the community and finding your new place in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

If he were given the opportunity, Joplin said he would keep the shop open.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s everything to all of us, so many of our customers, and so many of our friends,\u201d Joplin said. \u201cI would never want to let that go if I didn\u2019t have to. \u2026 It\u2019s one of the most beautiful things I\u2019ve ever done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Warhammer
Warhammer miniatures are popular at Tales of Tomorrow comic store in Farmington. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

As the small business in Farmington moves toward its end, employees hope the community will not forget about them or the manga and superheroes that they represent. Instead, they hope the community will come together to support other small businesses. As Groot says at the end of the film \u201cGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1\u201d: \u201cWe are Groot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery ending is a beginning, and every chapter ends to go on to a better one,\u201d Joplin said. \u201cSo we\u2019ll see you guys on the next page.\u201d<\/p>\n

Excelsior!<\/p>\n

\"Fernando
Fernando Clyde with Tales of Tomorrow comics store in Farmington looks through some of the comics. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

mmitchell@durangoherald.com<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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