The Incredible Hulk towers over the entrance of The Comic Cave Sunrise Mall.

Walk into the store and it’s a visual delight of historic comic books mixed in with newer versions along with an array of collectibles, figurines and playing cards. Stroll through the aisles and discover how superheroes like Batman, Superman and Spider-Man have changed over the years in the comic books of different eras.

Go to one corner of the store and there’s the phenomena of the Pop figures. These are the bobble-head figures from the creative minds of Disney, Ninja Turtles and Star Wars. Every box that encases them says “Pop!” somewhere to underscore how valuable these little collectibles are. The boxes themselves must be in pristine condition for any would-be buyer to consider them worthy of purchase. It’s a world of feel-good fantasy where a fan and collector can take a brief reprieve from everyday worries and latch on to a superhero.

Numbers-wise, Comic Cave’s owner will tell you comics lead in sales but collectibles generate the majority of revenues. The Comic Cave attracts a diversity of customers from young to middle aged, the young kids to the college age, and the professionals who work in law and business offices and cling to the comic world of their youths. 

“It’s a thousand Sheldons,” said the store’s owner, Bill Taliancich, referring to the popular physicist character from the hit television comedy, “The Big Bang Theory.” “You can let loose and have fun with your fellow nerds. You realize there’s a lot of people out there like you.”

Staying One Step Ahead

Taliancich knows of what he speaks.

His day job is being an English teacher at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen. His side passion is going to Comic-Cons and helping organize local events of that type. Enthusiasts gather to meet stars and creators, and participate in discussions centered on the world of comics. It was a good fit for Taliancich when the opportunity arose in 2020 to purchase the Sunrise Mall comic store. He and a business partner, Bobby Chidester of Harlingen, took it despite the temporary business shutdowns of the time.

“I figured this place would do great coming out of it,” Taliancich said. 

He was right. Sales and revenues rose and continue to crest. Talinacich knows competition is steep and worries about inflation cutting into nonessential purchases. He can also see that national chains like GameStop are changing their business models to sell collectibles and other types of merchandise The Comic Cave carries. In a nod to his youthful employees, Taliancich vowed to take on all comers and tap into their knowledge of pop culture.

“I’m not going to be stagnant,” he said, referring to ever-changing consumer preferences. “I’m not afraid to change. These young kids tell me what I need to get.”

‘Chill’ Place To Hang Out 

The youthful edge of The Comic Cave is evident in its social media presence.

Posts are frequent with photos, videos and live shots of new merchandise and what’s going on at the store. The store has thousands of items. A fan of the comic culture could spend hours in its aisles of fun, books and figures of all sorts.

There’s one wall lined with what Taliancich refers to as hall of fame comics that are like museum pieces. One comic book says “Action Comics” in big red letters. Its cover features a Superman of that era picking up a battered car as frightened pedestrians flee after a disaster has hit. It’s dated June 1938, but Taliancich says it was printed in the 1960s. Even then, the comic book sells for $199.99 in its plastic case to protect the valuable product inside.

There are many boxes of comics costing far less toward the back of the store. Here, collectors can thumb through for hours like the nerds often did on “The Big Bang Theory,” searching for something worthy to add to their libraries.

Taliancich enjoys the camaraderie and kinship found in his store where collectors of all ages gather to share their love of comics and its related culture. For some youngsters, he said, it’s a place where they can find a fit where it may be difficult to find one elsewhere. One reviewer on Comic Cave’s Facebook page writes of the store being “one of the major places me and my friends go to hang out,” and praises the employees for being “amazing, chill.”

“That makes me feel good,” Taliancich said. “We’re a place where people can get together. I get asked, ‘what’s your demographic?’ I say it starts around 16 and goes up into the 50s.”