vibratingsheep ([info]vibratingsheep) wrote,
@ 2008-05-20 08:47:00
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Entry tags:comic books, dead cats

Song for a bookish hippie
The owner of Comic Relief, Rory Root, died recently following complications from hernia surgery. I consider this significant because I spent 2-3 hours every week in that store while I was a student at Berkeley, and I still consider it to be my "go-to" comic book store. I also like to stop by and say hi every time I'm at Comic-Con.

And now the big friendly hippie who liked to share a laugh or two with the Friday crew is gone. An industry mourns one of its biggest supporters.

Comic Relief won't go the way of Cody's or the Bearcade - his legacy is far too strong and the store itself is still doing pretty well for itself. But it won't be the same without Rory there every Friday making jokes with us.




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[info]suberunker
2008-05-20 04:10 pm UTC (link)
Holy crap! :(

Not only is it a considerable loss for Berkeley but a huge loss for the independent and small-guy comics industry. Rory was well-known for getting connections for some indie artists/writers, particularly Tom Beland (True Story, Swear to God) who even included the story of how he met Rory in one of his issues.

This sucks.

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[info]hamusutaa
2008-05-20 06:35 pm UTC (link)
I have Rory to thank for bringing Warren Ellis to the United States in a period of time when he only came to the US once a year... and that one time was to Berkeley of all places.

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[info]suberunker
2008-05-20 10:31 pm UTC (link)
heh, I have Rory to thank for bringing Bill Amend (Foxtrot) over to Berkeley. I still remember rushing to the store when I found out and having Bill sign my iFruity shirt.

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[info]vlyandra
2008-05-21 02:35 am UTC (link)
I was so sad when I found out! Rory will be missed. =(

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[info]alexclau
2008-05-21 07:39 am UTC (link)
Wow, I remember when Comic Relief opened, it was in the 1987-88 timeframe. At that time, there were already 3 other comic shops in Berkeley. Now, it looks like it's the only one left. Long live Comic Relief.

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