Step Right Up!
Celebrating 50 Years of Comic Book Magic!
For half a century, we’ve been the ringleaders of one of the biggest back issue collections around—nearly 500,000 comics under one tent!
But the show doesn’t stop there! We’ve got dazzling displays of statues, mind-bending board and card games, and enough toys to make any collector cheer!
Long before comic shops became a staple in every city, before superhero movies ruled the box office, and before the internet made back issues a click away—there was Comic Carnival.
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Founded in 1976 by Mark Hylton, Comic Carnival is a true product of passion, perseverance, and one man’s belief that comics weren’t just disposable entertainment—they were something worth collecting, sharing, and celebrating.
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By the end of 1976, Comic Carnival moved into its first real storefront on College Avenue. From there, the store became a local institution. Want lists poured in. Subscriptions were offered—early, personal, and dependable. Conventions were organized. Star Wars comics were promoted at the Eastwood Theater before the film even released. Mark sourced directly from publishers, stacked pallets of reprints next to beauty salons, and stayed one step ahead of fandom as it began to boom.
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But Comic Carnival was never just about comics—it was about community. And eventually, it was time for the next generation to take the reins.
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In the years that followed, Mark passed the business to two long-time employees who had grown up with the shop and understood its legacy: Tim Reynolds and Dan Gaines.
Both brought their own passion, humor, and heart to the store, helping guide Comic Carnival into the modern era while honoring its roots. Together, they carried the torch, nurturing generations of fans, collectors, and first-time readers.
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In 2023, the Comic Carnival family lost Dan Gaines—a beloved friend, partner, and comic savant whose memory lives on in the very walls of the shop.
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Today, Comic Carnival is proudly owned and operated by Tim Reynolds, who continues to uphold the mission that began nearly fifty years ago: to create a place where stories matter, where curiosity is welcome, and where comics aren’t just sold—they’re celebrated.
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With 2,000 square feet packed with comics, games, collectibles, and nostalgia, Comic Carnival is more than a store—it’s a legacy.
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And the story’s still being written.
TIM REYNOLDS
DAN GAINES
Mark’s journey didn’t begin with comics. He was a Fuller Brush salesman, a university computer technician wrangling room-sized computers, and a man navigating a job market that didn’t offer many second chances—especially to someone missing an arm.​
After encountering sign after sign literally reading “Not hiring handicapped,” Mark decided to bet on himself.​
The spark came at a 1974 flea market, when he saw a vendor selling Conan the Barbarian #1 for fifty dollars. He was hooked.
Mark dove headfirst into the comics world, collecting 25,000 books in a matter of months and selling them at mall shows and antique fairs. His basement became a comic speakeasy, frequented by local collectors and personalities. His first retail space? A corner of Deke’s Barbershop—just 50 square feet and a cigar box for a register.
Mark Hylton
