POW! Comic books take over Stanford’s Methodist Church

STANFORD — Collector Will Damante calls himself “The Comics King.”

The nickname dates back to eBay: after a dissatisfied customer review-bombed his original account, Damante started a new one, choosing the royal moniker “out of sheer pettiness.”

Standing in his Stanfordville warehouse, though, the title feels fitting. A kingdom of comics reaching 10 feet high, their meticulously labeled contents stretching up towards the cathedral ceiling.

They fill what was once the nave of a Methodist church — Damante bought the building in 2022, when his collection of comics grew beyond the capacity of its previous home. Originally from Staten Island, he moved to Poughkeepsie with his fiancé in 2015.

“There are about a quarter million books in here,” Damante said, gesturing to the cases and crates that fill the space. “And then you have the graphic novels, and vintage toys. I’ve been purchasing collections from people around the country, and now it’s time to put it all in order.”

The former Bangall Methodist church, originally built in 1843, closed its doors in 2021. The building’s historic origins are still on full display, from the 20-foot cathedral ceilings — complete with a belfry tower — to its vestibule.

The stained glass windows remain, too. But these days, they shine on different idols: Superheroes dominate this space now, waiting in tall stacks to be catalogued. Thin plastic sleeves and backing boards keep things neat. Now the comics are ready to travel with Damante to comic book conventions around the country. He also sells directly from his website, but a retail operation is not part of his plans.

“Occasionally I’ll do a garage sale type of thing, or have tables outside and do a barbecue,” he said. “I never intended to have a physical store, and the town stated that this could only be a living space.”

The rearrangement comes as comics are experiencing a prolonged cultural renaissance. Film and TV franchises, like Marvel’s “Avengers” and DC’s “Batman” movies, have made old heroes new again — and billions of dollars for movie studios. The challenge is getting younger fanbases to pick up the source material.

“The comic book market brings in about a billion dollars a year in sales,” Damante said. “Our goal is to get younger people reading. When you go to conventions, it’s usually guys in their 40s or older.”

But recently, there’s been reason to hope. Two recent comic book series — “Absolute DC” and “Ultimate Marvel” — imagined classic heroes in alternate universes, where they could “start from scratch,” Damante said. “They brought in a lot of new readers, especially younger people.”

The renewed popularity comes with its own caveats. Collectors, including Damante, have to balance their passion for the books with economic interests.

“I think the speculation market and the movie media has driven a kind of ‘flipper’ mentality,” he said. “Say there’s a trailer for a Spider-Man movie that comes out, and certain characters are teased in the movie. The next day, that book that was $10 is now going for $100.”

The most popular characters, like Superman, Batman, and X-Men, are more resistant to these market forces.

Superhero fatigue, in Damante’s eyes, is not a pressing concern. “If it’s good and resonates with the broader public, it’ll be successful,” he said. “Something I’ve noticed in the market lately is that DC’s on the come up, where they’ve kind of been second tier for quite some time.”

With another summer of superhero movies around the corner — “Supergirl” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” arrive this summer — Damante is hoping to build out his local community of aficionados.

“The closest comic shop would be in Hyde Park, or Kirwan’s in Kingston,” he said. “Most of my business comes from TikTok, Instagram, or comic book groups on Facebook.”

Still, local connections remain elusive. “If people have stuff that they want to sell, I’m your guy, whether it’s comics, toys, video games, collectibles,” Damante said. “This is how I live. I have no backup plan, so I want to do it right.”

To contact Damante or browse his collection, visit www.thecomicsking.com