Of graphic nature

Drawing mass appeal at Hub Comics

By CHRISTINE LIU

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Unless you're of a particular ilk, comic book stores can seem intimidating, with unfamiliar formats, rabid "collectors" and inpenetratable voids of hyper-niche knowledge. However, Union Square's Hub Comics has been bucking the insular stereotype since January 2008 as an airy, independent, welcoming perch.

I didn't know exactly how to interpret Hub's tagline, "the comics shop for NPR listeners," but it simply indicates the store features intellectual graphic novels, such as Adrian Tomine's Shortcomings or Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, that are frequently discussed on the literati-cult radio station. Serial Western spy and postmodern romance titles elegantly cohabitate with issues of DC and Marvel classics. This, happily, makes for highly accessible exploration for curious readers and comics geeks alike. "I want to emphasize comics as a medium and an artform," says store owner James Welborn. "I want [Hub] to be more of a graphical bookstore rather than a superhero shop." Grinning, manager Jesse Farrell agrees, "There's more to comics than capes."

Welborn's self-described "concerted effort to stock every section as deeply as possible" is evident on the literature shelf, with titles including The Manga Bible and a graphic rendition of Julius Caesar, to the younger-minded section in the front sporting The Adventures of Tintin to Scooby-Doo. "In the afternoon, kids will come in and grab books and read 'em," says Farrell, describing young comic readership as "planting that seed." There's a smattering of large, comfy gray couches and black rock-a-loungers for anyone to flop on with a favored title.

"I wanted to get as much local stuff as possible," remarks Welborn in front of a highlighted area featuring books and mini-comics from hometown cartoonists including Liz Prince, Maris Wicks and Curtis Lawson (Farrell helpfully describes Lawson's Kinkaid comic as a "punk anarchist action book"). Locals George Pfromm II and Matthew Reidsma were invited to draw in the store on May 3, "Free Comic Book Day," as real live cartoonists! And considering Hub's position within the highly diverse Somerville community, they're searching high and low for more titles in different languages to serve everyone in the neighborhood. "Comics are an emerging art form," says Welborn, "a lot of voices being expressed."

[Hub Comics, 19 Bow St., Union Sq., Somerville. 617.718.0987. hubcomics.com]