ATOMIC COMICS MESA STORE - AN UPDATE

[MattBrady]

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/general/AtomicComics/Mesastoredestruction.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/general/AtomicComics/Mesadestruction_t.jpg" border="0" align="right"></a>Last week (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=89687) Atomic Comics’ owner Mike Malve sent out a brief newsletter with the report that the Mesa location of Atomic had been virtually destroyed by a car driving through the front of the store, and resultant water damage from a ruptured pipe.

Since then, Malve has had some time to assess, and has checked back in with an update, both on the store, and the driver of the car.

Malve wrote:

Please make sure that everybody understands no one was hurt and the kids who caused all this damage weren’t even arrested, though they were charged with criminal damage and leaving the scene of a crime. The story we're hearing from the police is that the young girl just lost control of the vehicle when she was attempting to park in front of my store. The brakes didn't work so, confused, she hit the gas, rocketing herself and her car through the Mesa store front. She then pulled out and took off. The police and the insurance companies are now dealing with them so they are completely out of my immediate concerns. I am just happy that no one was badly hurt in such a terrible accident. For the record, I have no ill feelings towards her. I was sixteen years old once and made plenty of stupid mistakes myself that usually go hand in hand with being that age.

I just want everyone to know that everything is okay... or at least "under control," and to thank the hundreds of well wishers who keep emailing and calling me. The response I got yesterday was overwhelming from the likes of Joe Quesada, Jeff Loeb, Mark Millar, and far too many more to name. Publishers have offered to help me restock my store with their product and even my fellow retailers have offered to replace stock. I would like to personally thank Phil at Coliseum in Florida for his phone call this morning. Phil, having lost one of his shops in a hurricane, knows exactly what I am going through right now and offered me lots of sound advice based on his experience. I will get back to each and everyone of you in time, but right now I have to deal with the situation at hand.

We'll be regularly updating the progress as we rebuild the shop at AtomicComics.com. If there is a bright side to this, it's that the Mesa store was our oldest and this gives us an excuse to rebuild her bigger and better than before.

Oh, and anyone going to Wizard World Texas, please stop by the Atomic booth and show the Atomic crew some love. That was our flagship store and losing her has been very emotional for the employees so give 'em a hug.

Thank you to all,

Mike Malve

[Sam Ridyard]

Thats really great.

I'm so glad Mike isn't bitter about any of this.
Sh!t happens, and I'm glad he takes it as such.

Best of luck with the refurbishments and the reestablishment of your store mate.

[Mike Bullock]

Good to hear that no one was hurt.

If the new store is anything like the Chandler location, the new Atomic Mesa will be a comic buyers paradise. :)

[SportyFork]

Wow, that's crazy... My wife's friend accidentally drove into the office of her evil ex-boss a couple of weeks ago. At least, she said it was an accident! :p I just don't see how you can lose control of your car like that... The thing starts rolling forward, time to shift to the brake real quick!

Maybe I'm not awake enough yet, but from the description of the article, I thought, "Man, how do they do drive-through service??"

"Gimme a number two special and add a Watchmen."

[Caleb Gerard]

Okay, given that Mike is moving on and making a bigger and (how can it be possiblem I wonder) better Atomic Mesa I think it is okay to point out:

"Since then, Malve has had some time to asses, and has checked back in with an update, both on the store, and the driver of the car. "

Freudian slip?

As for the kid who did this... if she's feeling ANY remorse for her accident give her some Brian Wood comics. Teenage angst in B&W.

But at the end of the day... I'm really glad that the Chandler store is still there to give buds like Dan Wickline & Tone Rodgriguez a welcome hello last night.
(note to all other pros coming to Phoenix area: please alert the local stores more then 48 hours in advance... it is to your benefit I assure you).

CJG

[Val]

I'm not surprised by the accident.
I was more surprised by people in the previous thread screaming for the driver's head when they didn't have more details... which is typical, sadly enough.

It seemed more likely they pulled up, saw the store was closed, and she gunned it by mistake rather than hitting the brake, or thought it was in reverse when it was still in drive, etc.

Her being young and a new driver, it doesn't surprise me she freaked, her immediate mind set is that she'd go to jail, and since the car was working, got the heck out of there. Fight or flight impulse type stuff.

I've seen that happen several times on the news back in my home town of Lynchburg... when I would watch the news, that is.
People drive into buildings by mistake from a parked position out in front of the entrance... although the car is typically immobile afterwards.

It happens. You space out for a moment and do something you didn't intend to. Unfortunately, some people make that mistake in a big way from time to time.

I used to have my pull-box at the Phoenix Metrocenter location when I lived out there working at Hi-Fi Color. Atomic had some super awesome stores.
It's fantastic to hear about the help restocking, and hopefully insurance will come through in the end for everything else. :)

[vfxdammerung]

Alright, I guess I'm in the minority here now. How much of an accidental mistake was it, if the stupid kids LEFT THE SCENE AFTER CRASHING INTO THE STORE? That makes no sense. It's essentially a hit and run. That doesn't sound "innocent" at all, more like they were trying to escape responsibility/accountability.

[Sam Ridyard]

Alright, I guess I'm in the minority here now. How much of an accidental mistake was it, if the stupid kids LEFT THE SCENE AFTER CRASHING INTO THE STORE? That makes no sense. It's essentially a hit and run. That doesn't sound "innocent" at all, more like they were trying to escape responsibility/accountability.
Did you read the article?

[CaptainTemerity]

For the record, I have no ill feelings towards her. I was sixteen years old once and made plenty of stupid mistakes myself that usually go hand in hand with being that age.

Classy! Gotta' respect the guy for keeping perspective in a situation where it would be real easy to lose that sort of thing.



The response I got yesterday was overwhelming from the likes of Joe Quesada, Jeff Loeb, Mark Millar, and far too many more to name. Publishers have offered to help me restock my store with their product and even my fellow retailers have offered to replace stock.

This makes me feel all warm and squishy.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

I'm glad to see that no one was hurt and its nice to see that Mike doesn't hold any ill feelings towards the kids who drove into his store. That's pretty classy. Its also awesome that so many people are offering help in restocking the story.

The Atomic Comics crew seem like pretty awesome cats (they were super cool at WWC and the weekly newsletter shows a nice personable side to the retailer as a whole) and I wish them the best in getting back on their feet in their Mesa location!

[guitargod694]

I'm really glad that everything is going smoothly and that the store will be back bigger and better. It really is a pretty awesome store and I miss it. :(

[vfxdammerung]

Did you read the article?

The parts where "...though they were charged with criminal damage and leaving the scene of a crime" and "She then pulled out [of the store] and took off?" Yeah, I did. The way I read it is that she made an honest mistake when she accidentally plowed into the store, but it was no mistake that she took off.

And for the record, I'm NOT a classy guy like Mike. Major kudos to him for keeping his cool.

[Scarlet Mage]

I'm not surprised by the accident.
I was more surprised by people in the previous thread screaming for the driver's head when they didn't have more details... which is typical, sadly enough.

It seemed more likely they pulled up, saw the store was closed, and she gunned it by mistake rather than hitting the brake, or thought it was in reverse when it was still in drive, etc.

Her being young and a new driver, it doesn't surprise me she freaked, her immediate mind set is that she'd go to jail, and since the car was working, got the heck out of there. Fight or flight impulse type stuff.

I've seen that happen several times on the news back in my home town of Lynchburg... when I would watch the news, that is.
People drive into buildings by mistake from a parked position out in front of the entrance... although the car is typically immobile afterwards.

It happens. You space out for a moment and do something you didn't intend to. Unfortunately, some people make that mistake in a big way from time to time.

I used to have my pull-box at the Phoenix Metrocenter location when I lived out there working at Hi-Fi Color. Atomic had some super awesome stores.
It's fantastic to hear about the help restocking, and hopefully insurance will come through in the end for everything else. :)

Okay, we get it. There are no bad kids and instead of holding them responsible for their actions we should make up fantasies in our head about why they really didn't mean to do damage. Spend a week working with them and let's see how you feel. Don't get me wrong, I don't think teens are bad. I just dislike a pollyanna attitude about anything.

Oh, and I like my theory about how the accident happened better than the real one. I believed it had to be the boy driving and the girl couldn't see the road if you know what I mean...

[MrNEWZ]

I'm surprised that no one found it odd that a 16 year old was driving around in an empty parking lot on a Tuesday that isn't a known holiday. This wasn't mentioned in other posts, so on top of the other *ahem* ideas, perhaps the girl was also skipping school? ;-)

[grphxkindaguy]

Okay, we get it. There are no bad kids and instead of holding them responsible for their actions we should make up fantasies in our head about why they really didn't mean to do damage. Spend a week working with them and let's see how you feel. Don't get me wrong, I don't think teens are bad. I just dislike a pollyanna attitude about anything.

Oh, and I like my theory about how the accident happened better than the real one. I believed it had to be the boy driving and the girl couldn't see the road if you know what I mean...

Quoted for truth.

I had the same EXACT thought that's in the second paragraph. The girl is 16, the guy 19 IIRC? So...what's the age of consent, where the accident happened? That may be a huge reason why they took off... :eek:

Regardless, I hope Atomic Comics gets back on their feet pdq and the new place is better then ever!

[tiso_spencer]

I dunno, on one side I'm glad there's an update and he's getting stuff done with the insurance and the police, but on the other hand I just couldn't easily dismiss that it was an accident giving the fact they ran. Don't you think they would have waited for the cops or something and were sorry? I'm sure these "kids" were smart enough to realize you don't leave a car with traceable license plates at the scene of the crime. This just goes to further move to me believe that the accident happened because A) They were high and the girl really did accidentally do it B) They were high and the boy accidentally drove the car, at which he asked his girlfriend to the blame because she was not an adult C) They did it on purpose (unlikely) D) The boy was driving and was distracted for obvious reasons from his 16 year old girlfriend.

Either way I'm just glad that the store should hopefully get fixed, have the insurance take care of it, and the workers and owners won't lose too much money from it. You know, eBay isn't a bad idea to try to sell any of the damage items and put up something like the articles from Newsarama explaining why they need all the help and support from the comic book world. Good luck.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

Am I the only one here that finds it really distasteful that people are accusing the kids of being high or having sex or of being liars? The only thing you know is that the police are saying the girl screwed up and drove into the store. This is getting ridiculous. Maybe we should all just be glad that no one was hurt and that the store is getting back on its feet, and leave it at that?

[katapult]

I am very glad that Atomic is getting back together and will come back bigger and larger than before. Though I was not able to visit the Mesa store my last trip out to AZ, I was increadibly impressed with the other stores.

I'm glad that they caught the kids who did it. Though it may have been an honest mistake, the kids should have stuck around and done the right thing instead of running away.

[Xaraan]

I must have missed the first story about this.

This happened at a sears store I was working at. A car actually drove through the wall in the middle of the night and went about 3/4 of the way through the bottom level of the store before stopping. It tore up 3 different departments and knocked the jewelry counters off their foundations. It was a fun cleanup, the oil pan had been ripped off the car going through and left oil everywhere. The kids inside were not hurt though and nobody was in the store at the time. But considering the amount of false alarms we drive to the stores for at night, this was definitely different.

[Morrison]

Classy guy. It's nice to see someone concerned first and foremost with the fact that no one was hurt. It's also nice to see someone who remembers where he's come from...

on another note:
I'm pretty open about my opinion of Joe Quesada's performance (He does far more harm then good, etc). But, as I always do, I'll give him props when he deserves it - and he deserves it in this case...

[skeletorjr]

Am I the only one here that finds it really distasteful that people are accusing the kids of being high or having sex or of being liars? The only thing you know is that the police are saying the girl screwed up and drove into the store. This is getting ridiculous. Maybe we should all just be glad that no one was hurt and that the store is getting back on its feet, and leave it at that?

What, decency and compassion? Are you sure you read comics?

PS well said

[randall]

On the lighter side of things, here's my theory. I couldn't help but notice that on Nov 3, the Mesa store was supposed to host a:

Super Smash Bros Melee tournament
http://www.atomiccomics.com/events/event_melee_tourn_110306.php

Maybe the couple acted out their frustrations/fantasies when they found they arrived too early :)

Sorry but I have no idea of what the tourney actually is. Something anime, something video game.

[paulski]

Am I the only one here that finds it really distasteful that people are accusing the kids of being high or having sex or of being liars?
Nope. There were a lot of stupid claims after the original story was posted a week or two back, even before any of us knew anything but the basics about what had happened. Typical 'jump the gun' reactions.

And now maybe some of the assholes who wanted "five minutes alone with the culprits" or wanted to "go Punisher on their asses" will think twice before making ridiculous threats that result in them looking like complete imbeciles.

[tiso_spencer]

Not hitting the brakes fast enough and slightly damaging the back of another car I can see as an accident. Driving a car through someone's store I cannot possibly see it as just an "accident". Now of course had it just been an accident surely they would have stayed but they didn't thus there's no real reason to give them the benefit of the doubt. It's my opinion that something either sexual, drug, or just straight stupidity related was the cause of it and quite frankly I think it's about time we started placing the blame squarely on the punk kids these days that run rampant and think they can get away with murder (figuratively speaking). Accident or no accident, this is something that should have never happened and has affected the lives of the owner and employees as well as lost revenue and a good comic book shop apparently.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

Not hitting the brakes fast enough and slightly damaging the back of another car I can see as an accident. Driving a car through someone's store I cannot possibly see it as just an "accident". Now of course had it just been an accident surely they would have stayed but they didn't thus there's no real reason to give them the benefit of the doubt. It's my opinion that something either sexual, drug, or just straight stupidity related was the cause of it and quite frankly I think it's about time we started placing the blame squarely on the punk kids these days that run rampant and think they can get away with murder (figuratively speaking). Accident or no accident, this is something that should have never happened and has affected the lives of the owner and employees as well as lost revenue and a good comic book shop apparently.

Wow, someone had a heaping bowl of Macho Flakes this morning. You know, you'd think that if anyone should be this angry, it would be the owner of Atomic Comics. Surprisingly, its you and he's completely willing to let by-gones be by-gones. Whether this is or isn't an accident really isn't for you to decide though. So before you start accusing the kids of "running rampant" and being "punks" maybe you should take a few deep breaths and realize that the situation is under control. The store isn't lost and a lot of really great folks are helping them get back on their feet. There really isn't much of a need for all of this hostitilty and hatred for people you've never met in a situation you know next to nothing about.

[grphxkindaguy]

Am I the only one here that finds it really distasteful that people are accusing the kids of being high or having sex or of being liars? The only thing you know is that the police are saying the girl screwed up and drove into the store. This is getting ridiculous. Maybe we should all just be glad that no one was hurt and that the store is getting back on its feet, and leave it at that?

Pretty much.

Those kids lost any "benefit of the doubt" when they decided to flee the scene of the accident, simple as that. Anything they'll say or do afterwards is circumspect. I don't care if they were 16 or 61.

I don't know about every place else in the U.S., but here in New York that's called a "hit and run". Most cases that means jail time (even if it the hit was an accident). Those that stay to face the music (if it was an accident) don't usually get in trouble.

I'll even make it easier for people to understand:

Running = Bad

Staying = Good

:D

[Ye Olde Iowa]

Pretty much.

Those kids lost any "benefit of the doubt" when they decided to flee the scene of the accident, simple as that. Anything they'll say or do afterwards is circumspect. I don't care if they were 16 or 61.

I don't know about every place else in the U.S., but here in New York that's called a "hit and run". Most cases that means jail time (even if it the hit was an accident). Those that stay to face the music (if it was an accident) don't usually get in trouble.

I'll even make it easier for people to understand:

Running = Bad

Staying = Good

:D

And that I totally understand. They screwed up and they ran. They should've stayed and that sucks that they didn't. They commited a hit-and-run, but that in no way indicates that there is any other foul play involved. What I don't understand is why everyone is attacking them and fabricating twisted stories about what had happened. There's nothing to indicate that they were high or fooling around when driving, and its ridiculous and distasteful to fabricate stories about them without any proof.

[skeletorjr]

Not hitting the brakes fast enough and slightly damaging the back of another car I can see as an accident. Driving a car through someone's store I cannot possibly see it as just an "accident". Now of course had it just been an accident surely they would have stayed but they didn't thus there's no real reason to give them the benefit of the doubt. It's my opinion that something either sexual, drug, or just straight stupidity related was the cause of it and quite frankly I think it's about time we started placing the blame squarely on the punk kids these days that run rampant and think they can get away with murder (figuratively speaking). Accident or no accident, this is something that should have never happened and has affected the lives of the owner and employees as well as lost revenue and a good comic book shop apparently.

Put down the bottle of Rageohol and step away from the keyboard

[Val]

Okay, we get it. There are no bad kids and instead of holding them responsible for their actions we should make up fantasies in our head about why they really didn't mean to do damage. Spend a week working with them and let's see how you feel. Don't get me wrong, I don't think teens are bad. I just dislike a pollyanna attitude about anything.

Well, good thing my post wasn't unreasonably optimistic, so you don't have to dislike my attitude. ;)
Saying something as an accident is one thing.
But I don't recall saying she should get a free pass because of it.
That would be an assumption on your part.

[paulski]

Saying something as an accident is one thing.
But I don't recall saying she should get a free pass because of it.
I'm amazed that some people don't realise that the two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. :confused:

By all means, let the courts dish out the appropriate punishment to these dumbasses. But let's put away the burning torches and pitchforks, guys. :eek:

[grphxkindaguy]

What I don't understand is why everyone is attacking them and fabricating twisted stories about what had happened. There's nothing to indicate that they were high or fooling around when driving, and its ridiculous and distasteful to fabricate stories about them without any proof.

That may be, but its FUN!!! :D :p

what's more exciting to read/think, "dog bites man", or "dog, defending its litter of puppies, attacks its abusive owner"?

C'mon, we're comic book readers, we want EXCITEMENT in our stories! ;)

[Xider]

On the lighter side of things, here's my theory. I couldn't help but notice that on Nov 3, the Mesa store was supposed to host a:

Super Smash Bros Melee tournament
http://www.atomiccomics.com/events/e...urn_110306.php

Maybe the couple acted out their frustrations/fantasies when they found they arrived too early

Sorry but I have no idea of what the tourney actually is. Something anime, something video game.

I still ran that tournament and the response to it despite the store being down was incredible. I had a turn out of 54 players, with the tournament lasting from 4:30pm to 11pm. I just had to run the entire tournament outside on the side walk and out back of the store, so not too terribly bad since the usually heat is mostly gone.

[panjisudoyo]

Nope. There were a lot of stupid claims after the original story was posted a week or two back, even before any of us knew anything but the basics about what had happened. Typical 'jump the gun' reactions.

And now maybe some of the assholes who wanted "five minutes alone with the culprits" or wanted to "go Punisher on their asses" will think twice before making ridiculous threats that result in them looking like complete imbeciles.

Ooooh, apparently someone here doesn't like The Punisher.
Perhaps one should've said, "I wish someone could go Young Avengers on their sorry asses"? Or would you prefer "someone could go Mouse Guard on their sorry asses"?
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!:D
Relax, child-defender ( that's my new super-hero name for you and your kind;) ), you DO read comics, right? Like the rest of us here?
By that single hobby alone, our profiles read that we're SUPPOSED to have high imaginations and, like someone said on a previous post, HAVE FUN!!
If you take everything we say without a grain of salt then maybe you've got the wrong hobby here. And us comic folks don't like to have burning torches and pitch-forks.
But we DO like The Human Torch and..and..and..Hey, is there any character that has a name resembling or similar to "pitch-fork"?
No? Then, hey!! I'll be making a new super-hero then!!
PITCH-FORK : A short Canadian mutant wiith healing factor who once lost his memory and now strikes against teenagers who crashes their cars into comic-book stores with his "pitchfork-like" claws while saying, "Bub, i'm the best there is at what i do. You wanna crash that car a yours inta dat store? Your choice. Your funeral."
Dont' like this either? Sigh. I guess you can't please everyone then. Heh.

[paulski]

Whatever you reckon, sunshine.

[panjisudoyo]

Whatever you reckon, sunshine.

Sure thing, cupcake. Heh.