LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Superscript Comics and Games will be the product of a lifetime of nerding out for owners Elliott Frank, Christine Frank and Nick Kratsas.

The new board game and comic-book shop is slated to open at 13361 Madison Ave. in Lakewood in early May, selling a variety of tabletop games, comic books, manga, collectible toys, trading card games and more. The shop will also feature locally made board games and comic books.

Superscript will have an equal emphasis on board games and comic books, offering selections for seasoned hobbyists and also items for new fans and kids. The owners aim for any kind of nerd to find something they can enjoy inside Superscript.

“Our governing principle is, we want the store to be accessible to any level of interest or enthusiasm about the product,” Elliott said.

Elliott recounted his childhood and teen years spent hanging out with Kratsas at Ground Zero Comics in Strongsville for inspiration on the new storefront.

The two friends’ interests in comics and board games also shine through in another hobby; Elliott and Kratsas are both members of local hardcore band Harvey Pekar, named after the local “American Splendour” comics storyteller.

“We liked Harvey Pekar’s work and he’s this unsung local hero in a way,” Kratsas said. “It’s representative of the interest we’ve had in comics throughout our lives.”

It turns out, music could also be representative of their interest in role-playing games, too.

“We used to call ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ ‘band practice,’ if we referred to it out in the wild,” Elliott said.

As they grew up together, the two always talked about opening a shop of their own. When Christine and Elliott, who are married, decided to seriously look to open a store, they immediately looped in Kratsas to be a part of the project.

Christine found the future home of Superscript while driving home from a Harvey Pekar concert in late 2019. She drove by the rentable space, a former laundromat, and was immediately drawn to it.

The next week, the three business owners signed a lease.

“It doesn’t look like a former laundromat. It was just fresh, white walls, subfloor and an ADA compliant bathroom, which checked so many boxes for us,” Christine said. “Here in Lakewood, it’s luck of the draw with spots you’ll get. They’re old, have wet basements, and the bathroom situation can be really unfortunate.”

The three prioritized accessibility when selecting Superscript’s home. They wanted a place where anyone could feel comfortable and safe.

“We want to accommodate and be the store for people at any entry point, so I think that extrapolates to all walks of life,” Christine said. “Age, gender, non-gender, ability.”

The shop will have tables for in-store play, with a full calendar of events like “Magic: The Gathering” tournaments and learn-to-play nights. Superscript also plans to host a book club for comic enthusiasts.

Superscript has launched an IndieGogo campaign to raise funds for remaining renovations and store updates before its big opening day, with a goal of $8,000.

The shop is slated to open on Friday, May 1 -- the day before Free Comic Book Day, on May 2. The weekend-long celebration will include raffles, a live podcast taping and, of course, free comic book giveaways.

You can find more information about Superscript at its Facebook page.

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