Sometimes all it takes to be a superhero is lifting someone else up — and that’s exactly what the owners of Long Beach’s newest comic book haven, Atomic Basement Comics, plan to do.

Mike Wellman and Anthony “Tony” Davies will celebrate the store’s grand opening Saturday, Jan. 18. But Atomic Basement Comics, tucked into the corner of Third Street and Elm Avenue, in the East Village Arts District, will be about more than just selling comic books to ardent fans. It will also host an after-hours lab for aspiring comics creators and its business-hours mission is to get anyone who wanders in to love comics.

“Our ethos here is you come, tell us what kind of movies you like and we’ll find a book for you,” Wellman said. “We want to help people connect to the medium of comics.”

Wellman and Davies met nearly 20 years ago on the set of a public access show, “Comic Book Geeks,” where Wellman already aspired to open his own comic shop.

“Every time I would think to start something, I would call Tony,” Wellman said. “And when I finally settled on opening a comic store, he was on board and ready.”

The partners originally looked to open the store in downtown Los Angeles, but writer and Long Beach resident Brandon Easton swayed them to take their location south, to a city with a growing community of comic book lovers and home to two comic events at the convention center.

The store’s name comes from a company Wellman started with his friend Rafael Navarro in 2001, Atomic Basement Entertainment. Through it, Wellman released his first comic, “Mac Afro,” and his second, “Guns A’ Blazin!.”

Atomic Basement Comics boasts a bright yellow-and-black color scheme, which Wellman has described as giving the sensation of standing inside their logo.

The store will make its money from — obviously — selling comics. But its owners also plan to help uplift aspiring writers, illustrators and other artistic types with their Creators Lab, an after-hours gathering from 7 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday, where anyone can drop in and learn how to make their own comics — sometimes with help from notable comic book creators.

Co-owner Mike Wellman’s first comic release, “Mac Afro.” The newest addition to Long Beach’s East Village Arts District, Atomic Basement Comics, will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday, Jan. 18. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The store features a vintage Star Wars arcade game machine. The newest addition to Long Beach’s East Village Arts District, Atomic Basement Comics, will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday, Jan. 18. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The newest addition to Long Beach’s East Village Arts District, Atomic Basement Comics, will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday, Jan. 18. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

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The newest addition to Long Beach’s East Village Arts District, Atomic Basement Comics, will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday, Jan. 18. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

The newest addition to Long Beach’s East Village Arts District, Atomic Basement Comics, will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday, Jan. 18. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)



“Rod Espisona will be dropping by from the Philippines next Wednesday (Jan. 22) on his way to a comic convention in France,” Wellman said. “And Mr. Brandon Easton will also be here signing his Spider-Man No. 1, which comes out that night. They’ll be hanging out to help guide creatives through the process.”

And an entire shelf in the store has already been dedicated to up-and-coming comic creators.

Wellman said the goal is to serve many of Long Beach’s diverse communities — with plans already in the works for a black comic creator event in February and one with the recently rebranded Long Beach Pride in May.

“We will actually be having Rick Remender for Free Comic Day on May 2,” Wellman said, “and we’re putting out a collection of his first issues people can come pick up for free.”

In the meantime, anyone is welcome to attend their grand opening on Saturday. The partners plan to have comic creators, cosplayers and catering from neighboring business Modica’s Deli.

If you go

When: Noon Saturday, Jan. 18

Where: Atomic Basement Comics, 400 E. Third St.

Cost: Free

Information: atomicbasementcomics.com