Mon Apr 28, 2008 — by Van Jensen

Michigan Comic Shop Owner Shot in Robbery

Kentwood man listed in critical but stable condition

Until not too long ago, I worked for a newspaper as a police reporter, filing stories about homicides and then covering comic books in my free time. Thankfully, the worlds of real violence and superhero battles never intersected.

For the owner of Apparitions Comics and Books in Kentwood, MIch., violence became all too real Friday night, when police say a man went into the store, demanded money from David Pirkola, 56, then shot Pirkola and fled. The Grand Rapids Press has the full story.

First, best wishes to Pirkola for a speedy recovery. He's listed in critical but stable condition.

One heartening aspect of this terrible news is the response from the comic book community, including owners of competing shops:

[Stephen] Jahner, who owns Capital City Collectibles in Lansing, said Pirkola enjoys role-playing games and is well known in comic circles for his devotion to the store.

He said he was informed of the shooting from another Apparitions employee, and together they will try to keep the shop open until Pirkola recovers.

Other Grand Rapids comic store owners said they were shocked to hear about the shooting.

"Comic-book store owners tend to have an affinity for each other," said Kirby Tardy, owner of Tardy's Collector's Corner, 2009 Eastern Ave. SE.

"It's a tough business, and it takes a lot of love to keep it going."

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