New York is losing another veteran comic book store, Hypno-Tronic Comics in Staten Island. Owned and ran by Joy Ghiglotti (known by many as Joy G.), the shop has fallen victim to economic hardship and predatory landlord practices. A newly imposed rent increase has forced Joy G. to close Hypno-Tronic by the end of the current month after more than a decade in business. It’s the only woman-owned comics store in NYC.
Anyone Comics has announced that it will be venturing out to the store on Sunday, August 23rd, 2026, at 11am from their Brooklyn location in support of its last days in operation, and everyone’s invited. Anyone’s located at 831 Nostrand Ave. The event is sponsored by Comix Action, a NYC-based group of comics creators that promote community action.
Those who decide to join in will be taking the free Staten Island ferry ride to get there (specifically to 156 Stuyvesant Pl). Those who prefer to meet the group at the Whitehall ferry terminal can do so, but they are asked to be there at noon to link up and leave together.
Hypno-Tronic Comics (which was originally opened and co-owned by Joy and her late partner Ed Varuolo) is a store for those who love spending their time sifting through long boxes, looking for that elusive 1980s-1990s issue that’s missing from their collection. Comics line the walls in that gravity-defying way that make old school shops feel like hidden treasure caves. It’s the kind of place that rewards exploration, with rare items hidden in unexpected places or just to the side of an oddly angled shelf that toys and movie props have long taken over.
Horror fans found a welcoming home in Hypno-Tronic, too. Hellraiser memorabilia and classic monster figures line some of the store’s walls, along with new editions of classic works such as the original Kolchak: The Night Stalker novel that author Jeff Rice would go on to shape into a classic TV movie and series. Puppet Master figures are also available for purchase, sitting right next to some of McFarlane’s earliest toy offerings.
Special glass cases are found at the back of the store, reserved for special collectors’ items. You’ll find your vintage Batman figure there, sure, but it’ll probably be next to an action figure from the 1994 animated series Reboot (about a group of digital guardians trying to keep a super computer safe from corrupted programs). The deeper you look, the bigger the reward.
This isn’t the first trip Anyone Comics has organized to a comics store that’s faced financial struggles. Back in 2024, it put together a group to visit Joseph Koch’s Comics Warehouse in Brooklyn. This massive space housed thousands of comics, hundreds of prose books, and even some sizeable vintage magazine collections.
The closing of a comic book store is a kind of event in and of itself, a reminder that survival in this economic climate is not guaranteed. A lot is lost, especially if one considers these places as impactful social hubs capable of forging strong communities. Ultimately, it’s not about the merchandise or the toys or the boxes upon boxes of trading cards and other discontinued games and items that eventually get sold in bulk to the highest bidder. It’s about the loss of a place that gave people a deep sense of belonging and safety.
Comic book stores thrive on the presence they build and maintain amongst groups of people that come together to enjoy, discuss, and debate their favorite mediums. Those who succeed in building such a community, like Anyone Comics has in resounding fashion, know how important their stores become for a particular area. If you have the time, join in on the adventure and honor the work that Joy G. has put into Hypno-Tronic Comics for all these years. And always remember the importance of supporting your local comics shop.
