San Diego has a lot to offer when it comes to comics and pop culture; we are talking about the birthplace of Comic-Con. However, when it comes to having spaces to let that community thrive, it still has a lot to work on.
In that absence, Los Angeles has done its best to fill in that void, whether it be Anime Expo, Los Angeles Comic Con, Anime Los Angeles, the city has made itself ground zero for pop culture events and media.
That’s why a comic shop like Revenge Of has been able to thrive. It fills a scarcity, a need for community in a unique, welcoming setting.
Co-owned by Joe Kuntz, Jeff Eyser, and Joe Myers, the comic shop is located at 3420 Eagle Rock Blvd in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, and it has already made waves in the comic community.
Its front entrance is unsuspecting, though the giant red-and-white logo spelling out “REVENGE OF” give it a slightly ominous touch. A glass door leads inside to the shopfront, where new releases, trades, board games, and figures line the walls, and the smell of their sandwiches drifts through the space. It almost feels ordinary at first, right up until you’re transported into a world of pinball machines, sci-fi, comics, and video games. A comic bodega that cares not only about profit, but about its design and community.
Any newcomer stepping into the storefront would be instantly enthralled, almost overstimulated by the sheer amount of work and care poured into the space. Designed to resemble a regular corner store before shifting into the hull of a spacecraft, it’s filled with analog TVs scattered throughout and even a phone booth with a Super Nintendo installed inside. After all, why make a phone call when you can play Street Fighter II?
Then there is the Comic Creators Block Party.
The event took place on November 8th, Revenge Of has been hosting it for three years now alongside Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum. A massive signing and panel gathering that brings in hordes of fans to meet some of their favorite comic creators, completely free to attendees.
It’s a remarkable feat: more than 100 comic creators packed into one event, from Tony Fleecs to Mike and Laura Allred, Nathan Fillion, Patrick Horvath, Brian Michael Bendis, and even WWE Superstar AJ Mendez ( AJ Lee). Even Ed Brubaker had attended, not signing anything but merely attending the event alongside everyone else.
Co-owners Jeff Eyser and Joe Myers had a lot to share about the event with The Beat in a post-event interview.
Eyser says that the event has grown since its first year, growing from 35 creators to a little more than 105 this year. The idea for the event came from a big launch party that was thrown for Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum’s hit comic book, Minor Threats Volume One. They had a large release party with a live band and comedians; it was a big success.
“While we were at the event, Pat, Jordan, and I brought up the idea of running our own convention. So I hit them up the week after and we just started talking about what it could be like to host our own thing.”
He admits that they weren’t too crazy about doing signings; that wasn’t the store’s bread and butter. They might do it here and there; however, if they were going to do a signing, why not just do a massive one, something similar to a mini convention? Working hard on it and honing it over the years.
“I think this year was kind of like the apex of what we hoped it would eventually be.”
Packed with notable comic book creators, celebrities, and people who simply love being part of the comic community, there was never a dull moment for anyone. People who came alone didn’t leave alone because so many attendees were connecting and making new friends. Fans met the creators they admire, gushing about how much they love their work and how they continue to support them. Laughter, joy, and smiles were everywhere. It didn’t matter how old you were; kids and young adults shared the experience with their parents or arrived on their own with stacks of comics in hand, excited to meet the creators behind their favorite titles
It was evident from the start of the event to the end that everyone there was invested in the medium. People were being introduced to things they hadn’t tried before and discovering that comics aren’t just about DC and Marvel. Everyone was recognized in some way, whether they were new or long-time fans.
This wasn’t lost on attendees, as it quickly became evident that even those unfamiliar with the Los Angeles comic and pop-culture scene were warmly welcomed. Co-owners Eyser and Myers made that inclusivity a key part of the event, building a genuine community hub where everyone felt invited to take part.
“That was kind of the whole idea behind the event. We wanted it to be accessible to anyone, where indie comic writers and artists could sit right next to major veteran artists. Behind the scenes, it was a block party for the creators as well,” Eyser stated.
He went on to explain that many of the creators were meeting for the first time, but fans still had the chance to get real face time with their favorite artists while also discovering new work.
It worked like a charm, and it wasn’t just the creators; the sets themselves invited a want for creativity and sharing. This was surgical, Eyser explaining that their day jobs are set design and fabrication in the TV and film industry.
“We actually own a set design fabrication shop that we operate. When we opened the store, it was kind of like a let’s pull all the tricks we can out of our hat to make a living portfolio of all the cool things we can do,” Eyser explained.
The rest of the store and event experience flows from that background. From the scenic paint and graphic design to the walls, logos, and in-house prints, every element is crafted by the team. Their production expertise also extends to organizing the Block Party with precision and even live-streaming the entire event, showing how their design and production roots shape both the store and its ambitious, immersive events.
Myers added on “We’ve done it all grassroots, by our bootstraps the whole way. That was part of what we kind of didn’t like as much about the conventions that we have been to in the past. Just how much kind of licensing happens in general. The idea that we sat down and we talked with Pat and Jordan about was that we wanted to do something that brought it all back again to the creators, and also didn’t wear them out with a ton of stuff to do.”
Myers made it a point to state that people were only really obligated to be there for an hour, maybe two on the creator side, but could then just hang out all day. They got to meet new artists, new fans, talk to their peers about what they’re doing, and maybe even provide a leg up for someone who is just getting started.
“It’s turned into very much a comic-oriented and creator-powered event as a whole, and that’s what it’s known for, and that’s what we hope to continue to build.”
It is important to emphasize how rare this kind of collaboration is. For a retail store to attract this level of talent and partnerships, especially with competitors like Golden Apple Comics with their own booth, and even animation studio Titmouse showing up to promote their new game Drunkards, Druggies, & Delinquents Game, demonstrates years of effort in building a recognizable brand and library of IP.
Eyser says that it was as much a directive as everything else, explaining that they had been working with Golden Apple Collectibles and Collectors Paradise for the last couple of years in various events.
“The store has been open for about four years, and we spent a long time cultivating our event programming and earning the trust of the industry, and being disruptive in the sense of doing things differently than everyone else. I think over the years, and at this point, it feels like hundreds of events that we’ve hosted. I think we’ve gained the trust of pretty much everyone to kind of just do our thing and represent them in a way that is favorable to everybody,” said Eyser.
Myers added, “When it came to sponsorship and building trust, that was a bit of a sidestep for us. We were already working with Kara and Casey over at Dark Horse, and we were like, ‘Hey, we’re doing this live stream.’ They approached us because we had so many creators involved. We were working with Patton, Jordan Heath, and Nathan, among others.
We were in discussions with American Capes since their new book is coming out this week, and they asked if they could get involved. We welcomed the opportunity and explained that this was our first live stream.
To speak to the trust aspect, Kara and Casey really stepped up. They said, ‘Look, you guys run it. We’re happy to share it on our socials, and we will start a partnership that way.’ It ended up being a great collaboration, and we had a strong partnership with them in launching this event this year.”
Even Dark Horse Comics sponsored the live stream portion of the event, The Comic Creators “Couch” Party, Revenge Of’s first time livestreaming the event.
Joe Myers was in charge of the live streaming portion of the event. going into detail about the particulars of running the stream.
“We had a really good time with it. It was our first time doing an all-day live stream like that, so getting everything dialed in as far as making sure we had the right bandwidth, making sure we’re sending outputs at all the right frame rates and everything. All the technical stuff is not exactly our forte, so we spent a couple of days ahead of the event trying to make sure everything was in line. It was a real testament to everyone who was involved with the live stream that we were pretty much on time all day for our first time doing that.”
Eyser and Myers made sure to give credit where it’s due, giving special thanks to Sammi Demonster, founder of Demonster publication and newsletter, who was the Comic Couch Block Party’s host for the entire event. They said that Sammi was a consummate professional willing to take on new challenges. It was a long day to be on camera and ask 1,000 questions, even hosting her own panel, Women in Comics.
The event did not shy away from major announcements either. Celebrity Nathan Fillion and Heath Corson announced their newest project, Witness Point. Revealing that the final piece to their trio was none other than award-winning artist, Soo Lee!
The story follows an unimpressive town where the community is thrown into chaos when the residents discover that their town has served as a secret dumping ground for the witness protection program for the past 40 years.
That wasn’t the only surprise, either. Early in the day, it was announced that there would be a secret movie screening immediately after the event, with Paramount’s logo prominently displayed at the bottom of the page. With a corporation that large, many were under the impression that it could be any movie they had ties to.
What they didn’t know was that it would be an entirely new one, and the crowd erupted with excitement as Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright, lit up the screening. Seating was done through a raffle for active pullbox members at the front end of the shop. It was their own way of giving back to their comic community.
“Kind of a mind-blowing get, but we were able to work with Edgar Wright and Paramount to bring in a full cinema projector and Dolby surround sound right into the panel area in the warehouse. We did a secret screening for about 60 people, and it was such a crazy way to end the event,” Eyser said.
He described it as a last-minute addition, being able to lock that screening in five days prior, and hopes to plan more fun, free things like that screening.
“But it’s not a sponsorship thing. They’re just letting us do cool stuff, which feels like the old days of San Diego Comic-Con, where it was a surprise! You get to watch this movie now instead of just looking at a slideshow.”
It’s important to recognize the power of networking for indie shops like Revenge Of. When you look at the event, it becomes clear that they were able to build something meaningful with both creators and the community. Eyser explained that the screening came together because of his friendship with Oswalt, who had attended the film’s premiere a couple of weeks earlier and asked Wright if they could show the movie.
The craziest part is that is this wasn’t the first time they worked together on a project, this was their second as they had thrown together a launch party for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off!
Eyser wanted to finish the interview on an important note: “I did a big thank-you post at the end of the event, which I always do. I kind of shouted out all the important people who helped us pull this off. We asked a lot from our staff at the store, probably more than any comic bookstore would normally ask of their team, because we do some pretty crazy stuff with them. But they have done this so many times now that they are just as skilled at the production side of things as we are. Without them, it would have been a chaotic day, not the good chaotic day that we had.”
Myers noted that there are only eleven members of the core crew, themselves included, plus everyone else who helped, but those eleven people helped put together the entire event.
“We trust them. They became awesome troopers when it comes to running this kind of thing,” Myers said.
That dedication is on full display at the Comic Creators Block Party, a rare and remarkable example of what a community-driven comic shop can accomplish. In an industry where large conventions often feel corporate and transactional, Revenge Of has carved out a space that puts creators and fans first, creating a genuine hub for connection, discovery, and celebration.
From its meticulous, immersive design to the careful curation of guests, panels, and surprise experiences, the event reflects the shop’s commitment to both craft and community. It is a place where indie creators share space with industry veterans, where fans can discover new voices while meeting the artists behind their favorite work, and where the energy of a shared passion transforms a store into a living, breathing celebration of comics and pop culture.
In a landscape where this level of collaboration, trust, and inclusivity is exceedingly rare, the Block Party stands as a testament to what is possible when dedication, creativity, and community intersect. Revenge Of has not only built a brand but a family, a space where everyone from first-time attendees to longtime fans feels seen, welcomed, and inspired. It is the kind of event that reminds the industry and the fans that comics are about more than stories on a page. They are about the people, connections, and shared experiences that bring them to life.
The store is always planning something fun, so the best way to keep up is by following their Instagram. Coming up in December is their annual Christmas Village event, and at the end of January they’ll celebrate their fourth anniversary.
On top of that, they host a live stream every Tuesday night at 7:45 p.m., which is approaching its 200th episode and has built a solid following. Fans can expect plenty of exciting events and content in the months ahead!
