Gib Bickel, the co-founder of The Laughing Ogre in Columbus, Ohio, has passed away, the shop announced yesterday:
It is with very deep sadness that we share the passing of one of the extremely beloved founders of the Laughing Ogre. Gib Bickel passed away this morning after his 20-month long battle with cancer. He was able to spend his final days in the comfort of his home, surrounded by loving family and fiercely guarded by his little pup.
The Ogre staff loves him very much. He’s taken care of many of us for over a decade, and we will miss him more than anything.
On a closing note, his family is encouraging everyone to talk to their doctor about their colon cancer screening schedule.
Bickel was one of those comics shop owner who was so much more – both he and the Orge were truly beloved local institutions, with the shop winning the Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award in 2021. There has been an outpouring of sorrow over his loss
Cartoon Crossroad Columbus: We’re saddened to hear of the passing of Gib Bickel, founder of The Laughing Ogre and a longtime friend of CXC.
Gib helped shape the comics community in Columbus in ways that will continue to ripple through artists, readers, and fellow retailers for years to come. His presence, generosity, and deep love for the medium made a lasting impact on our festival and the many people who found connection through his work.
We send our condolences to his family, the Laughing Ogre team, and the broader comics community who knew and loved him.
Brian Bendis: Back in the 90s, before cameras were invented, Gib and laughing Ogre had me and my friends for a signing and treated us with such love and care. It’s hard to describe how motivating and inspiring that weekend was for us. I was able to tell Gib this over the years. What a true supporter of the comic arts!
Jenny Blake Isabella: Gib was a great guy. His customers and staff loved him. The creators he championed loved him. All of us at Mid-Ohio-Con loved him. He was a great supporter of the convention. His family shared his wish that those who know him go in for early screening. That’s the kind of man he was. Rest in peace, Gib.
Those early days were magic: Gib and his two friends and partners, Roddy and Daryn, had created something that was just different from most of the stores I saw at the time. For one thing, each time a customer entered the store they would be see Gib, standing behind the counter. He’d always greet a new arrival but somehow he had this… presence: he’d never be intrusive in any way, he’d just let you know he would be there if you needed him, or he’d simply take your money if that’s what you preferred. He’d let interested readers take a copy of an issue #1 for free, and if they liked the series he would let them pay for it when they came back to buy issue #2. Most important of all, the Ogre prided itself on giving prominent shelf space to local indie publishers, whose book they sold in spades. Gib once told me that the Ogre made at least as much money from indie publishing as they did from Marvel and DC sales. That’s because Gib knew each of his customers personally. He knew what books to recommend. He also understood that the Ogre wasn’t a comic store – it was the epicenter of an entire community. He was a local icon, loved by every single customer and many others besides.
This reverence shines through in the way then assistant manager Lauren McAllister talks about Bickel in Gearino’s Comic Shop. “I think he has magical powers,” she said. “I don’t even know how to describe it. He’s like a master salesman, really. He has a way with every single person who comes through the door. … Still to this day, after working with him for three years, I can’t tell you what kind of weird voodoo he’s working.”
“For generations of comics creators, he was someone who provided support and helped to build audiences,” Gearino wrote on Facebook. “For organizations that wanted to spread a love of comics, he was the person who immediately asked, “How can I help?” For his customers, many of whom became his friends, he was one of a kind.”
I spoke with Bickel at retailer events, and he was just as everyone mentions: smart, kind, giving. I wish we’d spoken more. Comic shops are community, and Bickel is the kind of rare person who just innately made The Laughing Ogre so much more than just a place to buy things.
Jenkins wrote that if Bickel had been able to get screened earlier, he would probably have survived the colon cancer that took his life. Take the time to get screened – if Bickel’s last message helps just one person get early detection, he’ll have helped the community he loved so much yet again.
The Beat sends it’s sincere condolences to Bickel family and many friends and the staff at the Laughing Ogre.
Like this:
Like Loading...
