As I have mentioned to some of you, I’m trying to write a FantaCo book, that is, a book about the comic book store/publisher/convention operator/mail-order entity FantaCo at 21 Central Avenue in Albany, which operated from 1978 to 1998 and still exists in some electronic version.
I worked there officially from May 1980 to November 1988. Frankly, I’ve written almost nothing, though I have done some interviews. I have a pretty good idea of how it’s laying out in terms of chronological facts.
What I haven’t quite grasped is why FantaCo was that special place. When working there, you try to do the best job possible to make the experience pleasant. How the customers perceive that is a harder thing to define.
I did get a couple of insights from some interviews I’ve done. One is that FantaCo was part of a larger Lark Street/lower Central Ave/Metroland scene. How does one explain what a scene feels like? The other thing I’ve heard is that we were responsive to what our customers wanted without making any conscious plan.
FantaCo was a fascinating place that started primarily as a comic book store. It never stopped being one, but got much more into film items. The publishing got more into the horror genre.
Decade One
The book will focus on the first ten years, 1978-1988. I need more information about the first two years before I officially worked there, from August 1978 until May 1980. After that, I recorded most of the stuff in a series of diaries. I’ve also written some of it via interviews and incorporated the diaries into this blog.
Once upon a time, I gathered information for a Raoul Vezina Wikipedia page. Though it never happened, I still have some unique items.
I have scads of photos. To my surprise, I identified most of the individuals and the date.
Again, I’m less worried about the narrative while I was there, although I’d be interested if you have some stories to share. I’m focused on the feelings/atmosphere—if you will pardon the expression, the gestalt.
How would you explain FantaCo’s vibe? Please get in touch with me by leaving a comment on this post, by email, or by Facebook/Messenger. I’d love to hear your insights on this topic. Thank you.
