MANAYUNK

It's a bird, it's a plane...it's Johnny Destructo! For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of strolling down Main Street recently, allow me to introduce you to Johnny Destructo, or JD for short! On September 2nd, on 4456 Main Street in Manayunk, he opened Johnny Destructo's Hero Complex. I hesitate to call it a comic store, because what JD has to offer goes well beyond your average comic book. He has been collecting comic books for over thirty years, with his passion stemming from his early childhood love of GI Joe and Spiderman. "My mom would offer to buy me three comic books for every novel that I read. I would blow through novels, just so I could get the comic books," explained JD.              

He doesn't just read comics, however. JD is quite the multi-tasker! While his shop offers hundreds of comics with new orders arriving weekly, JD has added his own personal flare. He has kept himself very busy over the years while waiting to open Hero Complex. This includes, but is not limited to, the company he started called Johnny Destructo LLC. He produces podcasts, a radio show, t-shirts, and his own original artwork! It is clear that JD is a busy man. More specifically, his schedule is packed from Tuesday to Wednesday. He sorts through, reads, and shares his thoughts on the new comic books his shop receives. With some help from the Black Tribbles, a local Philadelphia squad that also reviews comics, JD is able to assemble #NewBookWednesday! This is the one day out of the week, every week, that he receives the newest comic book subscriptions. This is how JD manages to keep his in-store collection fresh and interesting. As well, if you're interested in getting any comic subscription at all, contact JD or visit him at Hero Complex! He will go above and beyond to accommodate his customers, which includes special orders and subscriptions. Pssst, did we mention that subscribers receive 10% off their orders? But wait, there's more! To top it all off, JD has been a graphic designer for about 15 years, and he has a passion for all things creative. Whether you want him to whip you up a JD original illustration, or hear his feedback about horror films or comic books, JD at Hero Complex is the man for the job!

Subscriptions and discounts are just two of the ways that JD shows his appreciation for his customers. "Treatment of customers is my first priority," said JD. He went on to explain some of the biggest struggles the comic book industry has been battling in his personal opinion. "I feel women and ethnicities have been over looked. Not excluded completely, but not included as much as I would prefer." Taking such a stance is just one of the ways that JD is making a movement to change the comic world for the better. With such a wide array of comic books, action figures, and t-shirts JD is truly sticking to his word. "I just want to offer something for everybody," explained JD.

Johnny Destructo's Hero Complex is new to Main Street, but by no means is JD a stranger to the Manayunk area! He's been around for the last two years or so helping his fiancé transfer salons. After doing some research and checking out locations of other comic book stores nearby, JD decided on Manayunk. Since opening he says there have been countless times that customers have exclaimed "I was just saying that I can't believe there wasn't a comic book shop in Manayunk!" Obviously JD felt the same in the midst of planning to open his business. "Being in Manayunk for the past couple of years, I noticed a severe lack of fun, pop culture representation." In an effort to change that, and make Manayunk cater to yet another demographic, JD opened Hero Complex.

Wondering what the future will hold for Johnny Destructo's Hero Complex? "I want to expand within the store," replied JD. He went on to explain that he plans on staying in Manayunk, but growing his store from the inside out. JD noted how a lot of his inventory right now is based on subscriptions that his customers sign up for on a monthly basis. Once more people come in and get subscriptions to his or her favorite comics, his store will naturally expand.

All in all, if you want a refreshingly knowledgeable and inviting comic lover to geek out with, make sure you stop by Johnny Destructo's Hero Complex Tuesday-Sunday at 4456 Main Street, Manayunk!