When he found out that the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time was going to be made into a comic book, he decided he would like to have a special cover just for his store. It was a comic book he thought would go over well with his clientele because it appeals to a good mix of teens and older fans of indie comics.
He contacted the publisher, who liked the idea and suggested Neal find a local artist to draw the alternate cover.
“After a couple of hours thinking about it I thought, ‘Hey, I know a guy. I’m that guy,’ ” says Neal, who studied art at UNC-Greensboro but had never tried drawing for a comic book.
Neal will unveil the cover Feb. 18 at a party from 4 to 7 p.m. at the store, 316 W. Franklin St. There will be 500 editions available of “Adventure Time No. 1” with the special cover sporting the name of the store. Neal will also be selling editions with the regular cover for $3.99.
The special edition also will be available for $20 at chapelhillcomics.com.
“I have never done anything like this before,” says Neal, who adds that he learned to read from comic books and has been reading them ever since. He opened the store in 2003 after working at it for 10 years when it was called Second Foundation bookstore.
The comic tells the story of a boy and his dog in a post-apocalyptic time after the Great Mushroom War.
“I wouldn’t say it’s particularly dark,” Neal says of the setting. “It’s just strange.”
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