[thefreakytiki]

For those who are unaware, legendary Comic retailer Rory Root has passed today. His store, Comic Relief, was a pillar in history of the direct market. I hope he is having a drink in the clouds with Jack King Kirby.


the Tiki

[joypog]

For those who are unaware, legendary Comic retailer Rory Root has passed today. His store, Comic Relief, was a pillar in history of the direct market. I hope he is having a drink in the clouds with Jack King Kirby.
the Tiki

Wow...that is very sad. He's the guy who got me into comics. I mean, I had seen and read comics in the library, but his store where I really started to take the medium seriously cause he would let people just walk in and browse. As long as you didn't sit on the ground you could hang out there as long as you want and read as much as you could (I read the whole Sandman series in the store standing up). As an undergrad I bought maybe $10 worth of comics at his store for the first three years there....I think I must have bought at least $500 in the years after. For whatever its worth he introduced me to Will Eisner and 300 and Igort and......well lets say that even in Houston, his recommendations still drive my reading habits.

Comic Relief is still one of the best stores period, and he was a great guy -- always friendly and helpful. I actually saw him in San Diego last summer with some buddies but I didn't want to bother him (they were at dinner); I kind of wish I had, but even so I guess its a good last memory of someone. I'm really sad to hear he's not with us anymore, but I'm definitely going to have a drink in his memory.

[wopapino]

I really didn't know Rory as well as I had liked, but he was always great to talk with. Some of my earliest geek memories are of taking BART out to his store with middle school friends. He was always a great supporter on indie stuff and will be missed.

[Jer]

For those who are unaware, legendary Comic retailer Rory Root has passed today. His store, Comic Relief, was a pillar in history of the direct market. I hope he is having a drink in the clouds with Jack King Kirby.


the Tiki

Sorry to hear that. He was a great guy. I only met him a few times. On the shortlist of top comics retailers in the nation. My condolences to all affected.

[atomic99]

Dang! I'm sorry to hear that.
I missed going to his store on our Comic Crawl two weeks ago (family matters meant I had to cut out).

[Fade2Black]

Wow that is tragic news indeed. I had the pleasure of meeting the man several times at various conventions, though I never have been to his store since the relocation. Does anyone know if the forum user who posts as under the guise of Comic Relief is Rory? He and I recently had a forum conversation where he extended an invitation for me to visit his store (Comic Relief), but I wasn't sure if it was Rory that I was conversing with or another one of his associates.

[Fade2Black]

Lene Taylor once interviewed Rory on her I Read Comics podcast. Click here to listen to it. iTunes users can download it here (iTunes needs to be installed in order for the link to work).

[BadDeacon]

Wow. Rest well, Rory. Thank you for all the good times in your store.



I bought my comics from his store for the two years that I was going to school at UC Berkeley. I would walk down between classes every Wednesday.

[joypog]

Thank you to everyone who has called or e-mailed the store to show their support.
I hope to have a memorial site up in the next few hours if you have any
photos, art, or any other images you would like to share please email them to RRmemorial@gmail.com
and I will add them. There will be a place on the new site to leave your comments,
but it will take me a little bit to get it together. Thank you again.

From the Comic Relief website..when the memorial page is put up, definitely please send his family/friends your memories. Man I woke up a lot more bummed than I thought I would. Nice guy to his customers at the least, great evangelist for comics and someone who will be missed by the community, both in Comics and in Berkeley.

[kidbenicia]

Holey Crap! I was just at the store yesterday and no one said a thing! Rory will be missed. I only got a chance to talk to him a handful of times, but he was always a cool guy. Wow. I'm speechless.

[joypog]

From the Comic Relief website..when the memorial page is put up, definitely please send his family/friends your memories. Man I woke up a lot more bummed than I thought I would. Nice guy to his customers at the least, great evangelist for comics and someone who will be missed by the community, both in Comics and in Berkeley.

They have revamped the main store website (for the time being) so please visit http://www.comicrelief.net/ and leave any memories.

As it points out, please remember that the store is open so if you are in the area, make sure to swing by! Since I've seen the same employees in the store over the years, I really hope they keep the place running, its a great place and a major amenity to the city Berkeley.

[James Sime]

Very sad news for comics. He created a great shop and back when I was still living in Wisconsin Rory's store was in my top five reasons to move to the SF Bay Area.

Does anyone know if the forum user who posts as under the guise of Comic Relief is Rory? He and I recently had a forum conversation where he extended an invitation for me to visit his store (Comic Relief), but I wasn't sure if it was Rory that I was conversing with or another one of his associates.

I don't actually know, but I'm pretty sure it was him. I've been reading Rory's forum posts for about a decade now, and it certainly *sounded* like his voice behind those posts on this board.

[Fade2Black]

Does anyone know if the forum user who posts as under the guise of Comic Relief is Rory? He and I recently had a forum conversation where he extended an invitation for me to visit his store (Comic Relief), but I wasn't sure if it was Rory that I was conversing with or another one of his associates.

I don't actually know, but I'm pretty sure it was him. I've been reading Rory's forum posts for about a decade now, and it certainly *sounded* like his voice behind those posts on this board.

Thanks for your insight.
If that's the case, then not only have we lost a pillar in the comic's industry, but the CGS forum has lost a comrade as well.

[cepwin]

It's very sad that such a fine gentleman passed so young. My deepest condolences to his loved ones. While I live on the east coast and never visited his store, it sounds like he and his store are examples for other retailers to follow.

[Fade2Black]

While perusing some of the various tributes to Rory, I came across this link. It's a 2007 Commonwealth Club interview featuring Scott McCloud and Rory Root. In it, they discuss graphic novels & the graphic novel movement. It's well worth listening to (IMHO).

http://audio.commonwealthclub.org/audio/po...novelspanel.mp3

[Neutron11]

Back in 1983, I walked into store on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley. I had never bought a comic in my life. Rory Root was behind the register and suggested I buy Daredevil. It was the Death of Electra issue. I have been a comic fan ever since. Rory was the man who started it all for me. I've had numerous conversations with him about comics, in fact a couple of years ago I went into Comic Relief to buy some GN's for my classroom and he spent an hour with me hand picking books that he wanted my kids to read. 2 or 3 of them he just gave to me as a gift for the school. He was a kind and thoughtful retailer and a friend to comics. I only wish I could have mentioned to him his role in my becoming a lifelong comic fan. I should post over on the Comic Relief website to tell his family how important he was to me.

[Fade2Black]

Neutron11 PM'd me about possibly having a CGS get together for the memorial service to be held at Comic Relief on June 21st from 7:00Pm - 12:30AM. A picnic is also planned, but the initial park that was selected is no longer available. An announcement regarding the picnic's new location should be forthcoming. Please check Comic Relief's website for details. While there, please fill out the attendance survey so they can get a rough estimate as to how many people will be coming. Currently, I'm not sure if I will be able to go (though I would certainly like to). Will anyone else here be attending either or both of these events?

[Neutron11]

I'm lumping the trip to Berkeley with a visit with my father. I'll probably go to the memorial at the store and try to catch a bite before or after. I'd love to meet up with a couple of others for a quick meal.

[atomic99]

I'm torn.
I'm all for a get together, dinner, even a stop by the shop to pay my respects.
But I didn't know Rory at all other than talking to him briefly once and seeing him at shows. I'm not sure if I'm really up for a memorial or wake for a few hours in a park. I hope that doesn't sound too disrespectful and callous but I think I would only do that for personal friends or people that have touched me in some way. I also feel like I've had my full lately of death, mortality, illnesses, and family tragedy that I'm looking for a break from it. I hope people understand.

[Fade2Black]

I'm torn.
I'm all for a get together, dinner, even a stop by the shop to pay my respects.
But I didn't know Rory at all other than talking to him briefly once and seeing him at shows. I'm not sure if I'm really up for a memorial or wake for a few hours in a park. I hope that doesn't sound too disrespectful and callous but I think I would only do that for personal friends or people that have touched me in some way. I also feel like I've had my full lately of death, mortality, illnesses, and family tragedy that I'm looking for a break from it. I hope people understand.

I completely understand.

I only knew him from dealings from conventions. From what I gather the memorial in the park is going to be an informal picnic/barbecue. People are asked to wear their favorite comics attire and perhaps a hat in his honor. I'm considering attending both events, but I would be more inclined to attend just the event at the shop.

This post has been edited by Fade-2-Black: 13 June 2008 - 12:28 PM