Comic Book Store Clerks of America, No. 3: St. Louis, Missouri
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They have no super powers, but they are heroic: They are the store employees across America who sell comics and, like the guys in ‘High Fidelity,’ bicker with each other all day long about the true treasures of the discount bin. They are the Comic Book Store Clerks of America, and we salute them.
Meet Nick Kuntz, 28, who loved’ Star Wars’ so much growing up that he spooked his mom.
‘When I was 3, I could name all the characters from ‘Star Wars’ and who played them. My mom wanted me to know that it wasn’t real, so she taught me the actors’ names. I would say, ‘My Luke Skywalker action figure is played by Mark Hamill.’ ‘ Still the quintessential fanboy, Kuntz spends his days fantasizing about female Twi’leks while helping customers at Star Clipper Comics (6392 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., (314) 725-9110).
What comic book is the hottest seller in your store? And what should be the hottest?
‘Do you have the Barack Obama Spiderman comic book?’ Everyone asks, and we don’t have it! It’s ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ No. 583 -- the one with Barack Obama in it. Hmm, what should be? I would say Captain America, because it’s a good book that should have broad appeal.
You get the chance to re-do any comic book movie, which one do you pick and who is your star?
You’re full of tough questions! I would do ‘Daredevil.’ I would cast Matt Damon as the main character, even though Ben Affleck is the real one. I think that he’s done OK with the movie ‘The Bourne Identity,’ so he has the cynical aspect down pretty good. He’s also a great actor.
A bunch of superheroes go into a dark alley, but only one walks out alive. Which one would it be?
I’ll say the Invisible Woman, because she can hide, and everyone else would beat each other up.
You dedicate yourself to fighting crime as a mystery man. Describe the costume you would wear.
It would be a hoodie with my logo I designed and a domino mask. I think it looks cool, and I don’t think you would look utterly ridiculous in it. I wouldn’t have a cape. You don’t need it for anything; it’s unnecessary and gets in the way.
You spend the rest of your life in a ‘Star Wars’ movie. Would you live as Jedi or Sith? And which movie do you live in?
Jedi. I’m awful at being evil. It would be tough what period though. Anakin is really annoying. He’s whiny ... but Luke’s whiny too. ... Anakin was really petulant, so I’d probably go alongside Anakin.
-- Michelle Castillo
Meet more Comic Store Clerks of America