Colle cting toys is a form of time trav el— a wind ow to the past .
The
Intersection of Pop Culture and Fandoms
Pensacola Comic Book and Game Shops By Dakota Parks
If you’ve turned on a TV in the past decade, you’ve probably seen references to comic books, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), video games, collectors, conventions and the influx of fandoms gone mainstream. There are communities and fandoms for just about anything and everything people are passionate about—from niche and nostalgic collectibles, cinema and retro games to tabletop gaming, video games, comic books, manga, anime and superheroes. At the intersection of pop culture and fandoms are comic bookstores, game shops and toy collectors that provide a space for people of all ages to gather, talk, game and geek out over their shared interests. Just in time for the annual Pensacon convention, held February 18–20, we gathered up some of the best spots in Pensacola to buy a new comic book, roll some dice, trade a game or simply get a dose of childhood nostalgia.
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Hyperspace Toys 6224 N 9th Avenue Unit #1 Instagram and Facebook @hyperspacetoys Husband and wife duo, Jim and Michelle Vail, opened their shop specializing in nostalgic toys and “Collecting toys is a form of time collectibles in 2018 after the owner travel—a window to the past, a of Marty’s Collectibles retired and happier time when we played all they took over the location. As the time, long before we had adult a longtime film aficionado, Jim responsibilities and distractions,” wanted a shop that encapsulated Jim Vail explained. “I hear it all the all things nerdy and pop culture time, ‘I haven’t thought about this and allowed his patrons to revisit since I was a kid!’ Seeing toys or other their nostalgic childhood toys. With relics of your childhood can often toys and collectibles ranging from bring back a forgotten memory along the 1950s to present day and the with a rush of serotonin that just constantly changing and trading makes a person smile. It’s a feeling stock, there is always something new that overcomes everything else and (but technically used) on the shelves. instantly catapults you back to your Hyperspace Toys carries vintage childhood. It’s very powerful, and video games, consoles, comic books, there’s nothing like it. Whether you Pokémon and other trading cards, were a kid six years ago or 60 years board games, movies, and of course, ago, we’ve got something from your childhood here in the shop.” action figures and toys.
Photos by Guy Stevens