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When I clicked the button to play the latest Jonathan L. Bowen film, The Comic Shop, I honestly didn’t have much in the way of expectations from it. But the charm of the film lies in its simple underdog characters trying to make their lives a little better. As the name suggests, the movie revolves around a comic shop owner and the fast-moving world around him testing his limits as he tries to keep the business alive. If The Karate Kid is the benchmark for martial arts enthusiasts, then The Comic Shop checks all the right boxes for comic book fans—and still manages to resonate with the rest of us, too.

Spoilers Ahead

What happens in the movie?

Mike, a former illustrator, runs a comic book store in a strip mall in Vegas. In a world where people can just download everything, Mike is finding it hard to...

Stars: Jesse Metcalfe, Tristin Mays, Micah Giovanni, Anthony Palermo, Leesa Neidel, Trevor Einhorn, Dylan Mooney, Royce Adkins, David Lautman, Eric Roberts | Written by Jonathan L. Bowen, Scott Reed | Directed by Jonathan L. Bowen

The Comic Shop, starring Jesse Metcalfe and Tristin Mays (MacGyver), is a heartfelt, charming, and joyfully nostalgic journey into the vibrant world of independent comic book culture. From the very first scene, the film radiates a warmth and sincerity that immediately draws you in, whether you’re a longtime comic collector or someone who’s just walked into a comic store for the first time. It’s an absolute gem that celebrates the passion, creativity, and community of comic book lovers in a way that feels both authentic and deeply personal.

Jesse Metcalfe delivers one of his most grounded and endearing performances to date. As the struggling shop owner trying to keep his comic store alive in a rapidly changing world,...

Chicago – The “Comic Book Culture” is so embedded in society now that it’s hard to imagine the world without it. Writer/Director Jonathan L. Bowen explores the cultural phenomenon from the retail side and the zeitgeist of “The Comic Shop,” his new film releasing on digital platforms on April 11th.

’The Comic Shop,’ Written & Directed by Jonathan L. Bowen

Photo credit: Quiver Distribution

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The title shop is centered in Las Vegas, where owner Mike (Jesse Metcalfe of “Desperate Housewives”) and customer/new-kid-in-town Brandon (Micah Giovanni) connect through their comic book love. As Mike faces difficult choices about keeping his store open and Brandon navigates a contentious relationship with his own father, these two new friends find ways to let their passion for comic books and its art reveal unexpected paths forward. “The Comic Shop” co-stars Tristan Mays (“MacGyver”) as Mike’s loyal employee Alex, and features cameos from...

Quiver Distribution has announced it will be distributing the feel-good indie drama The Comic Shop across digital platforms next month.

Mike D’Angelo decided to open a comic shop after his own dreams of becoming a comic illustrator fell apart. It feels like his current career path isn’t too stable either though: he was able to weather the pandemic, but the ensuing inflation has boosted his rent sky high — and then some flashy competition moves in a few blocks down. “Wild Imagination Comics.” They’re bigger, they’re fancier, and they’re richer. If things don’t improve Mike may have to fire his only other worker.

That’s when Brandon comes into his shop…a teenager just getting into the comics scene, he inspires Mike to possibly give his dreams another shot. Perhaps together, Mike, Alex and Brandon can make it all work out.

The Comic Shop stars Jesse Metcalfe,...

"I think each person needs to follow their own unique path. Otherwise, you'll just be wondering 'what if?'" Quiver has debuted the trailer for an indie dramedy film titled The Comic Shop, directed by Jonathan L. Bowen. This feel-good film is being released direct-to-vod in April this spring. It's the story of a guy who runs a comic book shop but who actually dreams of having his own real job as a comic book artist. There's a couple of scenes set at the San Diego Comic-Con, as well as in the little comic shop he owns in Vegas. Mike D'Angelo, a former comic book artist turned owner of a struggling shop located in a strip mall in Las Vegas, faces a tough reality after the pandemic hits. Forced to reinvent his business & also part ways with his best friend, Alex, Mike thinks his creative dreams are over. But when they meet Brandon,...

Exclusive: Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood), Sophia Ali (Uncharted), Gregg Henry (Guardians of the Galaxy), Adhir Kalyan (United States of Al), Reno Wilson (Good Girls) and Jamie Lee (Crashing) will topline Above The Line, an independent dark heist-comedy from director Jeffrey Scott Collins. Others set for roles include Dylan Playfair (Letterkenny), Jackson Pace (The Walking Dead), John Way (Sweet Sunshine), Suzy Nakamura (The West Wing) and Jordan Claire Robbins (The Umbrella Academy).

The film currently shooting in Los Angeles is described as being of the world of Swingers, with the sensibility of Pulp Fiction. Essentially, Hollywood idiots getting in way over their heads. On Christmas eve, six fledgling Hollywood hopefuls get a mysterious knock at their door and an envelope of $$$ at their feet. It contains the “opportunity of a lifetime” to go burglarize a mutually despised producer that once screwed them over and steal his Best Picture awards. Who organized this holiday heist?...