Suburban comics pioneer remembered

Comic book fans are mourning the loss of a pioneer in the industry, who started one of the nation's first stores that sold only comic book stores, and later ran one in Mount Prospect.

Joe Sarno started by gathering friends in his Chicago basement to trade and sell comics as far back as the late 1950s. He later developed his love of comics into a retail operation while living in Des Plaines and the last 13 years in Arlington Heights.

He died Thursday at the age 71.

In 1971, Mr. Sarno made the leap from his basement into a retail store, with the opening of the Fantasy Shop on Lawrence Avenue in Chicago. Colleagues say it later evolved into the Comic Kingdom, and eventually included a location in Mount Prospect, from 1997 to 1999.

In recounting a history of the Comic Kingdom for his online business, Mr. Sarno described his private collection as starting with more than 40,000 comic books, but it also included children's books, pulp magazines, toys, trading cards, movie posters and radio memorabilia.

He later displayed parts of his collection at local libraries and museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.

Gary Colabuono of Arlington Heights, who owned Moondog Comics in Mount Prospect from 1978 to 1994, said Mr. Sarno was his mentor and that he encouraged him to open his business and make the art form accessible to comic book fans in the Northwest suburbs.

"Joe loved the art form," Colabuono said of comic books. "He loved to teach young guys like me about the artists and writers, showing us that there were real men behind these wonderful superheroes."

Colabuono worked with Mr. Sarno to produce the first comic book convention, the Chicago Comic Con, starting in 1976. The concept eventually became known as Wizard World, which now encompasses all aspects of pop culture, and moves to locations across the country.

Each August, the annual show draws more than 30,000 people to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

"That is Joe's legacy," Colabuono added.

In running his multiple stores, Mr. Sarno's family helped work the counter, including his wife Joan, son Jamie, and daughters Laura and Adrienne.

"My father made a place where people could go," says Jamie Sarno of Huntley. "He knew there were a lot of people out there who had an interest in comics, but since this was years before the Internet, if you were into something that was different and not in the mainstream, you didn't have anywhere to go."

"Because of his passion," his son added, "he brought a lot of people together."

Visitation will take place from 2-8 p.m. Sunday at River Woods Funeral Chapel, 205 S. River Road in Des Plaines. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at Maryhill Cemetery & Mausoleum, 8600 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Niles.