Out of Sight: Comic Book Dealer Defies Disability

“You can’t do an interview with me without saying I am a huge Star Trek nerd.” That set the tone for my interview with Rich Early, the owner of Paradox Comics-N-Cards in Fargo.

Early has been into comics since he was about five years old, but the comics kind of came with the territory.

As a child, he was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma and was completely blind in his left eye before he was 2 weeks old. Yet, he still had some vision in his right eye. When he was about five years old he would take long road trips to the Mayo Clinic to help repair his eyesight. As any loving mom would do, Early’s mother would buy him small, thanks-for-being-a-trooper gifts for the ride. These gifts would be comic books.

This is how the infatuation came to be.

After talking with him for a bit, it’s easy to tell that he doesn’t let his eyesight interfere with his love for comics. And after talking to him for a few minutes longer, I almost forgot he was legally blind.

“Comics are great because I have no depth perception,” he said.

He kept the conversation funny and lighthearted and it was easy to tell he had a rich fondness for everything about comics. When I wanted him to talk about comics, and which ones he liked, I didn’t think I could get him to stop.

Early reads a wide variety of everything, from comics to graphic novels, to X-Men, Spider-Man and his beloved Justice Society of America.

Yet he doesn’t completely focus on comics. Early is also an accomplished Magic card player. “I am probably the biggest Magic guy from Minneapolis to Seattle,” he said.

However, you may be wondering, since he is blind, how can he read comics? Well, even though Early’s vision is “wretched,” he still finds a way to carry out his passion.

He uses a device that has a digital camera which magnifies whatever he puts under it.

“I am pretty damn fortunate,” he said about having three of the devices, two of which he keeps in the store and one at his house.

Early doesn’t let his eyesight interfere with going to the recent plague of comic book movies either. Even though the theaters can be a bit tough for him, he still goes on occasion and watches them at home. He will even go to the theater early and pass out comics books to the kids who come to see the newest comic movie rage.

“The bigger, brighter, the better,” he said.

Early opened Paradox Comics in 1993 with three others who shared his love for comics. Yet after a few years, the other two partners sort of drifted off, and Early is now the sole owner, and has been since 1997.

“I’ve got a flat out passion for it,” he said.

Early hopes to keep it this way for the future, yet feels like he will never be satisfied. He has a big plan for Paradox Comics in 2010. He wants to bring in more promotions with comic book conventions, gaming tournaments, and work with DC Comics to get creators to do signings and appearances. The list of ideas is long for Early.

“I want the comic scene to grow in Fargo-Moorhead,” he said.

Early is a guy who loves comics. He’s doing what he loves and couldn’t seem to be happier. With many goals for the future, it will be interesting to see what Early and Paradox Comics will bring to the table.

For more information about Paradox Comics-N-Cards, visit paradoxcnc.com.

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INFO:

What: Paradox Comics ‘n Cards
Where: 26 Roberts St, Fargo
When: Mon-Sat 10 am-9 pm, Sun 12-5 pm
Contact: 701.239.9505