ThatSpiderManBooth is heaven on earth for webheads everywhere. ThatSpiderManBooth is a comic book booth located at Frank and Son’s in City of Industry specializing in Spider-Man comics, artwork, and memorabilia. The booth is owned by the mother-son duo, Russel and John Paras, also known as “Photo bomb mom” and “John Paul George McFly” respectively. The two were gracious enough to give us an exclusive interview before the rush of Comikaze began and tell us more on how they started and got to where they are now.
Q: What made you two decide to open a comic book store and break away from the Philipino stereotype of being a doctor or a nurse?
Russel: When he was a kid he used to collect Spider-Man comics.
John: I have a story that’s not mine but relates to ours. So there’s this hardware store owner and he had a customer that came to his store for 20 years. He was the grumpiest man in the world and was always very mean. The owner had a toy train set that he was selling for $500. One day the grumpy man came in with the biggest smile in the world and bought the toy train. That’s when the owner realized he was in the wrong business. He wanted to make people happy, sell what people want, and have every customer be thankful. High energy would really be the reason we got into it.
Q: How did you guys get started?
John: How I got started was when I couldn’t go to my booth for Christmas.
Russel: He was still young so I had to drive him to Frank and Son’s to buy comics
John: I didn’t have enough money for Amazing Fantasy #15. It was $75 and I only had $20. I really wanted it and she said without hesitating, “Oh yeah, we’ll buy it” and I was like “WHAAAT!?”
Russel: And it was all ripped, but how much did you sell it for?
John: For $1,500, but now it’s worth $5,000.
Q: Is your booth solely focused on Spider-Man?
Russel: 90%.
John: Hence the name and our Instagram, @thatspidermanbooth.
Q: So where are you located?
John: Frank and Son’s booth 714.
Russel: We don’t have our own store but we do most of the conventions,
Q: How long did it take you to build the tower of Spider-Man toys?
John: That’s all her.
Russel: Some dealers sell them so I just buy them and put them there. I don’t even care how much it is. Some of the big ones are $100.
Q: How much is that tower worth?
John: I have a simple answer. It’s priceless
Russel: I would say $3,000
Q: How long have you two been coming out to conventions?
Russel: Three years.
John: Our first convention was Comikaze two years ago in 2013.
Q: How do you feel about the Spider-Man reboot?
John: I love it. Honestly, I love all the Spider-Man stories. I would be happy if they came out with a new one every month. I’m not one of those fans that’s like, “Oh no, they remade it.” I’m more like, “Yes! They’re making another one.” I just get happy and thankful that they even make Spider-Man movies.
Russel and John Paras exert energy unlike any I have ever seen from a comic book store owner. It’s amazing and inspiring to meet people who do something they love for a living and do what they do to to make people happy. If you want to find out more about them and check out their awesome deals, they are located at Frank and Son’s in City of Industry booth 714 and follow them on Facebook and Instagram: thatspidermanbooth.
