PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A trove of hard-to-get comic books has gone missing, and a comic collector said the thieves took more than just some old books.
Far before the recent Archie show Riverdale, it was back in 1982 when Chris Cummins started his collection of Archie comics.
"I guess I was around seven at the time, and these stories and these characters and their relationships were just really enticing to me," said Cummins.
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Over the years, his love of Archie, Jughead, Veronica and the rest of the gang grew, and so did his collection.
He estimates he had around 2,000 of their comic books.
"I would pick them up when I would see them at flea markets and things like that," he said.
Over the years, the Northeast Philadelphia man built a reputation in Philly’s comic book world when it comes to Archie.
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"I love comics, I love pop culture, but Archie is kind of my thing," said Cummins. "I’m kind of known as the go-to guy in Philly if you want to know some information about Archie.
That love even led to him doing the occasional freelance gig for Archie Comics.
"I would write essays about these stories, things like that," Cummins added.
But Cummins says his storage facility and a number of others in North East Philadelphia were burglarized last month in a large break-in, and burglars made off with his collection which dates back to the golden age of comics.
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"It’s a shame to see a friend and a big time officianado lose their stuff, especially this time of the year," said Brian Johnson, a manager at Brave New World's comics in Philadelphia. He said his shop is on high alert to look out for anyone trying to resale this trove of Archie comics.
"If these people who stole it think they're going to get money for it, they’re sadly wrong," he said. Other comic book stores are joining in that effort.
Cummins is still trying to put a numerical value on that now-stolen collection, and he said sentimental value is priceless, especially after losing his dad earlier this year.
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"In the last couple years of his life, we would go to a lot of flea markets together," said Cummins.
"He would always be looking for baseball cards. I would be looking for comic books and we’d share our funds at the end of the day."
Cummins said Philadelphia police currently have an open investigation into the case.
