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Nick Nazar

Capitol Hill’s Phoenix Comics and Games is marking 10 years on Capitol Hill this May as a staple of the comics and queer communities, offering a safe and inviting space for people of all backgrounds to enjoy comic books, board games, and collectibles. Saturday’s Free Comic Book Day is only part of the celebration.

“It’s been fantastic. It has been a lifelong dream come true. And the way Capitol Hill has really opened itself to me has been amazing,” Nick Nazar tells CHS. “We started 10 years ago not really sure if this was the right place or the right space. And you know, 10 years later, not only are we still here, but we’ve expanded. We’re continuing to offer our events and services to the Hill, and we get people from all over.”

Nazar attributes the success of the store to its status as a queer-owned and operated business that provides a community space for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“We have a community space that is open to everyone. There’s no charge to use it, just a request at the moment for masking in the space itself. And we do our best to welcome the queer community and to be out there helping people,” Nazar said.

Sloane, the assistant manager, has been a longtime patron of the store and shares her experiences as both a customer and an employee.

Sloane recalls her first encounter with the store and how it became a place of comfort and acceptance during a challenging time in her life.  “The first week that I moved to the city I came in to look at comic books, and then I would come in later to play Magic. It’s always a really inviting space. I have one really sort of strong memory of, I think, was right before I came out. I was looking through the queer comic section. And like, I had a book I was looking at, and Nick walked up and was like, ‘Oh, hey, are you looking at that? I think that book’s really relatable.’ And it was a big deal to me to have somebody be like, ‘oh, yeah, me too’ when I was like in the closet and sort of scared to come out.”

Phoenix first rose on Broadway on Free Comic Book Day 2013. “This is the reason I moved to Seattle in the first place,” Nazar said at the time. In 2019, the store expanded in its Dick’s Drive-in neighboring building amid rising rents on Broadway.

Today, Nazar says Phoenix has room for something for everyone, from comic books and graphic novels to board games and collectibles.

“We offer a wide range of comic books, graphic novels, board games, role playing games, miniatures to go alongside those role playing games, and of course, collectible card games like Magic and Pokemon,” Nazar said. “We also host events in our space, including D&D, Magic tournaments, board game meetups, and other things, including a feminist comic book club, and more.”

In celebration of Saturday, May 6th’s Free Comic Book Day, the store has planned a day full of activities, including signings with popular comic book artists and writers including Ellen Forney — you can see some of Forney’s works on the walls of Capitol Hill Station across the street — and Zach Davidson, a trivia contest, and a selection of free comic books for customers to choose from.

Phoenix Comics and Games is located at 113 Broadway E. You can learn more at phoenixseattle.com.

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