A & M Comics is the oldest comic book store in Florida, the second oldest in the country. The store has navigated throughout many years of business, overcoming recession and inflation, even in today's faltering economy. What is the secret to A & M's success? The answer is heroes. People may downsize their lifestyle to survive hard times, but give up their heroes? Never!  These heroes can run the gamut from Superman to Little Lulu.

The sight of comic books in boxes in alphabetical order, with the latest releases at the front wall, collectibles jammed into very available space, will greet the customer upon entering. The array of so many comics and collectibles in one place can be overwhelming, even to the most serious collector. The excitement of exploring the store, with the element of surprise at what you can find, can be very enticing. A doctor searching for a special edition, a teenager counting out crumpled bills to pay for a Wolverine action figure. Two ladies carefully inspecting  an antique doll. A little boy begs his mother for all the collectibles he holds. She patiently explains, "these are not toys!" His face is perplexed. His mother agrees to purchase one for him. The little boy smiles. The scene is like a Norman Rockwell painting.  

The store is located in a small shopping strip in South Miami.  It offers collectors subscription services to their favorite comics, guaranteeing their possession upon arrival. Popular comics rapidly increase in price for different reasons: artwork, script, a popular character, a special or limited edition.  A Superman, Batman, and other collectible titles, can easily multiply its price once the edition is sold out. A & M Comics has rare comics and collectibles in stock. Among these treasures is an edition of Superman # 10, signed by its creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Peanuts animation cells by Schultz, a 40's Cuban military uniform, and much more.
 

A & M Comics was the creation of Arnold and Maxine, a happily married couple from New York who came to sunny Florida, along with Maxine's four daughters from her first marriage. They named the store A & M Comics, using the initials of their first names. Comic book stores were the rage in the 70's, cropping up like corn stalks all over the country. Baby Boomers sought an escape from the volatile social and political climate of the times. The store opened up in 1974, allowing the family to enjoy its success for years. A & M Comics is now owned by a former employee, Jorge Perez, whose interview follows:

RS: How did your love for comic books begin?
JP: I started reading Archie and Richie Rich, the only comic books available in the area where we lived. In junior high school, I lent a friend a dollar for his school lunch. He did not have the dollar to pay me back, so he gave me five X-Men comic books. I read those, liked them and started collecting.
 

RS: Which was your favorite character in Archie?
JP: Jughead.
 

RS: Which comics do you read now?
JP: My favorite is X-Men. I also like to read The New Avengers and The Walking Dead.
 

RS: A & M comics has been around for a long time. Is it true it is the oldest store in Florida?
JP: Yes, it is the oldest comic book store in Florida. It is the second oldest in the country. The oldest is a store in Chicago, Illinois, called Then and Now. There is a newstand in the Empire State Building, but technically it is not a store, so it does not count.
 

RS: Do you think there is a difference between yesterday's comics and today's?
JP: There is a big difference. Today's comics are more realistic and darker, more serious and have have more depth. They also make many comments on current events.
 

RS: How is the comic book business doing?
JP: Going through a rough time, because all the businesses within the media, are affected by the people who tried to copy from the internet. Your true collector wants and appreciates the real thing.
 

RS: Do you get a big boost in comics' sales when a superheroe movie is released?
JP: When a superheroe movie is released, it advertises it to a wider audience. Many of these people want to find out more about the superheroe. The movie creates interest in the character before and after.
 

RS: Who are your customers?
JP: Collectors, walk-ins, kids, whose parents remember learning to read with comic books and want to encourage their children to read.
 

RS: What are the best selling comics?
JP: Batman is number one, Superman is very close, coming in as second, Spiderman is third, and Captain America, fourth.
 

RS: What is your background?
JP: I was born in New York. I have an older sister and brother. I had asthma, so my family moved to Miami for the weather. I grew up as southern boy. We were the second Cuban family to live in our neighborhood, near Flagler street.
 

RS: How did you come to own the business?
JP: My dad passed away and I came to cancel my subscription with A & M. I had to support my mother and myself. When I came to talk to Arnold, he felt very bad for me, and offered me a job because he had just been diagnosed with cancer. They had four daughters from Maxine's first marriage. I started working for them while he did his chemotherapy treatment. Arnold passed away seven months later. Maxine offered me the store. I said no, because I was too young for so much responsibility. She offered it to their business partner, Michael Goldstein. I continued working for Mr. Goldstein. One day he asked me if I was interested in the store. And here I am.
 

RS: What is your daily routine?
JP: I wake up. I look at my emails, answer messages left on my phone and answer emails. Then I open the store and see what new events are on today because the store is a social event in itself.
 

RS: If not in the comic book business, what would have liked to be then?
JP: An archaeologist.

A & M Comics                                                                                                                                                              6650 Bird Rd
Miami, FL 33155-4832
(305) 661-3406