Today is another sad day for me because I lost a friend, a mentor, and all around great man. He was Mike Bryant (whose real name was Claude H. Bryant). Throughout my early life he was the owner of Mike’s Music and Comic Store.

For those of you that don’t know me, comics were a huge part of my early life. I discovered Spider-man on television when I was five and then as a fluke, I found his comic book on a rack of comics in the Sylacauga Bus Station while waiting for a bus with my Mom and Sister in 1972. I was about to turn seven.

After this discovery, I couldn’t wait to get as many as I could and that is when I first met Mike. He owned a very small shop on Broad Street in Gadsden, right next to the old Trailways bus station (I believe there is a Jack’s there now. They tore the Trailways and Mikes buildings down for this).

Mike was instrumental in getting me involved in comic collecting. Remember, this was in ‘72 until about ‘80 so he had already recognized the collector’s market was growing.

He used to trade comics to me on a two for one basis; for every two I’d bring in I’d get one in return. Even though I was only just starting to read, he would spend time with me and talk to me. Never once did I feel like I was just a kid bothering him.

My Mom used to go to town every Saturday to get her hair done and most of the time I would go as well. We always stopped at Mike’s. Sometimes, she would even leave me with him (I’m not sure how that started, I’ll have to ask her) and I would spend several hours hanging out with him learning about comics. He was the person that would influence me the most with taking care of those books for future generations.

Once, he even bought me a book titled “Hot Rod Racers” with a cover date of July 1965 as a birthday present. He was so kind to me.

Even years later, when he had moved to his location down the street from his original location (and long after he stopped selling comics) I used to drop by and have a chat with him, although not nearly enough. This continued until I was well into my late 20’s.

I haven’t seen him in years. I moved to Birmingham in 2000 and I hardly ever go home to Gadsden during business hours so I am not sure whether he even had a store these days or not.

It doesn’t really matter though, because for this 43 year old little boy, there was only one place to get a comic; Mike’s Music on Broad Street.

Rest In Peace “Mike.” And thanks for sharing a peice of your life with me.