JASON SETNYK
Fantasy Realm is marking its 41st anniversary this February, celebrating over four decades as a cornerstone of downtown Cornwall’s comic and collectibles scene. Founded in 1985 by Randy Sauve, the specialty shop has built a loyal following as a downtown destination where collectors, casual readers, and longtime fans connect over shared passions.
To mark the occasion, Sauve released an exclusive anniversary trading card featuring a piece of the store’s original vinyl sign, removed during renovations in 2014. “It was just going to be junked, but I rolled it up and kept it for a rainy day,” Sauve recalled. “I started thinking about cutting it up and putting a little piece on a trading card-just to give everybody a little memento.”
Sauve’s passion for comics began as a kid swapping books with cousins and neighbours. “It wasn’t until I started buying Spider-Man off spinner racks for a quarter that I really got hooked,” he said. “Then came the 1976 Superman vs. Spider-Man crossover-that was the big one for me.”
Over the years, Fantasy Realm has weathered industry shifts and embraced change. In the ’90s, Sauve operated up to three locations, including a shop in Brockville. By the early 2000s, he turned to eBay to sell niche items globally, but demand for in-store experiences surged again by 2012. “The Walking Dead TV show, the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and The Big Bang Theory-those brought a whole new wave of interest,” he said.
Today, Sauve sees customers who were teens in the ’80s returning with their kids and grandkids. “There are three generations of readers now walking through the door,” he said.
Fantasy Realm also runs popular community events like May’s Comic Giveaway Day and the Trick or Read Halloween event. “We put comics into kids’ hands for free-because that’s how it all starts,” Sauve said. “I never imagined we’d make it to 41 years. But we’re still here-and I’m going to keep going as long as I can.”
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