Long recognized is the power of written language, according to Ramone Edmundson.
At age 5, he was handed a plastic tub full of Marvel Comics by his mother’s friend, which was his first exposure to it – his genesis tale. He read the comic books till they nearly came apart, starting the time he turned the cover of his first issue of “The Mighty Thor” and never stopping.
He could create new universes where everything is conceivable, including flying, problem-solving technology, and the victory of good over evil, all thanks to the vibrant artwork and bold, handwritten text on each page.
To thrive in his two hobbies, comics and education, Edmundson, who is now 51 years old, has relied on that force throughout his life.
Daniel Webster School 46 in West Indianapolis is led by associate principal Edmundson. Also, he owns Prideland Comics & Collectibles in Speedway, which he claims to be the only Black-owned comic book store in the area.
For others, including his kid, Edmundson is assisting in transferring the power of comics.
According to him, comic books broaden children’s perspectives and vocabulary while also extending their horizons. They can visit planets, galaxies, and other celestial bodies in space in addition to being exposed to other scientific ideas.
In addition to hundreds of comic books, Edmundson’s business sells dozens of collectible figures, adding further color to the comic book industry. A few are published by well-known companies like Marvel Comics and DC Comics, and they include well-known characters like Batman, Spider-Man, and the Avengers.
The rest are from lesser-known imprints, such as Spanish-or Portuguese-printed Latin American versions of American comic books, and unusual titles like Space Negro, which tells the story of the last Black man in the universe’s interstellar travels.
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Edmundson thinks that by being Black-owned, his business serves to attract customers from underserved neighborhoods to the comics industry.
This includes patrons such as 49-year-old Edgardo Vasquez, who relocated to the west side of Indianapolis four years ago from the west side of Manhattan in New York City.
Shopping in a comic book store owned by a minority, he claims, makes him feel more at ease. His experience is that he is occasionally more likely to feel observed than other consumers in other stores since he is a Puerto Rican male.
“We have a wide variety of people in Hell’s Kitchen, where I am from. Every one of us melds. All of us strive to live. Not much variety exists here, according to Vasquez. There’s a stronger atmosphere here. It is akin to a barbershop or coffee shop.
Whatever jokes one may think of regarding Hell’s Kitchen hero Daredevil, Vasquez values this sentiment since comics are more than simply the tales that are depicted on the page. In addition, they are about the recollections he has of people he has known for many years.
On Saturday mornings, I used to watch cartoons, read comic books, and eat cereal. Vasquez, who was wearing a shirt with another childhood favorite, the Goonies, on it, added, “When I open up one of those comics, I’m just like, ‘OK, that was a great moment.”
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Edmundson was taught through comics after graduating from Purdue University’s English program and Ben Davis High School.
But he never really stopped thinking about comics. The Milestone Universe, a quartet of new series featuring Black characters written by Black authors and other artists of color, was first presented by DC while he was a college student.
He was motivated to do the same by superpowered Black males with superpowers like Hardware and Static who used their abilities to improve their communities.
Using comic books, Edmundson taught children how to read better throughout his twelve years as an English teacher.
The fact that comics are illustrated is what makes them so fantastic, according to Edmundson. The majority of people can thus follow those stories and understand what’s happening even if they are illiterate. It then encourages children to want to find out more about what the characters are saying.
Comic comics not only helped him understand the mechanics of reading, but also themes and archetypes, two other important educational ideas.
Essentially the pattern for all adventures, the monomyth is a storytelling template that Edmundson introduced his pupils to. With just enough twists and other alterations to make them seem fresh, the ideas of Greek mythology and, later, Beowulf and King Arthur romances, were transformed into contemporary narratives.
In order to organize the kinds of resources that children will encounter in libraries and media centers, he returned to school while still a teacher and obtained a degree in media specialist.
It provided Edmundson with the chance to combine his passions for writing, reading, and technology into one endeavor, enabling him to introduce graphic novels and other related materials into libraries.
Edmundson chose to launch the company that would eventually become Prideland Comics & Collectibles around seven years ago.
His first internet sales were of some of his own comic books and antiques on eBay. He subsequently put up little, transient booths at flea markets and other locations around town. Together with other regional events in Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois, he would also go to local conventions like PopCon Indy and Indiana Comic Con.
2017 saw him open a semi-permanent location in the Washington Square Mall due to his rapidly expanding business. After settling in for almost five years, Prideland Comics & Collectibles moved to Speedway. Success in his day work followed, and a year later he was elevated to vice principal.
Nevertheless, he had limited time to manage the company because of his demanding work schedule and commute. Son of Edmundson came in to assist. Early exposure to comics led Damani Edmundson to fall in love with the medium promptly. Currently, at the age of 28, he works at their store and does convention sales of artwork inspired by the comics he grew up on.
“My memory of not reading comics is quite clear,” Damani remarked. “It’s been pretty beneficial to me to be involved in pop culture my whole life.”
The comic book adaptations of animation shows starring Transformers and G.I. Joe are among the comic books he recalls his father exposing him to when he was younger. He attended conferences around the Midwest alongside his father as well. Along with absorbing his father’s love of painting, he studied fine arts at Ivy Tech Community College and graduated with an associate’s degree.
Damani stated, “My father encouraged me to pursue art.” “I started drawing for myself after watching him draw.”
Ramone Edmundson considers it a dream come true to be employed with his kid.
He said, “It’s a fantastic experience.” It is nice to assist others in finishing their collections. Their thankfulness and happiness are evident.
Prideland Comics & Collectibles is located at 5668 Crawfordsville Road, Suite D, Speedway. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to eight o’clock.
