Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Worley.
Hi Paul, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
As I was starting college for illustration and graphic design, a small comic bookstore open in my hometown. Named after the owner, Bennie Manila, Bennie’s was a store I would visit every time I come home. After graduation, I took several different freelance jobs in the art field, One job was for BAM Productions, a publisher of comic books. From there, my future was sealed. I was hooked on being in this blossoming industry. More publishers followed. More comics were printed. I started appearing at Comic book conventions a couple weekends each month. Networking with other artists was such fun. We all told stories, shared notes, and traded comics between us. Soon, I had more comics from other artists, as well as the newer comics I was buying from Bennie. The collector madness was soon overtaking the closet. Then the spare room, and then the garage.
In 2002, Bennie Manila passed away. His widow pulled me aside after the funeral and asked if I wanted to take over the store. She knew how much I loved comics. I went home that evening and told my wife I was getting a loan. She was all excited, thinking it was for a new car or a house. When I told her it was to buy Bennie’s, her face dropped for a moment. But then it lit back up and was there to support me.
I’ve kept the name Bennie’s for the store, and it’s now been in business for over 40 years in the same location. I have made SO many new friends over the years. I’ve watched little kids grow up, start families, and now bring their children in. Once a year we celebrate Free Comic Book Day and pass out comics to every person that walk through the door. We also sponsor guest artists to help promote their comics, just like Bennie did for me.
One of the other benefits of being a guest at conventions, I also got to meet actors and other celebrity types. A stroke of luck at one show, a director asked me to be an extra in a movie the following weekend. I had nothing to do then and thought it would be fun, so I went. Well, one of the actors didn’t show up. I was asked to fill in for him. It was just 2 lines, but I did well enough that the director asked me back for another scene. Then another. Soon I ended up being in the whole movie. It wasn’t long until word got out my artistic side wasn’t just limited to drawing. I could act as well. Over the course of the last 8 eight years or so, I’ve been involved on over 30 different projects, with more already scheduled throughout the upcoming year.
I use every opportunity on film sets to learn more about the business, hone my craft, and help out other folks wanting to be actors. It doesn’t matter if you are just in the background, in a college class film, a documentary, a small budget film, or some big blockbuster. I enjoy every minute of it.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
For the most part, I’ve had very few setbacks. Of course, the pandemic slowed us down… but with curb-side service, home deliveries, and the USPS, we were able to keep Bennie’s open. The customers were very understanding. 40 years in business created and wealth of loyal customers that still keeps us going now that the crisis is manageable.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Although Bennie’s Comics is my bread and butter, I do enjoy being in the film business. Acting is kind of like having Halloween all year long. I get to play dress-up and pretend to be someone else for a while. There are more than enough films made within a couple hours drive to keep me busy. Hollywood is not the center of the movie business anymore. Although the dream of being a part of some huge movie production someday is always in the back of my mind, I can’t give up my humble roots growing up in Ohio.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I am constantly learning, not just during the Covid-19 crisis. Still, living and working through the ‘plague’ has shown that I am able to adapt to any challenges that may pop up. I’ve also seen how people can connect in adversarial times and become stronger, closer, and more relatable to each other. Caring for my fellow humans is a gift I can cherish always.
Pricing:
- $3.99 The cost of most current new comics.
Contact Info:
