Cape And Cowl Comics Llc

Name

Cape And Cowl Comics Llc

Legal name

Cape And Cowl Comics LLC

Website

https://capeandcowlcomics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Retail — Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Pop-Culture Merchandise

NAICS

Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail (CRALAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comic Books & Graphic Novel Collectibles Retail (CRALAGAH), Physical Game Retailers (Online/Brick-and-Mortar) (MPAFACAI)

Keywords

• Comic book retail
• Graphic novels
• Manga sales
• Collectible merchandise
• Local artist consignment

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales: Physical and online sales of comic books, graphic novels, manga, back issues, and related merchandise. The store offers exclusive merchandise and limited edition items.
2. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold in denominations of $10-$100, redeemable in-store only.
3. Local Artist Consignment: Consignment program for local artists selling self-published comics, zines, prints, pins, and other artwork with the store taking a commission.
4. eBay Sales: Secondary sales channel for overflow inventory that cannot fit in the physical store.
5. Merchandise: Spreadshirt merchandise shop featuring store exclusive t-shirt designs by local artists and collaborators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cape & Cowl Comics operates a single flagship comic book retail store in downtown Oakland, CA, selling comic books, graphic novels, manga, back issues, and pop-culture merchandise to consumers both in-store and through an online storefront powered by ComicHub. The business is anchored by a community-events program (Free Comic Book Day, signings, Drink and Draw sessions, book clubs) and an annual self-produced convention called Cape & Cowl Con, alongside a local-artist consignment program and store-exclusive merchandise collaborations.

Product overview

Cape & Cowl Comics is a single-location comic book retail store in Oakland, CA operating as both a physical storefront and an online e-commerce presence via Comichub. The company offers comic books, graphic novels, and manga alongside complementary products and services including gift certificates, a local artists consignment program, an annual comic convention (Cape & Cowl Con), store-exclusive merchandise, eBay overflow listings, and a regular events program featuring signings, Free Comic Book Day, and community events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cape & Cowl Con: Annual comic convention hosted by Cape & Cowl Comics featuring comics artists, writers, and makers from the local community. First held in 2023 at Faction Brewing in Alameda, CA, with subsequent events in 2024 at Gilman Brewing in Berkeley and planned for 2025.

Products and services

• Flagship Comic Book Retail Store Physical retail store at 1601 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612, selling comic books, graphic novels, manga, back issues, and related pop-culture merchandise. Open Monday–Friday 11am–7pm and Saturday–Sunday 11am–6pm.
• Online Store (ComicHub) E-commerce storefront via the ComicHub platform offering the store's full inventory of comics, graphic novels, back issues, and merchandise for online purchase.
• Gift Certificates Store gift certificates available in $10, $15, $25, $50, and $100 denominations, redeemable in-store only and available for in-store pickup or mail delivery.
• Local Artist Consignment Program Program enabling local artists and creators to sell self-published comics, zines, prints, pins, and other creative works through the store on consignment, with the store retaining a commission on sales.
• Cape & Cowl Con (Annual Convention) Self-produced annual comic convention organized by the store featuring local and regional comic artists, writers, publishers, and vendors, with industry sponsors including DSTLRY, Oni Press, Invader, Kickflip, and Shortboxed.
• Store-Exclusive Merchandise Exclusive merchandise such as t-shirts and posters featuring designs by local artists and collaborators including Peabe, Sacred Tattoo Oakland, Matt Ritchie, Alexis Ziritt, and Yoshi Yoshitani.
• eBay Overflow Inventory Channel Secondary eBay storefront for overflow inventory not accommodated in the physical store, with the option for customers to contact the store directly to purchase items and avoid eBay fees.
• Spreadshirt Merchandise Shop Online merchandise shop via Spreadshirt offering store-exclusive t-shirt designs and merchandise produced in collaboration with local artists and friends of the shop.
• Events Program Recurring in-store and off-site events including Free Comic Book Day, artist and writer signings, Drink and Draw sessions, book clubs, and food drives benefiting local organizations such as the Alameda County Community Food Bank.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alameda County Community Food BankcoreOthers · 1 January 2025Annual food drive partner during Free Comic Book Day and other events. Store has donated nearly 2,000 pounds of food. Major community initiative.
• Oakland Ice CenterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for Free Comic Book Day 2026 food drive, offering deals to incentivize food donations.
• World Famous HOTBOYSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for Free Comic Book Day 2026 food drive, offering deals to incentivize food donations.
• Sacred Tattoo OaklandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for Free Comic Book Day 2026 food drive, offering deals to incentivize food donations. Also provides exclusive t-shirt designs for merchandise.
• Oni PressminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsor of Cape & Cowl Con 2025.
• ShortboxedminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Featured vendor at Cape & Cowl Con 2025. Subscription service for comics.
• DSTLRYcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of Cape & Cowl Con 2024. DSTLRY is a comic book publisher that partners with the store for convention sponsorship and exclusive merchandise.
• InvaderminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of Cape & Cowl Con 2024.
• KickflipminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of Cape & Cowl Con 2024.
• Felix Comic ArtcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Helped organize creator appearances for 10 Year Anniversary Party, bringing Nick Dragotta, David Brothers, and Daniel Warren Johnson.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Silver Snail: Iconic Toronto-based comic and pop-culture retailer. Comparable in product mix and event-driven GTM but operates primarily in the Canadian market, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Jetpack Comics & Games: Single-location comic and games retailer known for strong community events and creator signings. Closely mirrors Cape & Cowl's footprint and operating model — small specialty store driving traffic through events and exclusives.
• Midtown Comics: Large multi-location comic book retailer based in New York City, widely considered one of the top comic shops in the U.S. Directly comparable to Cape & Cowl as a destination comic retailer with broad selection, exclusives, and event programming, though at substantially larger scale.
• Golden Apple Comics: Long-running Los Angeles independent comic retailer with multiple locations and strong exclusives/events. Directly comparable as a West Coast comic specialty store with multi-location ambitions and collector focus.
• Third Eye Comics: Mid-Atlantic comic book retailer with multiple store locations and an active events/exclusive program. Comparable as a multi-store comic specialty chain competing for collector and creator-event audiences.
• House of Secrets: Southern California comic book retailer historically known for creator events and exclusives. Comparable as an event-driven indie comic specialty store serving a major U.S. metro market.

Broad incumbents

• Forbidden Planet: Largest specialty comic and pop-culture retailer in the UK with international footprint. Comparable product mix (comics, graphic novels, games, merchandise) but operates as a broad incumbent chain rather than a community-focused independent.

Others

• Shortboxed: Comic subscription/discovery service listed as a featured vendor at Cape & Cowl Con 2025. Adjacent ecosystem participant that complements comic retailers rather than competes with them.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CapeCowlComics
• Instagraminstagram.com/capecowlcon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cape-cowl-comics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cape And Cowl Comics Llc