Ariell Johnson Explained

Ariell Johnson
Birth Date:1983
Birth Place:Baltimore
Nationality:American
Education:Temple University (BBA)
Occupation:Comic book retailer
Known For:Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse

Ariell Johnson is a business owner and accountant and is the first African-American to own a comic store on the east coast of the United States.[1]

Early life and education

Johnson was born in Baltimore, Maryland.[2] Growing up, she originally wanted to be a dancer, and even auditioned for Philadanco.[3] She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the Fox School of Business and Management at Temple University in 2005. While at school, she came up with the idea of opening a comic book shop, saying: “I enjoy accounting, but I couldn’t do it all day, everyday. There’s a part of me that loves sitting and staring at spreadsheets, but I need a creative aspect to my work.”[4]

As a child, Johnson recalls seeing the superhero Storm on television, which was "the first black woman heroine that [she] ever laid eyes on". Wanting to learn more about the character, she began reading comics.[5]

Career

Johnson opened Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse in Kensington, Philadelphia in 2015. At the time of the store opening, there were only 5 comic stores in the country owned by African-Americans.[6] Johnson emphasizes that "all are welcome" in her store, citing her own experiences shopping as a comic fan driving her to open Amalgam in the first place: "You feel scrutinized being the only person that looks like you."[7]

The East Coast Black Age of Comics (ECBACC) closed out its 2016 convention in Amalgam Comics. In 2017, Johnson received a grant from the Knight Foundation to add programming space to the store where she could offer classes and other resources to assist aspiring comic book creators.

Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse closed its storefront in October 2022 due to the loss of business from the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson is hopeful to reopen a physical store in the future, citing the closure and re-opening of St. Mark's Comics in New York City as inspiration.[8]

Awards and recognition

Notes and References

  1. News: Women’s resource center awards $350K to spark diverse small business growth in Philly . Ayana . Jones . . 19 March 2019 . 16 March 2024 . en.
  2. News: Meet The Disruptor: Ariell Johnson . McCutcheon . Lauren . The Philadelphia Citizen . 25 January 2016 . 13 March 2024 . en.
  3. Book: Encyclopedia of Black Comics . Fulcrum Publishing . Howard . Sheena . Priest . Christopher . 15 September 2017 . 9781682751688 . 16 March 2024.
  4. Web site: The Amazing Adventure of Transforming a Comic Book Shop into a University . Sharp . Elliot . . 17 January 2018 . 13 January 2024 . en.
  5. News: First Black Woman to Open Philly Comic Shop Talks Diversity . King . Candace . . 7 January 2016 . 15 March 2024 . en.
  6. News: Meet the East Coast's first black female comic book store owner . Bergeron . Ryan . . 31 August 2016 . 13 March 2024 . en.
  7. Book: Gearino, Dan . Comic Shop: The Retail Mavericks Who Gave Us a New Geek Culture . . 13 October 2017 . 9780804040839 . 15 March 2024.
  8. Web site: Can the comic book shop survive? . Champagne . Christine . . 6 June 2023 . 15 January 2024 . en.
  9. News: Groundbreaking Female Comic Book Store Owner Now Appears on a Marvel Cover . . 25 October 2016 . 13 March 2024 . en.
  10. Web site: Ariell Johnson . PhillyGeekAwards.com . 2016 . 16 January 2024 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20220818015107/https://www.phillygeekawards.com/nominees/ariell-johnson/ . 18 August 2022.
  11. Web site: Philadelphia Business Owner Wins ADL Award For Inclusivity . Bennett . Nax . . 30 May 2019 . 15 January 2024 . en.
  12. Web site: 2020 Virtuala: Virtual Gala & Awards Ceremony . PACDC.org . 25 June 2020 . 15 January 2024 . en.

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