Bela's Comics

07/21/2026

Looking for a great up-and-coming comic creator? Swing by on Wednesday, August 26 from 1–6 PM and meet writer If you’re looking to discover new talent before everyone else, this is a perfect opportunity to chat comics and support an exciting creator on the rise!

While you’re there, be sure to grab a copy of Exciting Comics Issue 62 from featuring the debut of Midwest Man of Power! See you there!

BelasComics

07/15/2026

New Post on Substack! Some Footage from Da Archives with my pal Julio A. Guerra from Guerrilla Publishing! Go Sub Up!

Digging into the archives for this one! This footage comes from C2E2 2025 and features a quick chat with Julio A. Guerra of Guerrilla Publishing. We talk about Guerrilla Publishing creating the official Bela Con 4 poster, and Julio shows off one of his favorite grail items from his personal collecti...

07/09/2026

From Archie digests at Dominick’s to Avengers comics, indie gems, music, and eventually opening Bela’s Comics and hosting Bela Con—here’s the story of how I got into this crazy hobby.

Give it a read and let me know what comic got you hooked.

My journey into comics started around the age of 9 with trips to Dominick’s grocery store in Chicago (IYKYK), where I’d grab Archie Digests off the spinner rack.

07/07/2026

We all know one… and knowing is half the battle!

The Cover Chaser shirt is now available in my Merch Heroes store. For the collectors who never miss a hot cover, always check the rack one more time, and know that the real mission is never over.

Now you know… and now you can wear it.

Available now through the link in my bio!

07/04/2026

Happy Fourth of July weekend! 🇺🇸

Introducing Chicago Comic Community on Substack!

Join me as I cover comic book news, recent pickups, convention coverage, creator spotlights, collecting insights, local comic shop features, and everything happening in Chicago’s comic community. As we celebrate Independence Day, I’m launching a new place for comic fans, collectors, creators, and retailers to connect and share their passion for the hobby.

Subscribe for free and be part of the conversation at ChicagoComicCommunity.com

06/30/2026

The new Newsstand Edition shirt is here!
an inside joke only comic collectors will truly appreciate. Inspired by the hunt for those harder-to-find newsstand copies, this design is perfect for anyone who knows the difference between a direct edition and a spinner rack find.

Available now through Visit the link in my bio to grab yours and check out the growing lineup of Bela’s Comics apparel, hoodies, and prints!

06/26/2026

Always a great time at the movies with the Chicago comic community! Supergirl was a solid, fun watch. Seeing Lobo absolutely kick ass while Eagles of Death Metal blasted in the background was definitely one of my favorite moments. I’m not the biggest DC fan, but this new era of DC movies has me invested. They’re just plain fun. Even better is getting to experience these films with such an awesome community of comic fans. That’s always the best part.

Want to join us for future movie nights? Follow for upcoming announcements and don’t miss the next one!

06/25/2026

It’s official! Bela’s Comics has teamed up with to bring Bela Con merchandise to life.

The first collection features the incredible Bela Con 4 poster artwork by Julio A. Guerra and the Bela Con 5 poster artwork by Darick Maasen, now available on premium shirts, hoodies, and metal art prints.

More exclusive merchandise is already in the works, so this is only the beginning.

Link in bio to shop the collection!

06/23/2026

Sometimes collectibles come with a story.

These vintage Marvel 7-Eleven Slurpee cups recently became even more special after my friend Laura Sarno-Stamison shared a photo from the late 1970s showing them sitting inside her father Joe Sarno’s Chicago store, The Nostalgia Shop, at 3816 W. Lawrence Avenue.

Nearly 50 years later, I was fortunate enough to acquire several of these same cups at the Rickover Card & Comic Show. It’s amazing to know these pieces of Marvel history can be traced back to one of Chicago’s early comic and collectible shops.

A huge thank you to Laura for sharing this incredible piece of Chicagoland comic book history!

06/18/2026

Excited to announce a new collaboration between Bela’s Comics and Merch Heroes! We’re kicking things off with official Bela Con merchandise featuring the amazing Bela Con 4 and Bela Con 5 poster artwork by the talented Julio A. Guerra and Darick Maasen.

From limited-run apparel to collectible merch, this is just the beginning of bringing Chicago’s Comic & Toy Show to life in a whole new way. Huge thanks to both artists for helping make Bela Con visually unforgettable year after year.

Stay tuned for upcoming drops, exclusive designs, and more ways to represent Bela Con year-round. Which Bela Con design would you like to see on merch next?