Mary Alice Wilson opened Dark Star Books and Comics in 1982 in Yellow Springs, Ohio after a successful career teaching at elementary schools, high schools, Central State University, Wilberforce University. “After teaching reading for so many years to people that didn’t like to read, I decided I wanted to be in a place where people appreciated reading and books,” says Mary Alice. Dark Star started as a small comic shop in the King’s Yard area of Yellow Springs As the years passed and the business grew, the store moved across the street to a narrow storefront on Xenia Avenue (which is now part of The Emporium), and in 1989 the store moved into its familiar Xenia Avenue home. In 2012, Mary’s daughter Kate moved back to YS, and has been managing the store ever since.
In 2007, we sold the new comics business to Super-Fly comics, who have a great store just around the corner from us. We still carry thousands of back issue comics, and have expanded our used book stock. We now have categories from Ancient History to Zombies, and everything in between. Customers come to us from all over for our metaphysics, military history, classic literature, and rare books. And their kids can find everything from Captain Underpants to Nancy Drew. Customers tell s that our science fiction section is one of the largest in the state. We also now have a carefully curated section of new books, as well as literary t-shirts, mugs, and posters. You’ll also find all the Studio Ghibli movies and many books and stuffed plush figures.
Over the last 35 years, we’ve opened and closed two other stores in the Miami Valley area and survived the comic industries boom and bust times of the 90s, but have remained strong in our core business: selling the best in literature. We like finding new homes for our books with people who will love them as much as we do. We also love to recommend our favorites, and just talk to people about what they like to read. This truly is the best job in the world