By all reports Ariell Johnson is the sole female black comic book store owner in the Untied States.
Johnson is a huge inspiration to those in the black community and proves that it’s okay to like things that may be seen as ‘uncool’ or ‘nerdy.’
“When you are a person of color, you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel to find someone you can identify with. I always felt like I was watching other people’s adventures,” she explained. “Being introduced to Storm was a pivotal moment for me because had I not come across her, I might have grown out of my love for [comics].”
She stuck with her love of comics and has been rewarded for her efforts.
Marvel has chosen Ariell for their “Invincible Iron Man #1” cover.
“When the email went out about potential variants for stores, he was really excited and took it upon himself to work out the [details]. It was really his hard work,” she told ABC News. “I knew what it was supposed to look like, but having the actual art in front of you is so much different. It’s really exciting.”
Ariell deserves all the success and accolades that are coming her way and I hope she inspires others to follow in her path.
Flip the Page to See the Marvel Comic Book Cover…
