Drawing customers: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration required) profiles retailer Kyle Puttkammer, who's begun teaching comics-drawing courses at his Galactic Quest stores:

"One of those enrolled in the class is Lawrenceville resident Mac King, 41, who is retired from the Navy. He decided to accompany his soon-to-be-stepson, Tyler Shope, to the class so that the 9-year-old would feel more comfortable. Comic books have helped them bond — Tyler's bedtime stories usually involve Marvel Comics' Wolverine character, King said.

"'Kyle did a really good job of talking about the history of comic books and why it is that some people just have to draw them,' King said. 'It's certainly not as easy as everyone says it is. If you think you're going to have the next big thing, you better think otherwise, because it takes years of practice.'"