Rory D. Root, Berkeley comic book store owner
Hyfler/Rosner
Aidin Vaziri, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Rory D. Root, the visionary owner of Berkeley's popular
comic book store Comic Relief and a leader of the comic book
industry, died after complications from surgery for a
ruptured hernia May 19 at the Kaiser Oakland Medical Center,
his sister said Saturday.
He was 50 and had been having health problems over the past
few years, Karen Root said.
One of the first people to support small-press books,
graphic novels and handmade zines, Mr. Root was also a
strong advocate for making comics available in school
libraries. "Rory just wanted to get books into kids' hands,"
said Todd Martinez, manager of Comic Relief for the past 14
years.
"He worked tirelessly to sell the gatekeepers at libraries
on the idea of comics as books," said Dan Shahin of San
Jose's Hijinx Comics. "He was so far ahead of everyone else
with that concept."
Born Nov. 8, 1957, in Oakland, where his mother owned an
antique store and worked as a nurse at Kaiser, Mr. Root
attended school at Rockridge Elementary and Montara Junior
High schools. After his father died in 1969, his family
moved to West Point (Calaveras County), where he attended
Calaveras High School before returning to the East Bay in
1974 to enroll at UC Berkeley. He dropped out shortly before
graduating with a computer science degree to become manager
of the Gambit, a gaming store on Telegraph Avenue in
Berkeley. From there, he took a staff position at the nearby
comic book store, the Best of Two Worlds.
In April 1987, Mr. Root and his former business partner Mike
Patchen opened Comic Relief at its original location on
University Avenue, just a block away from campus. The store,
which offered a diverse selection of comics-related
materials, quickly grew into a local hangout and
international destination. In 1993, the establishment won
the Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award, presented by
Comic-Con International: San Diego to retailers doing
exemplary work in promoting the genre.
"When I wanted to open my store, I sought him out for
advice," Shahin said. "I tried to emulate his bookstore
approach."
Mr. Root was a fixture at West Coast comic book conventions,
where he rallied for industry unification, bought up
countless titles by unknown artists, and spoke to his peers
about getting their merchandise into local libraries. He was
one of the first to distribute graphic novels by the likes
of Will Eisner, Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman.
"He thought everybody should have a fighting chance to get
published," Karen Root said.
When Comic Relief encountered difficulties with its landlord
in 2004, customers rallied behind Mr. Root. Author Warren
Ellis scheduled a signing at the store, and fans bought out
most of the store's old stock. They also helped move his
merchandise into its current, larger location around the
corner on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley.
"As much as he loved to talk, he listened just as well,"
Martinez said. "He always found the right book for the right
person."
In recent years, weight-related health problems kept Mr.
Root from spending as much time at Comic Relief as he liked.
Mr. Root, a longtime smoker, finally quit eight months ago.
"The very day he went into the hospital, he met a friend for
lunch at the store," Martinez said. "He was also here for
all 10 hours of Free Comic Book Day (May 3) talking to
people, his favorite thing."
Many people believe Mr. Root served as the inspiration for
the Comic Book Guy on "The Simpsons." Matt Groening, the
creator of the long-running animated television series and
frequent visitor of Comic Relief, could not be reached for
comment.
Unlike the cantankerous character portrayed on "The
Simpsons," Mr. Root was known for the personal attention he
gave his customers and peers, as evidenced by the lengthy
emotional messages that have appeared online since his
death.
"He was the center of this enormous community," said
longtime friend Rebekah Denn, a columnist for the Seattle
Post-Intelligencer. "I hope he knew at some level how
respected he was."
Mr. Root is survived by his mother, Nancy Root, of Citrus
Heights (Sacramento County); sister, Karen Root; and
brothers, Ron and Roger.
A memorial celebration is scheduled for 11 a.m. June 21 at
Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland, with
a gathering to follow at 7 p.m. at Comic Relief, 2026
Shattuck Ave., Berkeley.
E-mail Aidin Vaziri at ava...@sfchronicle.com.