Geek Auction hits Windsor

by Chris Mailloux
Rogues Gallery Comics celebrated its eighth anniversary this year by hosting an auction.

Each year to celebrate the anniversary of the stores opening, Rogues Gallery has a comic book sale. This year owner Shawn Cousineau decided to do things differently and make the event special. He teamed up with Villains Beastro to host the stores first-ever live auction.

“A lady came to me and her husband had passed away,” said Cousineau. “She had some very rare books that I couldn’t think of a better way to sell than in an environment like this.”

Rogues Gallery opened at 12p.m. for customers to come and pick up graphic novels and past issues at a discounted price. The auction itself started after the store closed at 6p.m.

The auction featured a variety of different books like Walking Dead #19 which has the first appearance of the character Michonne and New Mutants #98, which has the first appearance of Deadpool.

“I didn’t put one away, I want to do this every year and I want people to bring me books that they want to get rid of,” said Cousineau. “So for the first year I wanted to make sure I put out everything but next year I’m taking some stuff home.”

Cousineau said planning the event was stressful and that both he and his wife spent 100 hours going through the collection. Cousineau brought in a custom made Mjölnir, which was created by a customer to be used as a gavel. Comic book fans know Mjölnir as the comic book character Thor’s trusted weapon.

To ensure the event went smoothly and to avoid any issues, Cousineau brought in someone else to be the auctioneer.

“I needed somebody to host this and it can’t be me because if there is an issue I can’t have that be on me, it needs to be a third party,” said Cousineau.

Cousineau personally asked Francois Jacques to be the auctioneer for the event.

“This is my first auction. I’ve never done anything like this,” said Jacques.

Jacques said that they now have a better idea of what the audience is looking for to help them prepare for the next auction.

“Next year is definitely going to be at least twice as good this one because we’ll be able to adapt,” said Jacques.

“I think its great that Villains and Rogues were able to combine their efforts and put this on,” said Jacques. “I’m glad there is talk about doing this again next year and I hope we get more lots and more people next year.”