A POPULAR store has sent a warning to customers that they may be asked to leave.
Due to several previous incidents with unhealthy customers, the store was forced to enact a “smell policy.”
Mayhem Comics and Games of Ames, Iowa — about 40 miles from Des Moines — had to implement a personal hygiene policy after some smelly shoppers frequented its aisles.
The comic book store shared the new policy with customers on Facebook publish from the end of May.
They noted that several shoppers had filed complaints about odors from other customers, which made it “uncomfortable for them to be in the store.”
The wave of complaints led the store to implore customers to adopt basic hygiene practices.
“Please wash your body with appropriate soap and shampoo and wear clean clothes in the store,” the policy said.
Read more about store changes
“As much as we love you, we cannot allow your smell to interrupt our business.
“If we receive a complaint or smell it, we reserve the right to ask you to leave and refuse business.”
BUYERS’ REACTION
The store’s policy alludes to a stereotype about comic book enthusiasts, who are often portrayed in the media as socially awkward and lacking proper hygiene.
Many comic book fans in the comments section admitted that the stereotypes were often true.
“Sometimes it’s more than a stereotype,” wrote one.
“Things just haven’t changed much in the fandom,” said a second.
A third fan noted that Marvel even profited from the stereotype, using it as an opportunity to sell deodorants with character-themed packaging.
The entertainment company collaborated with Every Man Jack to create limited edition deodorants featuring characters like Spider-Man, Black Panther and Captain America.
The fan shared an image of the products that included descriptions of the deodorant’s scent in relation to the beloved characters.
“The Fresh Air fragrance captures the essence of Spider-Man flying across the horizon. #superheroclean”, says one of the product labels.
PAPER MONEY
Despite negative stereotypes, comic book fans are well aware of the lucrative potential of their hobby.
A fanatic has compiled a collection of comic books dating back to the 1940s, with one selling at auction for $1.26 million.
The most valuable comics
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The comics are highly collectible and some have sold for millions of dollars:
- #1 Action Comics: US$6 million
- Superman #1: US$5.3 million
- Amazing Fantasy #15: US$3.6 million
- Captain America Comics #1: US$3.12 million
- Marvel Comics #1: US$2.4 million
- Batman #1: US$2.22 million
Source: CGC Comics
The Pennsylvania mailman bought all the first editions he could of comics and magazines, for example. Heritage Auctions.
One of the books, Marvel Comics #1, was Timely Publications’ first Marvel-branded comic book published in 1939.
This comic book marked the beginning of what would become the Marvel Universe and featured several characters still popular today, including the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four.
The collector’s copy was in near-perfect condition, rated 9.4 out of 10.
In related news, a fan found a comic book while cleaning his family’s house – it’s the first edition of a beloved character and sells for $36,000.
Plus, another fan got a comic book for 12 cents and kept it for more than 60 years – one expert said it’s worth $22,000.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story