By Shabaz Kazia

The walls are lined with shelves of current issues and trade paperbacks. Near the entrance, to the left, there are two leather red and white sofas that are low to the ground and worn by customers flipping through their newly purchased comics. Across from the sofas, there is a red stand that shares the same style and color scheme of the sofa, that has new arrivals on them. A few feet from the sofas, there is a cash register with the same theme of red and white. Behind the cash register, on shelves, there are toilet bowl seats that various famous artists have drawn. The cash register is usually occupied by one peculiar individual most days of the week. A jovial character and owner of Isotope comics: James Sime.

Eagerly helping a customer, James finds all the comics she wants to read. He zips around the room, looking through the shelves and boxes foraging for comics for the waiting customer. James points her to acclaimed writer Grant Morrison’s new graphic novel and elaborates on the writer and his new piece of work.

James is aesthetically interesting, to say the least. He has a long face with a round chin, thin lips that play host to Fu Manchu style facial hair. He has an impressively shaped narrow nose, sharp distinct eyebrows, which give shade to small emerald eyes and a wide forehead. Yet, the most interesting part of his demeanor is his hair: Salt and pepper, shaved on the sides and a long top that defies gravity by standing straight up. He looks like a cross between Morrissey and Jim Carey. 

James Sime of Isotope Comics. (Photo: Laura Morton/The Chronicle)

In 1999, James moved from his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin with co-owner of Isotope, Kristen Baldock. Initially, James was a bartender at (how he describes it as) “gorgeous swanky bars”. At the same time, he would go out and indulge in comics. He adored the American comic book world but for him, something was lacking. There wasn’t a place where people of all walks, old readers and new, could come together to enjoy comics. James envisioned a comic book store that would be a cultural hub and an art gallery. Isotope was that dream which is ever growing and evolving.

James is a modern day bard of the comic’s world simply ask a question and he will spin you a tale of grandeur and excitement. When James was eight years old his friend Joel Patterson sold him his first comic, Daredevil issue 154 for a nickel. That nickel would be one of the most important purchases he would ever make. Igniting his love for comic books. His boundless love and knowledge of the comic book world are nearly infinite. He willing imparts knowledge on all those yearnings and he does it with a smile. When striking up a conversation about the film adaption of Alan Moore’s Watchmen, James imparted his two cents.

“The movie wasn’t bad as far as adaptations go but talk about an awkward sex scene, cardboard,” said James “Also Watchmen was supposed to be superheroes superimposed into the real world but they still fought like superheroes.”

There is an almost wondrously mystical aura to Isotope Comics. As if it were some secret club only privileged to the certain few. If so, this otherworldly lounges sorcerer supreme is James himself and Isotope is his very own Sanctum Sanctorum. James has had his unique persona immortalize in the annals of comic book history. Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, based a character in their comic book Invincible on James called Isotope. Which eventually James would name his comic lounge. James, was an advocate of Kirkman’s now wildly popular comic series The Walking Dead, while it was still in its infancy. As a thank you, Kirkman incorporated James in a pile of dead bodies in The Walking Dead issue number four and created the character Isotope.

Panel from Invincible by Kirkman and Walker, featuring Isotope.     

Isotope, aside from being the trendiest comic book lounge in San Francisco, is also an art gallery. James explains, that alongside all the original art that is featured at Isotope, it also has a Comic Rockstar’s Toilet Bowl Museum. The idea for the toilet bowl masterpieces came from an event hosted at Isotope for writer and illustrator Brian Wood (DMZ, Northlanders). After a one too many beers, which James provided for Brian, he decided to vandalize their bathroom with a sharpie. James, finding it entertaining, hung it up in his gallery. Eventually, artists wanted to contribute to the gallery and thus the museum was born and was recently featured in Marie Claire magazine. Legendary artists and writers have added to the collection, such as the amazing Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, Alias).

There’s a massive new culture for comics and according to James, 70 percent of his customers are people who have been reading for less than five years. The massive popularity of comic book movies has made the culture even more widespread. People are no longer closet comic book fans, they wear their nerd badge proudly. Isotope comic lounge is the perfect place for new readers due to its lively welcoming atmosphere. Most comic book shops are just for retail purposes. Isotope is a place where people who share their love for comics, can come and hang out. Isotope plays hosts to famous comic writers who have signings and meet and greets every few months there. Just this past January, writer Brian K. Vaughn (Y the Last Man, Saga) held a signing at Isotope.

“I think it was initially caused by creators and publishers just making great new stuff and then new shops like mine welcoming new people into our world. People will always gravitate towards things that are good, and honest, and created with true passion,” said James “From there the media discovered what was happening and then the Hollywood executives. And as long as my industry keeps making wonderful things, it will keep growing and growing. It is amazing & the most fun thing ever to be working in comics right now.”

Aside from being a graphic novel aficionado, James still plays bass, synth, and guitar in various space rock, synth-punk and doom projects. He recently used his musical skills to compose a soundtrack for an indie super-8 horror flick. Isolated tropical Islands is where James loves to travel in his free time. To get away from his very social and demanding life. Weird video games, listening to records with his cat and any sort of activity involving the strange and unique is right up his alley.

New readers and comic lovers, flock to Isotope, due to the lively and accepting environment James has cultivated over the years. James is one of the main reasons Isotope has had such success. He acts as an eccentric, informative and entertaining guide to the pantheon that is the comic culture. With the resurgence of comic book culture that is exploding, James is on the forefront of the scene by being the owner of San Francisco’s best comic book lounge: Isotope. Currently, the new Black Panther series written by journalist and social commentator Ta-Nehisi Coates, is what he’s is most excited for. Whether you’ve been reading for many years or you’re just dipping your toes, Isotope and James have something for you.