The Comic Shop: The Next Nerd Cult Classic
You can watch and follow the show @AwkwardVirgoProductions on YouTube, and follow them @thecomicshopseries on Instagram and for more updates!
Written by Katelynn Virguous
2025 had a range of movies and shows from DC Comics and Marvel, but the real mandatory viewing for nerds was breakout tv series, The Comic Shop. With its diverse array of characters, humor, and witty dialogue, The Comic Shop combines workplace mockumentary comedy with the everyday retail experiences that dive into the moments that make or break the average workday. From the familiar comic shop customers to references rooted in X-Men and Dungeons and Dragons, this series is well on its way of becoming the next nerd cult classic.
Set at a fictional comic shop known as OhEmGee Comics (filmed at The Comic Den in Los Angeles), this series follows the adventures of owner Stephanie Okeke, played by the writer and creator Cheyenne Ewulu. The ambitious, sharp, and sarcastic shop owner navigates her struggles and victories with business ownership, friendship, dealing with nerds and geeks, and the pressures of being successful.
Her co-owner and longtime friend, Keith Hendricks, played by Zeno Robinson, is a goofy, fun-loving guy whose vibe is reminiscent of the class clown that can’t stop talking and says what we are all thinking. Admiring him from afar with a spunky personality and style that can't be beat, we find Dominique Smith played by Shanae Cole. Her bright energy radiates throughout the shop and its social media alongside her frenzied and compassionate coworker, Connor Ross, played by Grayson Niles. Though full of sporadic movement and thought, he tends to be the grounding force of the store–even if each moment is full of intense facial expressions mimicking characters like the Joker or Sherlock Holmes.
Throughout its 6 episodes, viewers are immersed into this new, exciting, and campy universe. Through styling choices and direction, each member of the OhEmGee team is relatable and given their moment to shine. Their facial expressions, voicings, and varying levels of enthusiasm make binging the show a joy. The excellent chemistry between the cast members invites the audience into a shop where friendship histories feel established and welcoming as viewers get to know each character better. (The show also includes a number of cameos from other actors such as Khary Payton, Hayley Law, Rahul Kohli & more.)
The script is tight and extremely self aware in how it allows each character to see themselves for what they want to be, while those around them see them for who they really are. For example, in Episode 3, Keith begins dating a girl named Alyssa and most of the store is already hip to this woman being either “out-of-his-league” or just off. The writers then take that plot device, and give us true character development for each individual and their cross-team dynamics. Throughout the episode, Stephanie allows Keith to live in his delusion while Dominique searches for the truth despite Stephanie’s objection while Connor plays out his “detective” character. Dominique, Keith, and Stephanie learn the role that love and trust plays in each of their lives while letting their culture, gender, and range of sexualities guide how they view Alyssa’s vibe in the store and how she (a white woman) met Keith on a forum designed for Black nerds. In that same vein, we don’t see that influence Connor’s actions or thought process. There is also consistent queer representation given Stephanie and her ex, Keke Wyatt, played by Hayley Law, are in a yuri arch nemesis battle.
The Comic Shop extends beyond the overarching plot of a small business trying to survive and mixes various subplots (and nerd culture reference) as the friends engage in D&D games or struggle with social pressures that come with being true to the love of comic books. It also includes topics of family expectations, discussions of fetishization of specific races, and even a dash of business-on-business warfare.
Luckily for you, this show is not gatekept behind a paywall. Its funding through Kickstarter means viewers can watch on nearly any device as The Comic Shop is available on YouTube. If you didn’t get a chance to support the series when it was in its funding stage, you can easily support it through watching the show or staying in the loop when (hopefully) Season 2 is announced. OhEmGee Comics may be a fictional shop, but by the end of the series it feels as close as your local comic shop.
The Comic Shop Series show runner, Cheyenne , was kind enough to answer a few questions about the show.
Katelynn Virgous: Throughout the show, each character was real with their own dynamics such as Stephanie’s Mommy issues, Keith’s need to put himself first, or Dominique’s dark side coming out during D&D. What was your process in crafting characters' personalities and histories, and how did you designate story arcs?
Cheyenne Ewulu: I knew I wanted every character to be super different but have it known that they're all here for one thing. I also pulled a lot of these storylines and personalities from my personal life. I would say Stephanie is 90% me, Keith, Dominique are 50% and Connor maybe 20% me, hah.
What can viewers expect for Stephanie’s future, not just as a business owner, but as a woman taking control of her own destiny?
I'd love to explore her dating life more and how she juggles that with her worklife. That's also a request I've been seeing a lot of from the audience.
This show has left so many communities feeling seen. Looking back at this series, in terms of critical success and representation, how do you think teen Cheyenne would feel if she saw this show?
Teen Cheyenne thought she was going to be a comic book creator, so I think she'd think adult me making a show about a comic shop would be pretty fucking cool. Teen Cheyenne also loved theater arts...so...adult me starring in her own show would blow her mind.
If any comic book character could work at OhEmGee comics, who are you choosing and why?
I would choose Nightwing...so I could look at him. He's my favorite.
I’ve seen in cast interviews that everyone doesn’t always stick to the script! What were the factors that decided which improv scenes made it, and which were left on the cutting room floor?
It was really a collaborative effort with the directors, editors and producers. Sometimes actors would just play and it worked out better or funnier than the original script.
In a YouTube video you asked your community to comment on any collabs that they could dream for OhEmGee comics, are there any collaborations in the works? Dreamcon?
Well, now that I'm signed to a management company, I'm excited to see what doors open in the new year! Definitely wanna have a panel at San Diego Comic Con strictly for The Comic Shop. I think that would be an amazing feat.
Do you have any oddly specific advice for black women writers who are trying to see their projects go from paper to screen?
Advice? Write what you know was some of the best creative advice I have gotten. There's only one you and that is what makes us all unique. Many people have their own ideas of what a show about a comic store could be like, but mine is unique because its based on lived experiences and communities I surround myself with everyday.
Congratulations on reaching your Kickstarter goal for Season 1 and the comic! How can the community and fans support the work, and when can they expect a Season 2 kickstarter to launch?
BUY OUR MERCH! Haha. And if you have already seen the show, watch it again and again and again. And share it with your friends and family.
For show merch like t-shirts with the OhEmGee logo, visit https://thecomicshopseries.com/. You can watch and follow the show @AwkwardVirgoProductions on YouTube, and follow them @thecomicshopseries on Instagram and for more updates!
We are immensely grateful to Cheyenne for taking out the time to answer each of these questions. Thank you so much for your time and for creating such a captivating show.