Chicago Comicon Co-Founder Joe Sarno Dies

According to Chicago Breaking News, Joe Sarno, owner of Chicago’s Comic Kingdom and co-founder of Chicago Comicon, died March 18 following a long illness. He is survived by wife Joan and children Laura, Jamie, and Adrienne. He was 71.

A lifelong science fiction fan and collector, Sarno formed The Fantasy Collectors of Chicago in the basement of his home. This club evolved into one of the first full-time comic book stores in America, The Nostalgia Shop (which was eventually renamed Comic Kingdom). Comic Kingdom operated multiple locations until 2003, when health issues drove Sarno to shift his operations to an Internet-based business, Joe Sarno's Comic Universe.

A special tribute to Sarno is planned for Reed Exhibitions’ Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo on April 17 at McCormick Place Center.