Shellback Artworks closing down

BlueBandana · 08-18-2016, 02:53 PM

Steve just posted two videos on the Shellback Artworks Facebook page, the first video being a tour of the ground floor of the store and the second being the top floor. Sadly, he mentions at the end of the second video that the store will be closing down in mid-October.

*plastroncafe* · 08-18-2016, 03:27 PM

Oh no!
That place is so fantastic!

*CyberCubed* · 08-18-2016, 03:38 PM

Weird, I was just thinking the other day wondering how long Shellback Artworks would remain in business. I didn't expect this to actually happen in reality.

Shame, but I guess it proves individually owned comic book/art stores aren't in high demand when you have big chains.

TheMasterTurtle · 08-18-2016, 03:43 PM

There goes my hope of one day having a guaranteed place to meet pete on FCBD. Sucks for the Lavignes. really unfortunate

*Redrumh2o* · 08-18-2016, 03:45 PM

Probably the end of any PL appearances....maybe ever!

I am sad to hear it but not surprised...I don't see how they even stayed in business that long to tell you the truth. I think in order to survive it would have to be in downtown Portsmouth or Portland. The winters are so dead around there and I just don't see how he gets any traffic in besides signings.

BlueBandana · 08-18-2016, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redrumh2o

Probably the end of any PL appearances....maybe ever!

I thought the exact same thing, I reallllllly hope Peter doesn't just fade away when the doors close for the final time

*Powder* · 08-18-2016, 05:41 PM

A major bummer. I'm glad he was able to do it for as long as he did, though. Brought a lot of smiles to a lot of TMNT fans & kids. I'm sad I'll never get to see the place (but I knew my chances weren't very good anyway).

*Redrumh2o* · 08-18-2016, 06:41 PM

One final signing with Pete confirmed!

*Andrew NDB* · 08-18-2016, 06:56 PM

Well, there's still the Words & Pictures Museum...

funatic · 08-18-2016, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redrumh2o

One final signing with Pete confirmed!

TMNTChris1980 · 08-18-2016, 08:50 PM

Soooo, I duplicated this thread, but my sentiment is still the same.

Glad to hear that Pete and Steve are doing 1 more signing.

I just read the super depressing news today on Shellback Artworks facebook page. Shellback will be closing in October of this year. The store was really great, I went there as often as I could and everytime I went there I felt like family. Its the end of an era. I highly recommend making the trip there before it closes. Here's the official post from Shellback.

"Thank you to everyone who helped keep Shellback alive from June 2012 thru now. We appreciate it so much. Steve will keep his Shellback facebook page, and will be available for freelance and commission work. Original art will be for sale regularly as well. He & I will also be booking many comic cons all year long. On the schedule so far... Aug 2016 Soda City Con, Oct 2016 Tulsa OK, Nov 2016 Rhode Island Con, Jan 2017 New Orleans. Hopefully... Apr 2017 St Louis and Sept 2017 Nashville. Many more shows will be scheduled in upcoming months. We will be creating a con schedule page soon."

DK2 · 08-18-2016, 09:19 PM

Damn. Wanted to ask them about some stuff which I assume most of their TMNT old stuff was from Mirage's back stock. Looks like they had the TMNT Playmates statues there. Couldn't tell the one further away was which turtle. Does anyone know if they have any prints left from FCBD 2014 and wasn't there one from 2016 FCBD? Also wanted to know if they have the AC Farley TMNT poster or the 1990 TMNT Collected Book One. Batman/TMNT print by Steve if they have any left.

*Redrumh2o* · 08-18-2016, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DK2

Damn. Wanted to ask them about some stuff which I assume most of their TMNT old stuff was from Mirage's back stock. Looks like they had the TMNT Playmates statues there. Couldn't tell the one further away was which turtle. Does anyone know if they have any prints left from FCBD 2014 and wasn't there one from 2016 FCBD? Also wanted to know if they have the AC Farley TMNT poster or the 1990 TMNT Collected Book One. Batman/TMNT print by Steve if they have any left.

Send Steve a message via FB

*Mayhem* · 08-19-2016, 04:12 AM

Well that sucks. I'd seen Steve announce it was closing Sundays, which was understandable, but can't keep it going at all? I was hoping to get myself there one time, maybe FCBD next year if Peter was attending (he's the only Mirage person I've not met).

member_removed · 08-19-2016, 10:53 AM

I made the effort to go there last week (all the way from Australia), well worth the trip. It was just an awesome day! Glad I got to see it before it closes it's doors.

Even when I got off the bus, the lady at the transport centre in Wells had no idea what "Shellbacks" was.

*Jephael* · 08-19-2016, 03:20 PM

Yet another portion of the Mirage legacy fades from existance. I only hope Dan Berger manages to keep www.miragelicensing.com afloat for a few more years.

DK2 · 08-19-2016, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jephael

Yet another portion of the Mirage legacy fades from existance. I only hope Dan Berger manages to keep www.miragelicensing.com afloat for a few more years.

Well that's up to Mirage about the site still running. I gather until they sell off a chunk of the Mirage back stock of comics and stuff then that'd be the end for them. But also look how much they've been doing for ebay as well. How much does Mirage still have for all them old vintage TMNT merchandise? It seems endless. Without any publishing current comics they are becoming less relevant. Certainly with TMNT Volume 4 issues being no more unlike the last few years, nothing new coming along either. Also does Mirage own their building? Wonder if they rent, on lease or own the building. If thats the final thing Mirage does and sells their building when the time comes. That's more money to Peter I'd assume for the last time.

*Powder* · 08-19-2016, 11:40 PM

If I'm not mistaken, their basement had one of almost everything ever made, because they had to get approval copies of all items produced by licencees.

*CyberCubed* · 08-20-2016, 12:15 AM

They still have stacks of old comics at Mirage, but I imagine their toy/merch items are almost done or dwindling given how much sells on ebay week after week.

DK2 · 08-20-2016, 02:29 PM

I'd imagine Peter still has a chunk of stuff in his possession too but its safe to say he's probably already given all of them to Mirage to sell by now. He was in that dumping all TMNT stuff a few years ago, move on with his life phase.
Also why is there never anything on their ebay auctions? From the Mirage site I keep glancing and there's no auctions when they say there are stuff. There's never anything up. Is the link wrong?

08-18-2016, 02:53 PM	#1
BlueBandana Foot Soldier Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 100	Shellback Artworks closing down Steve just posted two videos on the Shellback Artworks Facebook page, the first video being a tour of the ground floor of the store and the second being the top floor. Sadly, he mentions at the end of the second video that the store will be closing down in mid-October.

08-18-2016, 03:43 PM	#4
TheMasterTurtle Mad Scientist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,114	There goes my hope of one day having a guaranteed place to meet pete on FCBD. Sucks for the Lavignes. really unfortunate __________________ Do you have any Dinosaucers or a lead on where to get anything related to the show? PM Me Please! Check out my collection! http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=39766

08-18-2016, 03:45 PM	#5
Redrumh2o Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,907	Probably the end of any PL appearances....maybe ever! I am sad to hear it but not surprised...I don't see how they even stayed in business that long to tell you the truth. I think in order to survive it would have to be in downtown Portsmouth or Portland. The winters are so dead around there and I just don't see how he gets any traffic in besides signings. __________________ My Collection Thread - Original Art, Toys, Comics, Sketches!!

08-18-2016, 06:41 PM	#8
Redrumh2o Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,907	One final signing with Pete confirmed! __________________ My Collection Thread - Original Art, Toys, Comics, Sketches!!

08-18-2016, 06:56 PM	#9
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,590	Well, there's still the Words & Pictures Museum... __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]

08-18-2016, 03:38 PM	#3
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,897	Weird, I was just thinking the other day wondering how long Shellback Artworks would remain in business. I didn't expect this to actually happen in reality. Shame, but I guess it proves individually owned comic book/art stores aren't in high demand when you have big chains.

08-18-2016, 05:41 PM	#7
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,956	A major bummer. I'm glad he was able to do it for as long as he did, though. Brought a lot of smiles to a lot of TMNT fans & kids. I'm sad I'll never get to see the place (but I knew my chances weren't very good anyway).

08-18-2016, 08:50 PM	#11
TMNTChris1980 Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 605	Soooo, I duplicated this thread, but my sentiment is still the same. Glad to hear that Pete and Steve are doing 1 more signing. I just read the super depressing news today on Shellback Artworks facebook page. Shellback will be closing in October of this year. The store was really great, I went there as often as I could and everytime I went there I felt like family. Its the end of an era. I highly recommend making the trip there before it closes. Here's the official post from Shellback. "Thank you to everyone who helped keep Shellback alive from June 2012 thru now. We appreciate it so much. Steve will keep his Shellback facebook page, and will be available for freelance and commission work. Original art will be for sale regularly as well. He & I will also be booking many comic cons all year long. On the schedule so far... Aug 2016 Soda City Con, Oct 2016 Tulsa OK, Nov 2016 Rhode Island Con, Jan 2017 New Orleans. Hopefully... Apr 2017 St Louis and Sept 2017 Nashville. Many more shows will be scheduled in upcoming months. We will be creating a con schedule page soon."

08-18-2016, 09:19 PM	#12
DK2 Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 621	Damn. Wanted to ask them about some stuff which I assume most of their TMNT old stuff was from Mirage's back stock. Looks like they had the TMNT Playmates statues there. Couldn't tell the one further away was which turtle. Does anyone know if they have any prints left from FCBD 2014 and wasn't there one from 2016 FCBD? Also wanted to know if they have the AC Farley TMNT poster or the 1990 TMNT Collected Book One. Batman/TMNT print by Steve if they have any left.

08-19-2016, 04:12 AM	#14
Mayhem Foot Elite Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, England Posts: 4,086	Well that sucks. I'd seen Steve announce it was closing Sundays, which was understandable, but can't keep it going at all? I was hoping to get myself there one time, maybe FCBD next year if Peter was attending (he's the only Mirage person I've not met). __________________ Lie with passion and be forever damned...

08-19-2016, 10:53 AM	#15
member_removed Stone Warrior Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 504	I made the effort to go there last week (all the way from Australia), well worth the trip. It was just an awesome day! Glad I got to see it before it closes it's doors. Even when I got off the bus, the lady at the transport centre in Wells had no idea what "Shellbacks" was. __________________ You take the ugly one! No, you take the ugly one! I'll take the ugly one! Which one's the ugly one?

08-19-2016, 03:20 PM	#16
Jephael That whack job behind you Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania Posts: 8,143	Yet another portion of the Mirage legacy fades from existance. I only hope Dan Berger manages to keep www.miragelicensing.com afloat for a few more years. __________________ "I like it. Simple, but effective!" Raphael; The Mean Machines - 1988

08-19-2016, 11:40 PM	#18
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,956	If I'm not mistaken, their basement had one of almost everything ever made, because they had to get approval copies of all items produced by licencees.

08-20-2016, 12:15 AM	#19
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,897	They still have stacks of old comics at Mirage, but I imagine their toy/merch items are almost done or dwindling given how much sells on ebay week after week.

08-20-2016, 02:29 PM	#20
DK2 Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 621	I'd imagine Peter still has a chunk of stuff in his possession too but its safe to say he's probably already given all of them to Mirage to sell by now. He was in that dumping all TMNT stuff a few years ago, move on with his life phase. Also why is there never anything on their ebay auctions? From the Mirage site I keep glancing and there's no auctions when they say there are stuff. There's never anything up. Is the link wrong? Last edited by DK2; 08-21-2016 at 12:39 AM.