Who (or What) is The Cran?

Well, to be honest, This is The CRAN!







That probably doesn't help, at all. Chances are it scared quite a few of you! O.K., let's try it this way. The Cran (that IS the proper spelling) is the guy who owns Land Of Cran Comics. The name Land of Cran, comes from back when The Cran was in High School. Everyone just called him The Cran (a nickname based off of his real name). So, one day in study hall, one of his buddies, who was always doodling and sketching, handed him some art he finished of this alien-looking landscape. There were some mountains, and on top there was a flag with the word Cran on it. His pal said, "Here you go. It's The Land of Cran." And it stuck!



The Cran opened Land of Cran comics in February 1993, with his most faithful employee ever, ME! Well, pretty faithful. I ran the store for the Cran until September of 2000. Since then, Terry and Dave have taken turns at the counter, selling comics and dealing with the unique personality of The Cran!

Before The Cran started the store, he was running a mail order business and setting up at local conventions. When the time came to open the doors of Land of Cran Comics, we needed a sign and a logo. Being a fan of 1950's Sci-Fi, The Cran was inspired by the rocket ships of L.B. Cole and this design was created to represent the store.

The Cran was always been good to us, letting us hang out, host a few events at the store, and putting up with our ramblings of comic book shows and artists. It is has never been odd to see a few Cranboyz at the store, although it happens less these days, due to most of them no longer living in Canton. However, most of the Cranboyz met through me working at the store and we all just hung out, gamed together or started going to conventions.

Land of Cran Comics has been through some crazy times, and has relocated, twice. But It has always been found in the Market Place Plaza, on Whipple Ave NW, in Canton, Ohio. Currently at 4611 Whipple Ave NW.

If you are in the area, stop by! It is a great shop, clean with LOTS of Comic Books! If The Cran is there, he might even talk comics with you, as long as the comics you like are Bone, Walt Disney Ducks, Lobo, The Demon, Transmetroplitan, Jonah Hex or the Amazing Spider-Man (prior to the Spider Buggy).

Otherwise, Terry would be happy to chat with you about comics, movies, tv, gaming or whatever fun topics happen to come up!

The Cran even gave the Cranboyz his blessing when I showed him our logo, based 100% off of his. His exact words were, "Hey, not bad!" And if you know The Cran, you know that is high praise indeed!

So, those are our roots. Where we come from and why. It probably doesn't explain a damn thing to anyone, but now you know a little bit more about the Cranboyz!