Desert Island Comics

Gazing at the unassuming storefront of Desert Island Comics, one might mistake it for a relic of old Williamsburg. It held onto a modified version of the Italian bakery sign that graced the building before 2008. That’s when Gabriel Fowler, a former rock musician, decided Williamsburg needed a haven for alternative comics. Desert Island Comics became just that. This wasn’t your typical superhero-saturated shop. Desert Island Comics championed the underground, the independent, the self-published. Fowler, inspired by the anything-goes vibe of Quimby’s Bookstore in Chicago, implemented a “no-restrictions consignment” policy. This allowed local artists to share their unique creations, fostering a vibrant community hub within the store’s walls. Desert Island Comics became more than just a retailer. It was a platform, a gallery, a meeting place for the quirky and creative. Rotating art displays by artists like Lauren Weinstein and Marie Lorenz adorned the storefront. Inside, alongside zines and graphic novels, you could find the store’s own publication, Smoke Signal. This free quarterly comics anthology even earned an Eisner Award nomination in 2014. Desert Island Comics also hosted Comic Arts Brooklyn, an annual festival celebrating independent comics. The shop became a cultural touchstone, a testament to the enduring power of independent art. It even played a role in national events, distributing a special issue of Smoke Signal at the 2017 Women’s March. Desert Island Comics proved that even in a rapidly changing city, there’s always room for a little bit of island spirit.