Avondale tattoo, comic shop bringing art forms together

Two types of ink come together at Sanctum Tattoos and Comics, one illustrating pages and the other illustrating skin.

Sanctum opened in November under the guiding hands of Wess Gregg and Aaron Hamilton. The South Avondale shop is intended to be a hangout space as well as a store. Their intention is to defy the stereotypes of comic book fans and tattoo artists and show that Sanctum is a place for everyone.

“People have ideas about comic shops and tattoo shops … Comic shops and tattoo shops are not what people think they are anyway, and we want to be more inviting,” Hamilton said. “Maybe expand people’s horizons a little bit. You know, there’s a comic book for everybody.”

Both grew up reading comic books and met about 10 years ago when Hamilton was running Cave 9, a nonprofit, all-ages music venue. 

After they came up with the idea for Sanctum last summer, Gregg said the process to open their business has been “surprisingly smooth.” Hamilton has a background as a tattoo artist, and Gregg said he’s excited that his lifelong love of comics has become his full-time job. 

While you will see Superman and Wonder Woman on the shelves at Sanctum, Gregg said they are focusing more on alternative and independent publishers, like Radiator Comics and the “For Beginners” graphic novel series, whose products are less widely carried in Alabama. 

A few, Gregg said, are carried nowhere else in the state, giving Sanctum a chance to expose readers to something brand new.

“We definitely are offering things that may not be around,” Gregg said.

Their other unique offerings include some older, collectible comics and zines, which are small self-published magazines. Gregg said they have been in touch with Birmingham nonprofit Desert Island Supply Co. (DISCO) about carrying some of the zines DISCO students will make in an upcoming workshop.

Hamilton said a lot of the comics they choose to carry are based on their personal interests, but they try to have a selection that both longtime comic lovers and newcomers who are not as familiar with the medium can enjoy. 

Gregg said he always enjoys the chance to recommend a comic to a customer and see them come back raving about it.

“I like looking at comics every day. It’s great. I like talking to people who come in,” he said.

Though they’re still pretty new, Gregg said the customers have responded more positively than he expected to Sanctum’s blend of alternative comics and tattoo artistry.

“I thought people were only going to be interested in superhero stuff,” Gregg said. “And so far, everyone is really going for the independent, alternative comics. That’s what people are excited about, which makes me happy.”

Mainstream comics are also taking on a new face as publishers such as DC and Marvel explore racial, gender and sexuality diversity even in established characters.

“I think that’s a pretty responsible thing for a publisher to do,” Gregg said. “They’re mixing it up and they’re taking those superhero mantels and passing them to characters that are relatable to a wider variety of readers.”

Hamilton said regular book clubs are already beginning to meet at Sanctum, and the pair would like to exhibit local art regularly. With his background at Cave 9, Hamilton said it’s likely they’ll do occasional live music nights.

Tattoos and comics may not seem like a natural pairing at first, but he said both mediums are about figuring out what people enjoy and finding a way to share that with them.

“I don’t necessarily think we’re trying to be set apart, but we want to keep doing what we’re doing, make good art,” Hamilton said.

Sanctum Comics is at 4410B Fourth Ave. S. and is open noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, go to sanctumtattoosandcomics.com.