Meet Wing Mui (she/her), Koba (she/her), and Russell Duhon (they/them), the co-owners of Outsider Comics in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. Outsider Comics has been a vibrant and inclusive haven in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood for many years, and in 2022 was transformed into a worker-owned coop. Proudly claiming to be a “geek boutique”, customers can expect to find the latest graphic novels, single issues of comics, zines, and items made by local artists and crafters
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What’s your favorite part about the community in business is in and why?
We love our customers and the creators we work with! It’s great seeing so many queer and trans folks feel comfortable shopping in our store!
Why is it important to you and your business that people #SpendLkeitMatters?
Contrary to the starving artists can’t actually make good art because they’re hungry. Shopping at small outlets that carry unique and diverse voices makes sure that they are fed and can keep making cool art and be a voice for the people whose work that large corporations don’t want to publish/carry.
As a business owner, what’s the strangest or craziest idea you’ve ever tried?
Want to have a date in a comic book store? You can have a private shopping session with us in the evening!
What’s something your customers may not know about you or your business?
We are a worker’s cooperative and everyone is paid the same and shares the same level of decision-making powers.
What are some of your favorite local businesses and why?
We love Push/Pull in Ballard! Artists from push/pull print quite a few of the indie zines and comics we carry!