Gary Colabuono

Gary Colabuono started a small back issue comics business in his home in 1975 and opened the first comics shop in suburban Chicago in 1978. It never occurred to him at that time that Moondog’s would grow from a tiny storefront into a business that would eventually become the nation's largest chain of comic book/pop culture stores.

Besides dealing in comics and supplies, Gary is also the foremost expert on "ashcan" comics in the country. Recently he completed the Super Family of ashcans and is now the proud owner of the Superman, Superwoman, Superboy and Supergirl ashcans. It is the only set in existence.

Gary is a senior advisor to the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide and was the first recipient of the prestigious Will Eisner “Spirit of Comics” Retailing Award in 1993. Gary was also honored by Krause Publications with the Comics Ambassador award in 1994.

Gary was the CEO of the former Chicago Comicon (now Wizard World). He and his partners sold the show to Wizard in 1997.

Gary and his wife of 35 years, Patty, still live in suburban Chicago. Currently he’s the director of marketing for Incredible Technologies, the largest U.S. manufacturer of coin-operated video games.