Celebrating Another Year of Comics and Community in Bradenton
Award-winning comic shop and non-profit Bat City Comic Professionals celebrates its third year in Old Manatee
Bat City Comic Professionals invites the community to celebrate its Third Year in Bradenton during its Local Comic Shop Day Zine Fest on September, 27, 2025. Shop thousands of new, backstock, and graded issues of comics, all while benefiting the charity’s educational programming. The event runs from 12PM-5PM at 915 Manatee Ave E in Bradenton, FL.
The celebration includes a chance to meet local artists and makers, free comics for all-ages, a Collaboration Station where people can contribute to our community Zine, deals throughout the store, and a special comic release and signing with local creators, Anthony Pizzo, Shannon Live, and Marty, the Bradenton Marauder.
“Being part of the Bradenton community has been such a wonderful experience for us,” said Shannon Live, President at Bat City. “We’ve had the opportunity to partner with so many amazing organizations, like the Manatee Public Library System, The Boys and Girls Clubs, the Scouts, the Manatee and Sarasota County school systems, The Bradenton Marauders, Bradenton Police Department, Bradenton Kiwanis, and many more. We’ve also hosted numerous workshops on-site, helping students explore their imagination while sharpening reading and writing techniques.”
The organization, which is a 501(C)(3) non-profit, taught nearly 4,000 students through its writing programs in the past three years, with more than 1000 students using their comic-based reading programs.
“Having a chance to see young people in our community develop their skills in Reading and Writing has been the highlight for sure,” said Live. “Seeing them find new ways to fall in love with learning has been the greatest joy.”
Funding for non-profit objectives are reached primarily through the sale of weekly new, vintage, and graded comics in the organization’s location on Manatee Avenue. Shoppers at the store can make one-time purchases, sign up for a weekly subscription, or take part in some of the organization’s many preservation services such as the cleaning, pressing, and grading of comics.
Since moving to Bradenton, Bat City has been named one of the Best Specialty Shops in Bradenton’s Best twice. They were also named one of the five best comic book shops in the world at the comic industry’s Will Eisner awards during San Diego Comic Con the past three years running bringing international fame to the Bradenton community.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better home than Bradenton,” Live said. “The way the community supports each other and the children is awe-inspiring. We are honored to be able to play even a small part in that every day.”
To learn more about the event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1174010658082394
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About Bat City Comic Professionals
Beginning in 2018 in Austin, TX, Bat City Comic Professionals’ mission merges the love of comics with the value of education. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Bat City creates resources and workshops for educators, students, and parents to help readers of all-ages improve their reading, writing, and creative skills. Proceeds from purchases in their brick-and-mortar comic shop help to fund their non-profit mission.
