While “Deadpool & Wolverine” hit $1.26 billion worldwide in movie ticket sales — becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time — comic book stores around the country struggle to keep customers reading about their favorite characters’ adventures.

How have the past few decades affected Boulder’s Time Warp Comics and Games?

“It’s changed pretty drastically. It’s a lot more challenging, that’s for sure,” said Wayne Winsett, owner of Time Warp, 3105 28th St., Boulder. “Small businesses that still exist in Boulder are few and far between. That’s the nature of a college town like this. We’ve survived for 40 years, so we must be doing something right.”

According to Games Radar, a gaming news site, there are about 2,500 comic book stores in the United States, that’s down from about 10,000 stores in 1994. Comic book sales are down 54% in 2023 compared to 2019, according to a survey by ComicsPro, a comic book retail organization.

Winsett said the most popular characters such as “Spider-Man” and “Batman” used to sell up to 100 issues a month, but now sell only about 60 issues a month. Lower sales can be attributed to factors such as higher prices, the internet and less interest from younger readers.

“We had to diversify,” Winsett said. “Comic book stores aren’t just comic book stores anymore. They’re pop culture stores.”

Time Warp sells action figures, statues, posters, buttons, T-shirts and “whatever we can get to tie into the comics.”

As expected, one giant competitor makes life hard for small business owners.

“Amazon is our biggest competitor,” said Winsett. “They can buy in bulk and undercut us. Nowadays, people want instant gratification with overnight shipping. I can’t compete. Amazon makes it tough on the little guys.”

However, not all new technology or trends have turned sour.

“Digital comics were perceived as a threat, which hasn’t come to fruition,” said Winsett. “People have been predicting the superhero death knell since I started, but it hasn’t happened yet.”

Comic book movies brought many superheroes, villains and stories into the mainstream.

“They have definitely helped,” said Winsett. “Who would have thought when we were kids that these movies would be around like ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Spider-Man?’ People come in for the graphic novel to get the whole story.”

The trend of comic book movies, animations and television shows does not seem to be slowing. “Sometimes before it even comes out on the stands it is already optioned,” said Winsett.”There is a wealth of material out there.”

The biggest seller is a comic book called “Saga,” a science fiction love story about two rival alien species. The busiest days at Time Warp are Wednesday for New Comic Book Day and Saturday. New readers do not need to be intimidated by the amount of titles, Winsett said.

“There is something for everybody in here,” said Winsett. “There are great artists and writers to follow. It’s our job to help people find their niche.”

Time Warp holds biweekly online auctions with about 35 people from around the country participating. “Everybody is making friends and building a community.”

This community does not just show up for auctions. In July 2023, a break-in caused a loss of more than $13,000 worth of comics. “We had some customers raise a GoFundMe to get us back on our feet,” said Winsett.

“The Boulder Police Department did a really good job getting our books back to us.”

Time Warp needed to replace a broken door and a glass case, as well as update the security system.

Winsett offers wise advice for new business owners. “You have to do your homework, work hard, have the capital before you start, surround yourself with good people and treat it as a life goal,” Winsett said.

“You can’t treat it as a hobby. A self-employed small business owner is always working. I’m not trying to discourage anybody from starting, because it is rewarding.”

After four decades in Boulder, Winsett plans on passing the cape and cowl.

“I’m turning 70. I want to sell. You don’t get vacations when you’re a small business owner,” he said.

When he’s not at the store, Winsett can be spotted at local restaurants and sporting events.