Bill Wahl, a member of the comic book retailer community, died on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. He was 62 years old.

Wahl was the co-owner of Comix Connection comic book stores in Southcentral Pennsylvania. His store was frequented by several members of Hake’s Auctions, and he was well liked and well respected by Geppi Family Enterprises.

Born on June 11, 1961, Wahl attended Millersville State College and studied photography at Daytona Beach Community College. The Pennsylvania native also lived in Florida for sometime before settling back in the Keystone State.

In 1988, Wahl and co-owner Ned Senft opened Comix Connection in York, PA. Soon after, the pair opened a second location in Camp Hill, PA (which would move to Mechanicsburg, PA), and since then, the stores have been popular destinations for comic book readers in their respective cities. They host gaming events on a regular basis, have annual sales during the anniversary of the store’s opening, and they are supporters of Free Comic Book Day. Wahl and Senft co-owned and ran Comix Connection until the time of Wahl’s passing.

“I have known Bill Wahl since 1988, when he and his partner Ned Senft, opened their first store in York, PA. I was assistant manager at Diamond Comic Distributor’s Baltimore Distribution Center at the time, back when we were also Customer Service for all the accounts we serviced. We’ve been friends pretty much ever since,” Mark Herr said.

“When a big name creator passes, the entire industry mourns. But, when it’s a comic retailer, a good one, like Bill, it’s an even more devastating loss for the local community. A lover of the art form, Bill helped mold readers and encouraged their tastes for decades. A mentor and adviser to many. For some teens, the first adult to take their interest in comics seriously. His impact on what sold in his stores cannot be overstated,” Herr continued.

“I had known Bill longer than I didn’t know him. He was always a great friend and I’m proud to know he felt the same of me. We shared many laughs, a few beers and a bit of Scotch over the years along with our mutual love of all things comics,” Hake’s Production Manager Todd Sheffer said.

“Bill was one-of-a-kind. Well-versed in all things comics, he was always ready with a recommendation, something that helped shape the interests of many budding comic fans over the 36 years he helped make Comix Connection ‘South-Central PA’s Ultra-Hip Pop Culture Mecca,’” Hake’s Senior Consignment Manager Mike Bollinger said. “He took time to get to know his customers, gaining many of them as friends over the decades and was always eager to discuss what new reads they were enjoying as well as old favorites. A lover of the off-beat and absurd, he helped introduce many readers to the works of David Lapham (Stray Bullets), Peter Bagge (Hate), Brian Azzarello (Hellblazer, 100 Bullets), Ed Brubaker (Criminal, Fatale), Daniel Clowes (The Death-Ray), Tom King (The Human Target) and Alan Moore (V For Vendetta, From Hell) among others. He just loved the medium of comic books, be it classic EC Comics from the ‘50s or mildly inappropriate Archie panels, Bill lived and breathed the four color world. I’m glad I got to share some of my years on this world with him as a friend and mentor. He will be terribly missed.”