A long time ago in a podcast studio not too far away, Jon sat down with Marc Bowker - Lima’s own comic-book store owner, certified Heroic Coach, and real-life superhero of downtown revitalization.

In this epic crossover, Marc steps out from behind the counter at Alter Ego Comics (the beloved downtown Lima institution he’s run since 2005) to talk about building a business that’s survived recessions, pandemics, and plenty of real-world challenges. From his days as Director of Communications at the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce to going all-in on entrepreneurship, Marc shares the origin story of turning a side-hustle comic passion into a 20-year local landmark.

We dive into how political decisions ripple straight into small businesses like Alter Ego - tariffs, regulations, and the daily realities of running a Main Street shop. Ma ...