in Santa Clarita. The burglars then smashed open the glass-front case in the back of the store and stole over $1700 worth of Gold and Silver Age comics and statues.

“Unlike break-ins in the past,” commented Atom!, the proprietor of Brave New World, “this was done by people who knew what they were looking for.” The cash register and computers were left alone, and the only items stolen were high priced comics and collectable statues.

Among the items stolen on Saturday:
Amazing Spider-Man #2 - Fair to Good (missing a piece of the upper right-hand cover)
X-men #94 - VF+
Conan #1 - Fine+
Fantastic Four #2 - Fine+
Batman #67 - Fine
Sandman Snowglobe

Atom! asks that if you, or your store, approached by anyone trying to sell these items, please contact him immediately with any information.

Loss of high-priced comic books was not the worst of the damage done by the burglars on Saturday morning. In their efforts to break-in, an exterior glass door was shattered, sending glass flying throughout the store. The Kids book and graphic novel display was covered with glass, rendering the entire inventory dangerous and unsaleable. To gain access to the lighted showcase that housed the statues and comics, the glass doors were smashed, breaking or damaging two-thirds of the merchandise in that case.

“The worst part about all of this has been the loss of our Kids Book section. That won’t be easy to rebuild,” continued Atom!. Though, several publishers have already contributed to the rebuilding effort, Brave New World estimates that it will take several months to restock the children’s books that were damaged.

Brave New World has been has been providing comics and fun for the entire family since 1990, and is very active in their neighborhood and the greater comics community. Atom!, Portlyn and the entire staff of Brave New World are determined to not let this event slow down their plans for 2004. Says Atom! “It’ll take more than some idiot with a bat to keep us from our greatest year, yet!”

If you have any information that may help police find and prosecute the parties responsible for this crime, please contact Atom!, at Brave New World, 661-259-4745, mail@bravenewworldcomics.com