Most of you probably already know, but comic book retailer and owner of Berkeley's Comics Relief Rory Root passed away today, after succumbing to a coma after a surgical procedure due to a ruptured hernia.

Rory was one of those bulwarks of the comics industry who had been around for forever and knew everyone. He was a great retailer who, despite the fact I was some jackass on the internet, seemed to know exactly what to drop in my hands when I would pop up in his booth at Comic Con or during a random visit to his store when I was in the Bay Area.

He was a tastemaker, an encyclopedia of knowledge and advice, and a guy who cared more about exposing people to good material than making money. I have Rory to thank for getting me beyond the "mature" and "edgy" comics of DC's Vertigo line, and into the REALLY good stuff like Moebius, Billy Budd KGB, Herge & Tintin, Lil' Abner, and Osama Tezuka.

Nevermind the comic book industry; the world at large is slightly darker with his passing.

GAH.