Central Florida’s Favorite Local Geek Spot
Located on International Drive is every pop culture, comic book and gaming geek’s dream — and Watermark’s readers Favorite Local Geek Spot — Gods & Monsters.
The retail space of Gods & Monsters is filled with all the comics, graphic novels, toys, games, collectibles and movie memorabilia your imagination can handle and then some. One particular section that most likely helped Gods & Monsters to top this category for the second year in a row is the store’s prominently displayed LGBTQ area.
“We pride ourselves on being an open and inclusive place where everyone can come and not only feel welcome but also feel comfortable being who they are without fear,” says Todd Fisher.
Fisher and his wife Anna Young, who Fisher affectionately calls the “powerhouse of Gods & Monsters,” opened the store together in 2015 and since then have made it a part of Gods & Monsters’ mission to be a safe space in Orlando for all LGBTQ Central Floridians.
“We have members of our staff who are a part of the LGBTQ community and they are constantly telling us what we need to be reading and bringing into the store to make sure we are taking care of this community,” Fisher says. “Being a warm and welcoming place has just always been at the heart of who we are and what we do.”
Along with being a place where you can pick up your favorite comics and toys, God & Monsters also has Vault 5421, a “post-apocalyptic” themed craft beer bar, and an ever-expanding gaming area.
They also feature a gallery wall of local and consignment art and have multiple community events per month. The store is meant to bring geeks and nerds of all fandoms together to meet new people, share their interests and enjoy a game or a drink.
“Thank you to everyone who voted and if you didn’t vote, come in and check us out. We are like nothing you’ve seen before,” Fisher says.
