San Diego comic book shops have been through the wringer. Can Comic-Con come to the rescue?

SAN DIEGO — When “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” was released in early May, customers walked into Mathias Lewis’ comic book shop wanting to discuss the movie. Many bought Doctor Strange stuff.

Two months later, when “Thor: Love and Thunder” came out, people still wanted to talk. But few were buying.

“The desire is there,” said Lewis, the owner of Knowhere Games and Comics in San Marcos. “But the financial means to fulfill that demand is not.”