Pasadena Says Goodbye To “Mr. Fudd”

Elmer Banister, known to most as “Mr. Fudd” of Fudd's Rabbit Hole of Comics in Pasadena, passed away November 17 due to complications after suffering a stroke in October. Below are some of the comments received about Mr. Fudd. (Note: Some comments have been shortened for space)

He was very passionate about everything he accomplished. When we were involved with Rivera Beach Little League, he was the equipment supervisor and made sure that every player had their uniform and equipment needed to play. The players loved him because of his sense of humor. He spent many hours getting the season ready for Opening Day. He was the glue of the league for over 10 years.

Dawn Lorch

Fudd has been a legend in Pasadena as far back as I can remember. It was one of the first places my mom reluctantly let me ride my bike to as long as I took the backroads to play his son Chris for hours at “Overpower.” I was happy a few months ago to be able to take my stepson to pick out a few comics and pass that tradition on to him. That smell of old comic books hits you in the face and immediately takes you back. I drove by yesterday and was happy to see cars in the parking lot, so maybe this will rejuvenate the business for his family, even for a little bit.

Chad Koepf

He was like visiting the candy store for my son! Pokémon, baseball cards. Always such a kind and patient man.

Maryann Pettie

I am 43 and knew Fudd since I was 14. We were good friends; he nicknamed me “the rocker” because I played in bands and had long hair. We shared lots of stories of rock stars who would come from the night club that used to be next store. I lived down the street as a kid, but then moved to North Carolina and would still come to his shop every six months to see him. It’s with a heavy heart that I write to think this person who I knew for so long and share laughs, some smoke and fond memories of comics, rock stars and life, bop, bop, bop. I knew I should have called before I come up this Black Friday to see him and I guess I was a little too late. Rest in peace my old friend, I will miss you.

Steven Whiteman

He always cared about his customers and he was almost like a surrogate father/grandfather to his customers. I’m going to miss him.

Monroe Jory

I live in Pasadena, not even probably five minutes away from his store. I’ve known it for a couple years. When I was really down in the dumps or just needed somebody to talk to, I would walk over there and say hello. Usually I would pick out a comic and I would ask him about his day, and me and him would sit at his table in a store and have a little chat about how our life is going, and he would always sit and listen to what was on my mind.

Even at times, I would sit with him and play cards (I forget what game it was), but I did know how to play it, so he taught me. I would sit there for hours playing cards with him or just chatting about comic books, or anything for that matter. I felt safe around him. I felt like I was loved by a sweet man that did not know me by heart. He was a kind, sweet soul and I will miss him dearly. He’ll always be fresh in my mind and heart. Thank you for letting me share this little piece of a good memory that will be with me for the rest of my life.

Alexis Arceneaux

I first met Fudd in 1995 at the age of 15. Obviously I couldn't drive at the time, but I managed to get there any chance I could. I was always amazed at the store and loved all the back issues. That, to me, was one of the store’s backbones. The next year and a half or so, I earned my driver's license and started going weekly as I was working and made enough to get a box to get weekly comics. In the later ‘90s, I actually played tackle football with Fudd.

Fast forward to 2002, I joined the Navy. I talked to Fudd about this and he saved almost a year’s worth of books for me for when I made it back to the store. After the Navy, I had been a weekly customer since I have been home in 2007. Fudd hadn't forgotten me and enjoyed talking to me about my time overseas.

He was also interested in how I progressed in life. I would come in for my weekly books and would always end up updating him on my family, my wife and kids. My oldest loved going to see “Uncle Fudd” as he would give him a snack to give to one of the dogs. And my then 2-4-year-old loved running around the store checking out the cabinets and doing circles on the chairs by the registers. Fudd giving my son a toy most visits was great for him but not always approved by mom, age appropriate and all that.

I'm glad I was able to see my friend Fudd a week and a half before his passing. He repeated multiple times that he didn't think he would see me again. I talked to him about my early years at the store and the football games, at which point I found out what level of people I may have played tackle football with close to 20 years ago. I was also able to leave a card made from my 5-year-old addressed to Uncle Fudd.

I was glad to see a few other regulars helping Fudd’s son Chris out with getting the store emptied out and was also told a few stories of Fudd helping new shop owners. I am going to miss my drives to Riviera Beach to get the newest books and to BS with Fudd, talking about my family, job, a current comic story, some crazy customer. I'm going to miss my friend Fudd.

Bobby Herr