Zeus Comics owner Richard Neal mans the desk. (Caleb Wossen)

Walk in through the doors of Zeus Comics and Collectibles and your eyes are diverted to bright walls. Looking for a new release? Check the green wall. Behind a month on your favorite title? Head to the red wall. Partial to manga? Purple wall’s got you covered. While you’re there, check the blue wall – graphic novels make great gifts.

Let’s say you’re into vintage comics. Why rummage through the bins? Just ask the owner.

“We carry a wide range of comics that appeal to 5-year-olds to 50-year-olds,” said Richard Neal, the burly, square-jawed owner of the comic book store on Inwood Road in Dallas.

Twelve years after its opening, Zeus is by many accounts the number one shop in the Dallas area. The shop has won multiple commendations, including named “Best Comic Book Store” by D Magazine in 2005, 2011 and in 2012. It also won the 2006 Will Eisner Spirit Award. Credit goes to the friendly environment and Neal’s professionalism, say customers.

Longtime shopper Jerry Hawkins followed Zeus from the original store in Lemmon Ave. to Inwood like many other loyal patrons. Hawkins smiles when he recalls Neal recommending him a doctor for his torn Achilles’ heel.

“Richard’s a cool guy,” Hawkins said. “It’s a cool staff.”

The store received national press attention recently for Neal’s gay rights activism, something many customers are proud of. When Orson Scott Card was recently named the new “Adventures of Superman” writer, the news was met with controversy. Card is an active board member on The National Organization for Marriage, an anti-homosexual group. Zeus Comics is thought to be the first retailer to boycott the title.

Neal, who is gay, insists he has no problem with Card’s homophobia. Plenty of writers and artists hold controversial views without suffering boycotts. But Neal believes his audience would disapprove of the writer’s activism.

“The point you become an activist, the point where you’re actively involved in legislation against a group of people, it’s kind of hard to ignore,” Neal said.

Neal graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1992 with a degree in business and journalism. Struggling to find the right job, Neal had what he calls his first “mid-life crisis” at the age of 29. So he quit his job, opened Zeus, and has never looked back.

Neal works hard to please his customers. His clientele are mostly older professionals, too busy to shop for their favorite comics. Neal saw this, so he set up an online checklist. Here, customers can order issues online and pick them up at their convenience. It’s just another example of Neal going the extra mile for his audience.

Newcomers often walk in at the sight of the Spiderman statue in the window. After a moment inside, most walk-ins leave devoted customers, says Neal.

Longtime employee Keli Wolfe says Zeus stands out among other shops for its openness to strangers. Comic aficionados can be a tight-knit group, and sometime stores can be unwelcoming to the uninitiated.

“We try to avoid that here,” Wolfe said.

Zeus is also famous for “The Variants,” a meta-series set in the store. The show’s episodes are wildly popular among comic fans, netting thousands of views.

Neal also loves hosting events at the store, including signings, Q&As and charity drawings with famous artists and writers. Celebrity guests have included popular artists such as “Walking Dead’s” Robert Kirkman and “Irredeemable’s” Mark Waid.

Zeus frequently gives the spotlight to local talent as well. The aim here is to pay tribute to comics and the people who love them. Joe Eisma, a Dallas resident and artist for the acclaimed indie comic “Morning Glories,” regularly participates in Zeus’ events.

“Richard and his staff are genuinely good people who care about the industry and the medium of comics,” says Eisma.

Neal also cares about his store’s environment. Warm, upbeat music sets the mood for browsing the store. Cute toys decorate the aisles. Customers might be pleased, but it’s not just for them.

“If I have to work here for six days,” Neal said. “It’d better look good.”

Zeus offers a vast selection of titles. (Caleb Wossen)

Customers can find rare and obscure comics at Zeus. (Caleb Wossen)