GREATEST AMERICAN HERO — Allen Stewart poses with the original costume from the ’80s TV show of that name. “It’s like a big time machine,” he said of his museum, which is the only one of its kind in the world. (Photo by David Hazledine)

Allen Stewart loves comic books so much that he built a replica of the DC Comics’ Hall of Justice in his backyard to store them all.

Since then, the one-of-a-kind Hall of Heroes Museum at 58005 17th St., Elkhart, has amassed around 60,000 comics, with 40 more being added every week. And, yes, he reads them all.

Besides comics there are over 10,000 toys, original artwork, animation cels and other artifacts. Adam West’s Batman costume from the original television series, for example, is displayed in the museum’s “Batcave,” dedicated to all things Batman.

“In the next couple of years we’re going to have to move to a different location,” he said.
Stewart, who graduated from Indiana University at South Bend with degrees in history and teaching, is one of the nation’s foremost historians of comic books. While his day job running Stewart Realty may pay the bills, his work with the museum and the many projects associated with it is a deep passion.

The Hall of Heroes is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), started as an independent publishing company 20 years ago.

SPIDERMAN — Spiderman resides on the second floor of the Hall of Heroes Museum, along with 60,000 comics. “We’ve got some pretty rare stuff,” said owner Allen Stewart. (Photo by David Hazledine)

“I knew what hadn’t been done,” said Stewart, so he was able to write original stories for his comics. He left drawing and inking to others, admitting that if he’d done it they’d have been called “Adventures of the ugly stick man.” As a result, Stewart helped train several artists who are now working for DC and Marvel.

One of Stewart’s favorite superheroes is Captain America, who was created during World War II. Stewart’s grandfather, Sam Stewart, was a highly decorated member of the 101st Airborne Division and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
“GIs read more comic books than kids did in those days”, observed Stewart.

The WWII section is his favorite in the museum, due to his grandfather and the research he did. Most recently his research was in relation to a civilian medal being sponsored by three U.S. senators to be presented to Lee and Bellman for their contributions to the war effort. The medal is in the military’s approval stage.

The WWII section also houses the first Captain America comic book, from 1941.
“We beat the Smithsonian to get this one here. It’s the only one,” Stewart stated. He hopes to raise enough donations to pay for the comics’ restoration, which will cost between $5,000-$10,000.

The Hall of Heroes is also joining the fight against childhood obesity.
“It’s an epidemic,” observed Stewart, who is himself a fitness trainer who taught self-defense in the military.

“Kids are into superheroes.” He hopes to start a Superhero-themed workout program aimed at children that will feature celebrity guests. The project kicks off next month with a filmed pilot starring Evan Sharpley, a Notre Dame football player, and Jackie Sharpley, a former Miss Indiana, as Superman and Supergirl. “We need donations and sponsors to take it to a national level.”

It won’t be Stewart’s first foray into the world of television. He and his museum were featured on the Travel channel’s “Toy Hunter” program in 2012, and, most recently on “Stan Lee Superfans,” a Youtube series, in 2014. Stewart was also in the running to play Robin in the 1995 film, “Batman Forever”.

For more information call (574) 522-1187, or visit Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum on Facebook.