Matt Live, 37

When Matt Live was young, he would visit comic book and collectible stores with his dad. He wasn’t an avid comic book collector, but he enjoyed finding action figures and the occasional "Magic: The Gathering" trading card. 

It wasn’t until he was in his 20s that comic books started to enter his life. And even then, it wasn’t until a few years ago, in his early 30s, when he discovered the impact comic books could have — especially with children. 

Live now owns a comic book and education nonprofit, Bat City Comic Professionals. Live and his wife, Shannon Live, founded the organization in Austin, Texas, opening a brick-and-motar location in the Texas capital in October 2019. They moved the operation to a downtown Bradenton storefront in 2022.