Character name: Miles Ellis Face claim: Ben Feldman Character pronouns: he/him Age: 42 Gender: Cis man Occupation: Owner of Holden Comics and Collectibles Neighbourhood of residence: Market District Place of Birth: Greenwich, Connecticut Length of residence: 17 years
Beneath the bright smile and the tendency to ramble facts at anyone in earshot, Miles Ellis is simply someone who has spent most of his life trying to be enough... enough for his father, enough for the world, and, perhaps most of all, enough for himself.
Born in Greenwich, Connecticut, Miles was the middle of three siblings in a privileged, high-pressured household. His parents, wealthy and image-conscious, they had clear ambitions for all of their children. He was given every opportunity imaginable. From private tutors, to boarding school, to summers at law firms, and this all came with an early introduction to pressure. His parents were determined their children would be doctors, lawyers, or CEOs. But Miles was always different. He was sent off to boarding school at just eight years old, where discipline and decorum were the norm and vulnerability was often mistaken for weakness.
Though surrounded by opportunity, Miles often felt emotionally sidelined... particularly by his father, who seemed to favour his sportier, more traditionally masculine older brother. Miles, on the other hand, preferred baking and reading over football and hockey. Despite being incredibly bright and excelling academically, he often clashed with teachers and classmates. He was brilliant... too brilliant, some would say and he always had his nose in a book or his hand in the air.
At boarding school, his sharp wit and encyclopaedic memory made him both admired and mildly exhausting. A bit of a know-it-all but he always meant well. With his unfiltered enthusiasm, he’d argue passionately with teachers, citing obscure articles or a documentary he’d watched. His unfiltered enthusiasm made him both a good student and an occasional nuisance, but he was harmless with a heart that always wanted to help. He played several instruments, took advanced classes, he wrote for the school paper and later became editor, he enjoyed cleverly using words and forming arguments on the page.
Though his grades could’ve taken him to any college, Miles rebelled. Rather than heading straight into university, he used a portion of his trust fund to take a gap year... which became three. He travelled, and wrote, exploring cultures and gaining inspiration. He backpacked across Europe, journal in hand, soaking up experiences and stories.
Eventually, he accepted a place at UPenn, appeasing his parents with a nod towards what they considered, a more conventional future. He studied English and Creative Writing, finally finding a space where his voice and opinions were encouraged rather than contained. He wrote for the university paper, becoming editor and even landed a postgrad position at a newspaper in the city, where he started a Master’s degree. The job was respectable, the pay was good, but something was missing. His voice was being filtered, his passion slowly dulled by deadlines and pressure.
At the age of 25, on a whim and in search of something real, Miles found himself in his car, driving and driving. He ended up in Holden, Pennsylvania, a small town that felt instantly like a pause button. No expectations. No judgement. No past. Just a quiet place with charm and places to disappear into. He stayed.
He transferred to the local university, finishing his Master's degree in secret. To pay rent, he took a part-time job at Holden Comics and Collectibles. It was supposed to be temporary, but he fell in love with the stories, the regulars, the quiet comfort of a place where he could be himself. The owner was a kind older man, he was good to him and he had true support for the first time in his life. Five years ago, when the elderly owner passed away, Miles inherited the shop.
Now 42, Miles lives above the shop in Holden’s Market District. He’s become a familiar face, talkative and kind-hearted to a fault. He still reads obsessively, still offers up facts no one asked for, still occasionally tries too hard to be liked. But he is happy.
He never became a doctor or a lawyer, not even a highly-paid corporate manager. He became Miles Ellis, comic shop owner, storyteller, optimist, and someone who finally made peace with who he is. Though recent news circuling around Holden, has definitely shaken things up and created stories that are a little too real.
