Myth Adventures founder dies doing what he loved
For any kid growing up in Hidalgo County during the 1990s, who either loved comic books, other collectibles, or the strange game that was quickly catching fire with the youth, about which most adults still had no clue (still don’t), Dungeons and Dragons, Myth Adventures on 10th Street — which is now located on Nolana Ave. in McAllen — was the place to go.
This past Sunday, the store’s owner, Helgi Davis, passed away at the age of 76.
His full obituary is included toward the end of this story, but first, if there’s ever any way to measure someone’s legacy, it’s the words spoken by those who knew him best. Besides Helgi’s family, that would be his loyal customers, many of whom would play D&D at Myth Adventures on weekend nights or stop in on a weekend day to buy the latest comic, whichever was their favorite.
Collectibles lined the walls, adding to the store’s charm.
On the Myth Adventures Facebook page, here are just a few of the posts that speak volumes about Helgi Davis, RIP:
# “Today, my heart is heavy as we say goodbye to a true legend, my dear friend Helgi. Since I was 12 years old, Helgi wasn't just the owner of a comic book store; he was a gatekeeper to new worlds, a mentor, and a constant source of joy. His store was more than just shelves of comics; it was a sanctuary, a place where imaginations soared, and where I, along with so many others, felt truly seen.”
# “I was fortunate enough to have met Helgi in the mid 1990s as my mom took me to Myth to search for comics that I was missing and later in ’98, Myth was home to me and my friends every weekend (for years) as we came up and played magic. Over the past 20+ years every time I got to see him at the store, (Helgi) always asked how I was doing and remembered details from the last time we spoke, even if it had been a few years since I had last seen him. Thank you, Helgi, for creating such an amazing community over the years and giving people the gift of such a place.”
# “A man of few words with big impact. Helgi was himself every time I interacted with him, an honest man, who you can tell loved what he did. His passion and love passed on to every customer, and you truly felt welcomed and at home at Myth. I’m grateful for the way he was, as it enabled my nerdiness and geekiness. RIP, legend.”
# “I bought my first Dungeons & Dragons players handbook from him 25 years ago, back when Myth was the only place someone could buy D&D books in the Valley. You know a man is great when strangers remember their interactions with them, and Helgi was a great man.”
# “He was an amazing person. He inspired a community, his family, and the people around him. He will be greatly missed by his family, and especially the community he put so much of himself into. Even though I was just one of many people who came into his store, the passion he and his family have, and the generosity they've shown me and others, will never be forgotten. RIP.”
# “Bye to a local legend. Thank you for making a home for us comic nerds. Say hi to Stan Lee for me.”
# “Helgi and Myth Adventures - one of the best parts of McAllen and the RGV.”
# “Awesome man and a respected entrepreneur in the RGV.”
# “He sold me my first professional skateboard set up when I was a kid. He was a cool dude. Condolences.”
# “Myth adventures has been around forever, I’ve visited them at 3 different locations now.”
Helgi Davis Obituary
Helgi Davis, 76, entered eternal rest Sunday, June 29, 2025, at South Texas Health System McAllen after a brief illness. He was born on January 17, 1949 in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Helgi came from humble beginnings, spending much of his childhood in orphanages in both Iceland and the United States. Even though that experience left him with a somewhat skeptical view of life, he was of the mind that hard work was the road to success. He often shared stories of his first job delivering newspapers at the age of 6.
At the age of 17, he spent his summers doing custom combining jobs, helping with the harvest of wheat from Canada to Sweetwater, Texas.
Helgi joined the Army at the age of 19 after some questionable decisions. He served in Vietnam in 1969 and also served in Germany. While in Germany he developed a great love of travel and enjoying other cultures. That love continued throughout his life. His last dream was to travel to Antarctica. That would have completed his bucket list of visiting all the continents.
After retiring from the Army, Helgi and his wife, Sandra, and daughter, Hope, moved to the Rio Grande Valley. They arrived in 1985 and had planned to stay for five years and then return to Germany. The Rio Grande Valley became home for him, and in 1990, he opened his first business, Edinburg Cards and Comics.
Helgi was so successful with that, that he took over a little gaming shop named Myth Adventures, based in McAllen.
Knowing nothing about comics or gaming, he listened closely to his customers, and that’s when he learned the secret of being successful in business. He would say, “Always listen to your customers!”
Customers became fast friends, and employees (Carl) became family.
During his years running Myth, Helgi would often help customers and employees who needed a helping hand. He was generous to a fault. Honest as the day is long. He had a profound belief in God, often remarking how very blessed he was.
One those blessings is his granddaughter, Kali, who started working at Myth with “Grampa.” She quickly learned the ropes and then added her special touch. After 30 years of running Myth, Helgi felt it was time to pass the torch and gave the business to his granddaughter. She will carry on his legacy.
Helgi is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sandra S. Davis; a daughter, Hope Ellen (Terry) Palacios; nine grandchildren, Shiloh Palacios, Kali (Joey) Galvan, Lilja Martinez, Alian Palacios, Annika Palacios, Audra (Steven) Cruz, Alexandra Palacios, Toribio “TJ” Palacios Jr., Andres Palacios; and seven great-grandchildren, Harlen Palacios, Janelle Saenz, Esteban Cruz, Romeo Cruz, Santiago Cruz, Adia Reyna, and Ezra Reyna.
Visitation will begin at 5 p.m., with a 6 p.m. memorial service on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 7473 of Elsa.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.