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Comics,

Comic stores in London

An out of country friend recently enquired about comic shops in London.I thought it may be worthwhile documenting my guide for reference. In no particular order: (I will however say, support the little man).

The Comicbook Marketplace = Borough Market
Royal National Hotel,Bedford Way, London, WC1 (Russell Square)
I think this happens once a month. I definitely recommend a visit. You will find something for your collection.

Forbidden Planet = Ikea
020 7420 3666
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR (Tottenham Court)
Its big and its expensive. Worth it alone to see the memorabilia section. Oh yes I saw Frank Skinner in here last weekend.

Gosh! = Boutique
020 7636 1011
39 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3BD (Tottenham Court)
Don't miss e hidwen downswairs section. I believe Gosh! is partly owned by Jonathan Ross. (British presenter/funny guy, with a bit of a lisp)

Mighty World Of Comicana = Musty world of comics
020 7836 5630
237 Shaftesbury Avenue, London,WC2H 8EH (Tottenham Court)
Lots of back issues

Comic Showcase = Corner shop
020 7434 4349
63 Charing Cross Road, London , WC2H 0NE (Leicester Square/Tottenham Court)
Focus is on independent titles

Mega City Comics = Think "Clerks"
18 Inverness Street, Camden Town, London NW1 7HJ (Camden Town)
020 7485 9320
This was the first comic shop I visited in the UK. So it's always on my list of shops to pop into. Has a large variety of trades, back issues and new.

Book & Comic Exchange = Crack House
0845-644 1442
14 Pembridge Road, Notting Hill, W11 3HL (Nottinghill Gate)
If you are desperate pop in otherwise give this a miss. Apparently they excel in out of print, recently published (often untouched preview copies) and hard to find books that are simply really cheap.

30th Century = Library
020 8788 2052
18 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London, SW15 1JP (Putney Bridge)
Asyet I haven't visited yet, but I have heard good things about this establishment.

In a bind most branches of Waterstones,Borders or Foyles will have a collection of well thumbed graphic novels.I should mention it seems as if these shops have a shared belief that people that buy comics have some sort of strange and mixed up secret alphabet. I have yet to decipher their organisational system.

Popular theories run from novels being sorted by spine colour, authors nickname or the "Rain Man" is actually working the shelves.