Local Comic Book Stores: What Edinburgh Has To Offer.

It's a disappointment to me that Edinburgh has so little to offer by way of comic book retailers. It's not that what we have isn't sufficient, but I suppose I just don't feel any magic when I go into the places we do have.

I've been watching a TV show recently called Comic Book Men. It's basically a show about a real New Jersey comic store owned by film director Kevin Smith, called Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash. The store buys and sells all manner of comics, toys, and collectibles. They have a huge back issues section and some expensive rare stuff for sale. On top of that, they still get all the new books in every wednesday and still stock a ton of brand new stuff. Plus, the staff are cool.

It's basically the kind of happy medium that I feel Edinburgh needs.

We have Forbidden Planet. This is the nice shiny shop that has friendly knowledgeable staff, sells all your weekly comics, has loads of graphic novels, action figures, toys, shirts, and loads of other merchandise. But they don't stock back issues or second hand stuff. Some of their leftover books might stay on the shelves for a while but I would love it if they had a section where the books were bagged, boarded, and put out for buyers to browse. Instead, more than half the shop is taken up with toys and merch, as I assume that's where most of their profit will be made. Forbidden Planet do have a back issues website, but it's really not great. They also seem unable to buy in used stock, which is a shame. I assume this is simply due to the fact they are not an independent retailer (i.e. the management aren't allowed to decide where the company's money goes).

Speaking of independent retailers...

Deadhead Comics should be AWESOME! But it isn't. Here's a dedicated comic shop that has 1 wall for new stock, and the rest is all back issues. No toys or merch. Now that sounds great, right? Sadly a large percentage of those back issues are sitting in boxes at the back of the shop unsorted, un-bagged, un-priced and un-loved. I've also noticed that a lot of their un-bagged stock stinks, since the owner smokes roll-up cigarettes in the shop. They're also drunk sometimes so if you're after something specific, you may not always leave with that item, even if they have it in stock somewhere. They have a website, and they offer mail order, but none of their stock is cataloged on there apart from some new releases. To give them credit though, they are an indie retailer who have been around for a good long time, and they are highly regarded by a lot of people, so they must be doing something right. Also, I missed the recent Green Lantern Annual #1 and was after the 1st printing. Ebay sellers were already wanting £15 upwards for it and Deadhead were my saving grace, so although it sounds like I've been knocking them, I'm not. I do still shop there!

I guess I just want too much. I want a shop that caters to everyone. A shop that buys and sells new and used stock. A shop that caters for hardcore comic and toy collectors as well as the 8 year olds who just want the latest Lego Minifigures. These shops do exist. It doesn't seem like a lot to ask in a capital city, does it? Maybe I'll open one myself some day.

Forbidden Planet International can be found at: 40/41 South Bridge, Edinburgh, 0131 558 8226
Deadhead Comics can be found at: 27 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, 0131 226 2774