Nostalgia and Comics regenerates

As from today, the UK's longest running comic shop, Nostalgia and Comics, is no more... but don't panic! It's had a complete refit and a name change to Worlds Apart. Yes, they still sell comics, - although you'll find them upstairs now, with the ground floor being used for Funko Pops and other merchandise.

Nostalgia and Comics opened in late 1976, founded by Phil Clarke, who had previously played a huge part in the history of comics fandom by organising Britain's first comic convention in 1968. The original Nostalgia and Comics store was a tiny shop on the corner of Hurst Street in Birmingham, which opened in November 1976 as announced in Comic Media News No.28...

...and advertised fully in the following issue...

Art by Mike Higgs.

Shortly after, a second branch was opened to cater for back issues, a few seconds walk away in the subway of Smallbrook Queensway...

Art by Mike Higgs.

By 1979, a new larger premises were opened on the other side of the road at 14/16 Smallbrook Queensway, replacing the previous shops. (The subway shop was sold to Readers World who traded there for a while. The subway no longer exists, having been filled in as part of a redevelopment in Birmingham several years ago.)

With two floors, the new shop at 14/16 Smallbrook Queensway was brighter and more comfortable for customers. They are the same premises still in use today.

Years ago, Phil Clarke gave up ownership of Nostalgia and Comics when it was bought out by the Forbidden Planet International company, although they retained the name Nostalgia and Comics... until today. Now, with a complete refit, the name has been changed to Worlds Apart, which is also the name of a comics shop in Liverpool owned by FPI.

(If you're wondering why they didn't simply call it Forbidden Planet International when they took over, it's because they can't if there's a rival Forbidden Planet in the same town. Yes, there are two companies with similar names. It's complicated. Basically, the owners fell out years ago and both claimed the name for their rival shops. Forbidden Planet International with the black/gold/white branding is one company, whilst Forbidden Planet with the white/red/black rocket logo is a different company.)

I guess it makes sense for the sake of unity and branding to use the Worlds Apart name for their shops, but for many of us it's a sad loss to see the name Nostalgia and Comics go after more than 40 years. I was one of the original customers back in the 1970s and was a regular for many years, meeting up with other customers on a Saturday or Thursday before heading off for our weekly pie and a pint or whatever. Admittedly I don't visit as often as I used to but I'm sure it's still a great community spot for readers and will continue to be so under its new name.

Goodbye then, Nostalgia and Comics, but here's wishing Worlds Apart a bright and prosperous future! 

More info on the changes here:
http://www.comicon.com/2019/04/12/uks-oldest-comic-shop-nostalgia-and-comics-relaunches-this-saturday-with-a-new-name/


...and a video of the refit, at the Geeky Brummie YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekkN-lKEDf4

New comic shop, COMIC DEN opens its doors

News of a new comic shop is always worth celebrating so I was pleased to hear of Comic Den which had its official opening last week. 

The shop is based in Oldham, Greater Manchester, and the official opening ceremony was performed on Saturday 20th January with the local mayor Shadab Qumer cutting the tape. Various artists were also invited for a signing, such as Tim Perkins and Jessica Lucas, along with cosplayers. 

Artist/writer Tim Perkins.

Artist/writer Jessica Lucas.

The opening ceremony.

Comic Den is a family run shop, with Dennis and Sarah Whittle and daughter Amy. "We stock small press as well as all major titles" said Dennis. "We are a comic book store with comics being the main focus."

Dennis went on to explain his inspiration for opening Comic Den. "I wanted to create a hub a place to buy comic talk comics geek out.  I feel some of the bigger stores have forgotten that being into comics isn't just about selling, its about being part of something and I want my store to build on that idea."

He said that the shop will be supporting small press comics and stocking all age titles, encouraging children to pick up a book. (I'm pleased to say that fairly soon you'll find a few copies of Combat Colin on its shelves.)

I'm sure you'll join me in wishing Dennis and his family all the very best with their venture. If you're in Oldham, pop along to the shop. Here are the details:

COMIC DEN
Unit 2 Manchester Chambers
Oldham, 
OL2 1LF 
United Kingdom

Opening times are as follows
Monday - closed
Tues to Fri - 10.30am till 5pm
Saturday - 10.00am till 4.30pm

Sunday - closed

Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Comic-Den-160685134541937/

My thanks to Dennis for permission to use the photos in this blog post. All photographs by Dan Burgess. 
https://www.facebook.com/DanBurgessPhoto/

Comic shops helping the small press (More updates!)

I've read some comments online recently expressly stating that UK comic shops do not support or stock small press indie comics. Anyone saying that is misinformed. While it's true that some comic shops refuse indie comics, there are thankfully stores with a better attitude who are more than happy to stock small press / independent titles. 

My own Brickman Returns! comic is currently on sale in Nostalgia and Comics, as are several other small press comics. Even more encouraging is the fact that Nostalgia and Comics give 100% of sales back to the creators. That's right; the shop makes no money on selling small press comics. They do it because they're good people and to support the creators. 

I haven't visited many comic stores in recent years but I know that London's Gosh! Comics and Orbital Comics definitely stock small press / indie titles. Here's comics creator Jessica Martin a couple of years ago in Gosh! Comics proving that point with her first self-published comic It Girl. Behind her are shelves full of small press comics...

Below is a list of shops that I've been informed stock small press and indie comics. If you run a comics shop that sells small press comics please get in touch and I'll be more than happy to add you to the list. I'll also be adding a permanent sidebar to this blog soon that will list shops that stock small press comics. (UPDATED 15/3/2016 with a lot more shops. Thanks for your input, everyone!)


NOSTALGIA AND COMICS

14-16 Smallbrook Queensway, 

Birmingham B5 4EN

0121 643 0143

GOSH! COMICS
1, Berwick St, London W1F 0DR

020 7636 1011

ORBITAL COMICS

8 Great Newport St, London WC2H 7JA

020 7240 0591



PAGE 45

9 Market St, City Centre, 

Nottingham NG1 6HY

0115 950 8045

TRAVELLING MAN

32 Central Rd, 

Leeds LS1 6DE

0113 243 6461

FIRST AGE COMICS

3 Moor Lane,

Lancaster

DEADHEAD COMICS

30 W Nicolson St, 

Edinburgh EH8 9DD

07982 859922

FORBIDDEN PLANET INTERNATIONAL

40-41 Southbridge Street, 

Edinburgh EH1 1LL

0131 558 8226

LITTLE SHOP OF HEROES

8 Maygate, 

Dunfermline KY12 7NH

01383 734605

OK COMICS

19, Thornton’s Arcade, 

Briggate, 

Leeds LS1 6LQ

0113 246 9366

DAVE'S COMICS

5 Sydney St, 

Brighton and Hove, 

Brighton BN1 4EN

01273 691012

EXCELSIOR COMICS

48 Bond St, 

Bristol BS1 3LZ

0117 930 0621



ATOMIC COMICS

1 Glovers Walk, 

Yeovil, 

Somerset BA20 1LH

01935 432639

RAYGUN EAST

70 Clapton Square, 

London E5 8HE

020 8985 1141

INKY FINGERS COMICS

38 Cowley Rd, 

Oxford OX4 1HZ

01865 421776

DEAD UNIVERSE COMICS

Friars Square Shopping Centre, 

5 Bourbon St, 

Aylesbury, 

Buckinghamshire 

HP20 2PZ

01296 706500

BATCAVE

Lower Cockcroft, 

Blackburn BB2

01254 667488

CARTOON MUSEUM

35 Little Russell St, 

London WC1A 2HH

020 7580 8155

Support UK the comics industry, and the UK independent comics scene!