The Old London Comic Shops

[Mangamax]

The original FP and 2000AD were of course best buddies:

[Magnetica]

I used to go to the original Forbidden Planet on Denmark Street a lot. I used to love it, mainly because they had a load of 2000ADs in the back - although back then I could n't afford to buy all the ones I had missed, so just used to buy the odd one that took my fancy.

I remember queuing up one Saturday with my brother to get some Progs signed by John Wagner and a couple of other Droids (around the Prog 300 mark). There was a massive queue, but I wasn't going to leave, no matter how long it took, or how often my brother would say "are you sure it's worth it". To me it was to get my Judge Dredd signed (in biro  ).

I also loved those Bolland paper bags and think I still have one somewhere.

It wasn't the same when in moved to New Oxford Street but it did still continue to sell old 2000ADs and remained my comic (and sci-fi) shop of choice.

I am not really keen on the current shop - it feels more like a mega store (which to be fair is what it is). I think a lot of that is that they no longer sell old comics. It remains my default if I have missed a Prog due to being on holiday or want to pick up a TBP - but have say I actually tend to get those online now. I have found their online service to be really good. I have subscriptions to all the 2000AD related IDW stuff  (yes someone is reading it!!!) and have bought stuff like the recent Zenith and the Daily Dredds through their online store. (Now I would prefer to support Rebellion directly, but I find that FP tends to be cheaper than Tharg's online store - which is a shame).

Given that FP has changed so much, I tend to view Orbital Comics as the successor to the original FP. They do have rows of old comics in the back, but sadly only so many 2000ADs. I have bought the odd one when they happened to have one  I don't have.  I bought an old Best of 2000AD monthly the other day to get Dragon Heist, mainly because my old Progs aren't sorted into order. But a two quid I just couldn't resist.

I have also been up to Mega City in Camden, mainly to get the the two DC Judge Dredd lines (in the 90's I think) but IIRC they don't do much 2000AD and I don't read anything else (apart from the Meg ) so haven't been there for ages.

As for the others, I think I am right in saying they don't do much (if any) 2000AD, so they aren't on my radar.

[Spikes]

Id have loved to have been able to regularly browse these shops, but living in the provinces that was never gonna happen.
I may have only visited London twice in the 80's, iirc.
Do love to hear these tales, though.
I often day dream about the mountains of original 2000ad art that was up for grabs.

Here's something about Comic Showcase -- http://www.clandestinecritic.co.uk/2008/07/comic-book-shops-comic-showcase-rip.html

[Montynero]

Excellent reminiscences.

Skullmo - I too recall wandering into the new FP and standing agog before the original art racks, numbed by the size and detail of Bisley's ABC Warriors pages. God, they were awe inspiring.

Here's a pic of Sir Nick of Landau chewing the fat with a chap you may recognise in FP circa 1980, just to stoke the old memory banks.

[Mangamax]

Magnetica, think i was at the same 2000AD signing - picked up one of those whacking great Bolland Dredd posters FP used to produce then took it down the line of Droids to get it signed, with it all rolled up and just the border at the end unfurled for the signiatures.
Mike McMahon - signs,
Brian Bolland - signs,
Ron Smith - signs,
then John Wagner goes to sign (as Johan W Howard), unfurls the poster a bit more, then goes"its upside down" - young idiot that i was, never thought to check that i'd had it the right way up before asking them to sign 
So, mumbled a "that's okay" and got out quick, blushing all the way 
Still can't look at it with the upside down signatures at Dredds feet without shame 

[Magnetica]

I had forgotten they used to sell 2000AD art in FP. Now I have  been reminded, it was near the entrance in New Oxford Street wasn't it? I couldn't afford them at the time - would love to get some now.

Magnetica, think i was at the same 2000AD signing - picked up one of those whacking great Bolland Dredd posters FP used to produce then took it down the line of Droids to get it signed, with it all rolled up and just the border at the end unfurled for the signiatures.
Mike McMahon - signs,
Brian Bolland - signs,
Ron Smith - signs,
then John Wagner goes to sign (as Johan W Howard), unfurls the poster a bit more, then goes"its upside down" - young idiot that i was, never thought to check that i'd had it the right way up before asking them to sign 
So, mumbled a "that's okay" and got out quick, blushing all the way 
Still can't look at it with the upside down signatures at Dredds feet without shame 

Yeah possibly  - that sounds about right, but I don't have the Prog to hand to check who the others were, but I did think McMahon was one but didn't say so as I wasn't sure. I do remember Wagner signed as "John Wagner" and not "John Howard" or "TB Grover".

[Mangamax]

Maybe he was switching between the three on the day to break things up a bit? 

[sheridan]

I have also been up to Mega City in Camden, mainly to get the the two DC Judge Dredd lines (in the 90's I think) but IIRC they don't do much 2000AD and I don't read anything else (apart from the Meg ) so haven't been there for ages.

Shame - you missed the complete 2000AD collection (including such items as the Summer Supercomic and the Dan Dare Poster) which they were selling a few years back...

[TordelBack]

Ah Forbidden Planet on Denmark St, sure well I remember how I'd pop in to buy a handful of Prog 1's for cover price every other Friday so I could use the Space Spinners to throw for the dog (she chewed straight through them, hardly worth it), and then there'd be this awful delay while Pat, John, Alan, Kevin, Mike, Dave and Carlos signed each one and even then you had to wait while they wrapped them up in an original page of Judge Death Lives of your choice (Bristol Board is a bitch to fold, but it absorbs chip grease brilliantly), but at least you could pass the time watching a Nemesis photo shoot, or just shoot the breeze with Alan Moore about his love of superhero books and the the creatively supportive DC contracts department.

[Eamonn Clarke]

FP Denmark st in the 80s


And in Captain Britain

[Magnetica]

I have also been up to Mega City in Camden, mainly to get the the two DC Judge Dredd lines (in the 90's I think) but IIRC they don't do much 2000AD and I don't read anything else (apart from the Meg ) so haven't been there for ages.

Shame - you missed the complete 2000AD collection (including such items as the Summer Supercomic and the Dan Dare Poster) which they were selling a few years back...

I am not familiar with those - what were they? I would be gutted if I miss out on some tooth stuff. 

[Mangamax]

Great compare and contrast there!

[sheridan]

I have also been up to Mega City in Camden, mainly to get the the two DC Judge Dredd lines (in the 90's I think) but IIRC they don't do much 2000AD and I don't read anything else (apart from the Meg ) so haven't been there for ages.

Shame - you missed the complete 2000AD collection (including such items as the Summer Supercomic and the Dan Dare Poster) which they were selling a few years back...

I am not familiar with those - what were they? I would be gutted if I miss out on some tooth stuff. 

The Dan Dare Poster Magazine was the first non-weekly publication from the House of Tharg (and a bit of a cash-in - being a reprint of a centrespread from the weekly and a reprint of a pre-2000AD DD strip) while The 2000AD Summer Special Supercomic, as well as tripping off the tongue, was the precursor to the Sci-Fi Specials.

[Arkwright99]

Think I first went to FP Denmark St in '81 for the 2000AD 1982 Annual signing; almost certain it would have been a birthday treat outing with my dad. Layer went to signings for the '84 Annual, Anthony Daniels, Douglas Adams, Harry Harrison, Frank Herbert and Peter Davison (though that was in FP2 round the corner). Once I was old enough to go into London on my own (or with a mate) I used to pick up sundry Mike Moorcock omnibuses and US like Camelot 3000 & Watchmen that I couldn't get in the local newsagents. The old (old) shop definitely had a different vibe to the New Oxford St store but that opened at a time when comics were becoming more respectable and the brighter more open shop floor seemed like a natural evolution from the dark cramped shop of No. 23.

In the early '90s I was living off Gt Portland St and at the hub of Tottenham Court Rd for a time I had New FP, Virgin Megastore, Fantastic Store, Comics Showcase and Gosh! all within a stone's throw of each other. I also made (v) occasional treks out to Mega City Comics in Camden and Quality Comics in New Cross (iirc). Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be young was very heaven!

I don't think I ever got to go to Dark They Were..., not really; I went to the St Anne's Court shop once but its glory days as a counter-culture store were long gone by then and it closed soon after.

[Mattofthespurs]

Think I first went to FP Denmark St in '81 for the 2000AD 1982 Annual signing

I went to that signing too. Still got the signed annuals.