Underground Melbourne

We’ve covered Minotaur – so just a short note about the wee city establishments who have less hustle and haste and more solicitous suggestions for the avid comic shopper.  They may lack size but they concentrate on the ink and word rather than talking keyrings and novelty clocks.  And that’s not a bad thing. 

Comics R Us:  upstairs in Bourke St at no. 220 near Target – it’s a small doorway a little difficult to spot but well worth your effort.  They have a reputation for their friendly and helpful service and from my own interactions with them it’s well deserved: friendly and helpful without being pushy, false or seemingly desperate for conversation, there’s no Comic Book Guy syndrome here.   Indies and established comics all get decent coverage and a small smattering of cased collectibles. Back issues a plenty and are also orderable.

The only criticism I’ve heard of this place is that a comic-collecting comrade from the US who visited said it was annoying that they didnt’ have a ‘new release’ section, instead sectioning the room by publisher.  I tend to agree a little – a section highlighting ‘what’s new’ would be really useful to the dedicated comic fan looking to browse beyond their (unfortunately named) “pull list”.

Details:

Level 1, 220 Bourke St
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Tel: 03 9663 8666

They also have outlets in Ringwood and Chapel St, Prahran.

• Ringwood

112 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood VIC
Ph: (03) 9870 3841

• Windsor

114 Chapel Street, Windsor VIC 3100
Ph: (03) 9510 1584

Classic Comics – just off Bourke St between Bourke and Lt Bourke near Spring Street, although their official street address is 50 Bourke St don’t look for them on the main drag as you won’t find them.  This place is small. And I mean SMALL.  However it is packed totally full of trade paperbacks and new release comics plus a small amount of figurines.  The staff seem super busy often, processing and cataloguing all the titles they have in the store, but are always happy to make suggestions or discuss your issues/questions.  A little bit more Comic Book Guy in their own passionate opinions on favourite characters and comics but there’s nothing wrong with a bit of healthy obsession.  These guys care.

Details:

Shop 4, 50 Bourke Street
Melbourne, Australia 3000
+61 (0)3 9663 7210

There’s quite a comprehensive guide to greater Melbourne’s comic stores available at http://www.mas.org.au/shops.php which is the website for the Melbourne Anime Society… did you know we had one of those? Well now you do. Check ’em out!