Mumbai's first comic book store is here

A bright yellow visual on a sweltering day isnrsquot the kind of escape this writer seeks But this time it was special It was like answering a call from the funnies mdash those columns in English dailies she would devour as a child While Captain Haddock Peppermint Patty Snoopy Calvin and Dennis kept her company at the time at some point lsquoliteraryrsquo readings interjected the flow This writer supposes the break resulted from the genre being considered lsquoflippantrsquo by many So when the city got its first physical comic book store it was important to rekindle that passionWherersquos StuartAs stalls on Linking Road go about their daily business a vibrant space titled The Comic Book Store stands out in yellow and green When we walk in it reminds us of a familiar place from the American television sitcom The Big Bang Theory TBBT Fans might be teased to look for Stuart Bloom who ran The Comic Center of Pasadena on the show This store a near exact reflection of that hangout is Hamza Sayedrsquos babyThe Tardis escorts us in a superhero photoop wall guards our entry grey shelves with wiremesh backs await carefree browsing and posters of our fictional heroes lord over us For the 25yearold it was his dream to create a common point for fans to discuss and engage about their favourite titles ldquoThis spot is perfect mdash itrsquos an upscale suburban neighbourhood that can be accessed from most parts of Mumbai Since we are presenting popular culture to make it mainstream the TBBT connection was involuntaryrdquo he adds pointing at a sticker that reads ldquoShoplifters will be vaporizedrdquoStan Lee says hello to visitors from the window displayMostly singlesSayed who found comicland as an alternative to being a loner has a clear business model ldquoI didnrsquot find any sponsors it was heartbreaking that investors werenrsquot aware of the culture and community these works wield I funded my dream project with the clear idea of not mixing comics with graphic novels or merchandiseWe stock some Tshirts and notable graphic narratives but we are committed to singleissue comicsrdquo We surmise itrsquos the mintinbox feel that can be compromised with combined categories Located near National College students seem to have found a new adda at the store Apart from teenagers and young adults who are target readers older customers also visit other curious folk stroll in to check out the shoprsquos appeal and click pictures in the TardisHamza Sayed holds a Thor poster alongside a Thor 19 comicPricey fantasyOur eyes scan a 1936 volume of TipTop comics before moving on to Batman Catwoman Something Killing Children Nightwing Old Lady Harley BRZRKR and Crimson The stretch of our gaze ends with The Immortal Hulk Iron Man and Avengers Sayed sources his stock from distributors in the US ldquoSome vintage or novelty items have been acquired through comic stores and collectors around the worldrdquo he reveals adding that parents who accompany kids are often shocked at their prices Comics are expensive but the point of such an initiative is also to familiarise people with a multilayered format of literature As we walk out of this local comiket we drool over the window display that reads Buy Stan Leesigned comicsTime Monday to Sunday 11 am to 11 pmAt Linking Road Bandra WestLog on to thecomicbookstoreLooking aheadgtgt Itrsquos Cosplay time Sayed tells us a Cosplay convention has been on his mind for long but hersquos waiting for the right time ldquoWhenever that happens we will award the most fascinating costume players with prizes within our range such as a comic book of their choicerdquo he regalesgtgt Free subculture Free Comic Book Day is an annual promotional concept in the community of comic book readers When things pick up it will be a monthly affair at the storegtgt The Excelsior Acquisition Remember that one time when Sheldon couldnrsquot meet Stan Lee at a booksigning event in Stuartrsquos shop With that special episode etched in our memory expect a similar experience Artistillustrator Anand RK who has won an Eisner for his work in image comics might drop by for a signing session soon Sayed shares ldquoHe lives in Mahim and I have already approached him he has agreed to send across some of his books toordquoMy alltime favourites1 Detective Comics 27 First appearance of Batman2 Watchmen3 Batman The Killing Joke4 Batman Long Halloween5 Dark Knight Returns