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Best of Toronto

The Best Comic Shops in Toronto

Posted by Joseph / March 20, 2008

Best of Toronto Comic Shops Top 10While comic books and graphic novels may never become mainstream, their impact continue to rise, impacting the world of film, literature and television more consistently every year. With a maturing audience, characters from stories beyond super-heroes and mutants have leapt from the pages in your local comic shop to films like this Persepolis and A History of Violence.

An infrequent visitor of Toronto comic book shops might think they all look exactly the same. For the most part, it's true - they provide the same merchandise, have the same posters on the wall and are predominately filled with men who can spend hours debating the recent trails and taunts of fictional super-heroes and villains, so there isn't that much of a difference.

What makes a comic shop unique however is its community, location and, over time, an organic familiarity with a shop that is necessary to picking out the latest issues or items of interest. This breeds loyalty.

Toronto's comic shops have dwindled since the huge popularity and sales in the early 1990s. All thats left is a core group of about twenty shops. They are the survivors. Many have moved multiple times, other are just where they have always been, and some have expanded and others should have expanded a long time ago.

Silver Snail has been the juggernaut in town for years and continues to be the dominant player... but of the remaining shops, here is a list of the top 10 comic book shops as voted by readers in our Best of Toronto survey:

Silver Snail

Silver Snail

Silver Snail is one of Toronto's most loved comic book stores. In addition to comics, Silver Snail stocks action figures, manga, models, role playing games, trading cards and DVDs. More »

The Beguiling

The Beguiling

Located in the Annex's Mirvish Village, the shop is clean and well-stocked, and has a reputation of having titles that other comic stores don't (or won't) carry. More »

One Million Comix

One Million Comix

The store is broken into three well organized sections, one for anime, one for toys and figurines (with a massive display case) and one for comics. The new issues sections is really well stocked. More »

Atomic Age Comix

Atomic Age Comix

Atomic Age is a quality East end comic book shop selling everything comics, anime, cards and toys. They will special order just about anything if they don't carry it in the store More »

Comics and More

Comics and More

Comics and More on the Danforth has been selling comics, cards, toys and board games since 1987. More »

Third Quadrant

Third Quadrant

3rd Quadrant Comics opened in it's new location on Queen St. West just west of Bathurst (across from the Beer Store) in January of 2008. With a wide-variety of titles old and new, the new store is much brighter and roomier. More »

Red Nails 2

Red Nails 2

Red Nails II in the Bloor West Village is a large comic book and sports card retailer. The ample space provides good browsing for new and old titles. A second location can be found in the Sheridan Mall at Jane St. and Wilson Ave. More »

Excalibur Comics

Excalibur Comics

Opened in 1987, Excalibur Comics has survived the ups and downs of the comic book industry and remains in it's modest original location a half block West of Royal York subway station. More »

Dragon Lady Comics

Dragon Lady Comics

Dragon Lady Comics in Little Italy sells comic books, vintage magazines and classic comic strip reprints. More »

Hairy Tarantula

Hairy Tarantula

The Hairy Tarantula in the Junction sells comics, figurines and other toys. There's also a location at 354 Yonge Street. More »

Discussion

36 Comments

Shaun Smith / March 20, 2008 at 11:57 pm
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Does Silver Snail even sell many comics any more? I thought it was mostly toys now.
rek / March 21, 2008 at 06:28 am
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Most of the Snail's ground floor is comics, Shaun.

I had no idea there was another Hairy Tarantula.
Shaun Smith / March 21, 2008 at 03:16 pm
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Used to be a lot more.
Marcus / March 21, 2008 at 03:27 pm
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I've never been to the Hairy Tarantula in the junction, but the one on Yonge street is awesome. In particular, they carry the best selection of roleplaying material I've seen anywhere in Toronto.
sanityclause / March 21, 2008 at 04:49 pm
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One that deserves more mention is The Labyrinth in the Annex - lots of graphic novels, friendly staff and decent prices (US cover price plus other available discounts).
<a href="http://www.blogto.com/books_lit/2007/06/the_labyrinth_brings_hot_graphic_novels_to_the_annex/";>http://www.blogto.com/books_lit/2007/06/the_labyrinth_brings_hot_graphic_novels_to_the_annex/<;/a>
Matt / March 22, 2008 at 09:12 pm
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Thanks for bringing it up, Sanityclause, I totally agree. The Labyrinth is a great addition to the Annex.
Mulanzo / September 16, 2008 at 12:05 pm
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What about Dragons Realm on Rutherford, across from Canada's Wonderland. That store is huge, has a great layout, and has a good selection of new and old books. The wall books are also great.
Mulanzo / September 16, 2008 at 12:06 pm
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Sorry, on Jane, not Rutherford.
Rick / October 15, 2008 at 09:32 pm
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Don't forget Cyber City Comix on Steeles west of Bathurst.
Great selection of comics, toys, cards and dvd's.
416-667-7592
Exorcist / March 11, 2009 at 09:54 pm
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Hairy Tarantula is over-priced (back issues and TPB's) and the staff have major attitude. Grey Legion (just south of Wellesley on Yonge) may be a smaller shop, but the service is awesome.
Alexa / March 18, 2009 at 09:43 pm
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I buy GNs at Grey Region near Wellesley station too. US cover, lots of sales, and they carry the widest range of graphic novels except for the beguiling. The owner is friendly and the dude who orders the comics is super-cool. They have some shitty internet caffe computers there though with bums looking at porn all the time.
Michael / April 20, 2009 at 01:48 pm
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wow those are nice shops but can you tell me man please if i can find there those comics: STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC AND ULTIMATE SPIDER MAN
KC / July 29, 2009 at 10:05 pm
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Hey there all,

If your looking for a comic shop and you live in Scarborough you should check out A&K Comics. Its a little tiny Ma and Pa run shop that has all the lastest comics and a good amount of old stuff. Also, if you like anime they are slowly developing a good collection of it. Its located in the Agincourt Mall at Sheppard Ave E and Kennedy Rd. Great prices and the Ma and Pa environment have kept me going back there for about 15 years.
Nex / August 15, 2009 at 12:12 pm
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Any suggestions for good comics stores in the West end (Mississauga to Burlington)?
batmanfan / October 19, 2009 at 12:28 am
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can u guys tell me where there are comic book stores in missisiuaga that sells toys?
helping replying to a comment from batmanfan / October 19, 2009 at 12:43 am
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There used to be a place in square one called Grey Region (or something like that) that sold comic books and paraphernalia. It might have changed its name (or even closed down!) but it's on the first floor, across from Athletes World.
batmanfan replying to a comment from helping / October 19, 2009 at 12:50 am
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ok thnx man
Bob / November 22, 2009 at 12:43 pm
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Ok.. I am not bob but my husband Bob is setting up a vintage only comic & card shop in the back end of my toy store. He had a store in Owensound in the early 90's and still has all his old stock.
His web site will be up soon too..so if you are looking for old stuff in the west end 3029 Lake Shore Blvd. West Back Door Vintage Cards & Comics hopefully opening in Dec.
Nhaste / November 25, 2009 at 07:51 am
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you guys missed one of the oldest and best stocked comic stores in the city. Yesterdays Heroes on Bathurst and Bloor (just south of Honest Eds) has been selling comics for as long as i can remember and i think it has been around only a little less time than the Silver Snail. This must have been left off your list for some reason but your list is suspect to me when you include something like the beguiling which has strange avant guarde works and regular comics are a mere after thought.

Bad List.
TheRevJred / November 25, 2009 at 08:11 am
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Was wondering if anyone can let me know where they have paid memberships with a weekly pull list and customer discounts... I currently save a money @ a store not mentioned in the top 10... which worries me... however I often find myself going over to Million, or Snail on Wednesday to get the more independent stuff.
Adrian / December 3, 2009 at 03:59 pm
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I was wondering if the store on Queen E in the beaches

Galactic Heros is still around...and if anyone can email me with a tel num.

(Actually, I'm looking for star trek micro machines but need an ebay broker)
sadcat / December 3, 2009 at 05:44 pm
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I really like the Labyrinth's selection and have sent a lot of people there to find things, but I've stopped going myself since I repeated received the girl in the comic shop treatment. Please don't explain to me that the back issues I just spent an hour carefully selecting are "valuable." And, really, please don't explain to me that I "shouldn't throw out comics" when I am done reading the graphic novels I have piled up on the counter. It's a great store filling a big gap in European and art books around town and I know they mean well, but I just can't go in anymore.
batmanfan / December 3, 2009 at 06:34 pm
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ok honestly stop commenting tis getting anyyoing cuz i get emails
peter / December 8, 2009 at 03:09 pm
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Nhaste, I agree with your assessment of Yesterday's Heroes shop on Bathurst near Bloor. I just moved into the area and find the shop well stocked with all kinds of collectibles and tons of comics the owner there told me the place has been there 30 years. Great sevice too! Thanks for the tip!
TD / February 22, 2010 at 08:55 pm
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Hi, everyone!

I'm looking for old Asterix comic books. Does anyone know where I can find them? I'm located in downtown Toronto. THANKS :)
mike / March 10, 2010 at 04:16 pm
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does anyone know where i can sell my collection of comic books... as well any place that might be interested in buying my cd collection
Nadia / March 16, 2010 at 05:20 pm
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Heyy:
I am looking for a Batman summer hat (a Baseball cap).
I can't find one anywhere.
Most comic book stores just sell the "gangster" type (ie the new baseball caps)
Your help would be most appreciated.
Thanks the world =]
peter / November 7, 2010 at 05:38 pm
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Can somebody please explain to me what the criteria was for this? I assume it is only for stores downtown? I am wondering how Paradise Comics doesn't make the top 10 in this group?
Ryan / January 10, 2011 at 05:03 pm
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does anyone know where i can sell my comic books in toronto
Darkhawk / January 10, 2011 at 05:56 pm
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It bears mentioning that Hairy Tarantula is run by Conspiracy Theorists and (possible) Holocaust Deniers:

Check out all the weird links on the hairyt.com website. Ever since I saw that crap, I have refused to return to the store.
sam / April 28, 2011 at 04:59 pm
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People are entitled to their own opinions, but as the subject matter is comics, whether they are anti-zionist (like most liberal jews, such as myself) or conspiracy theoriests (again, how does this affect comics?) - is not relevant.

What is relevant however, is darkhawk, is an idiotic malcontent for muddying two unrelated issues. Also,Hairy tarantula, when it comes to comics, rpgs, board games and their customer service, is second to none.

Thanks
Darkhawk / April 28, 2011 at 07:16 pm
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Congratulations sam. Not sure if you work there or not, but if people are going to protest outside Chapters because of its owner's political views, I think it's fair to call out Hairy T.

And HT actually deserves far more disdain, because they pepper their main website (selling a product TOTALLY unrelated to conspiracy theory, as you point out) with that nonsense. Honestly, it's cool if on their own time the owner(s) of Hairy T want to espouse this stuff - or even do it in the media for those who would listen. But once you populate your main commercial website with it, you are asking for customer outcry.
Manny / May 12, 2011 at 02:48 pm
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What about The Comic Room in Scarborough at McCowan and Sheppard, its small but excellent service, great atmosphere and a good alternative instead of going downtown for the younger set. PS Grey Legion rocks!
SeanC replying to a comment from Manny / June 13, 2011 at 10:16 pm
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Actually, it's THE COMIC ROOM @ Lawrence & McCowan. Everything else you said is true, however: "its small but excellent service, great atmosphere and a good alternative instead of going downtown for the younger set."
Daniel / October 11, 2011 at 06:39 pm
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Does anyone know any store that buys comics? I wanna clean out some of my collection.
Desmond / January 4, 2012 at 11:18 am
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We have a full trunk full of old comic books still in their plastics like Iron Man, Wonder Man, Spide Man, She Hulk and a lot more for sale.

Anyone interested please e-mail.


Thanks

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