A Homegrown Guide To Delhi’s Most Unique Comic Book Stores

A Homegrown Guide To Delhi’s Most Unique Comic Book Stores
Image Courtesy: Faqir Chand & Sons

So many of us have grown up with different characters found in the pages of our comic books. I still remember discovering a whole collection of Archies comics at my cousin’s place and spending hours with the characters of Veronica, Betty, Archie, and Jughead, being engrossed in the immersive imagery while my imagination ran amuck. Similarly, memories of Indian comics such as ‘Chacha Chaudhary’, ‘Champak’ and ‘Tinkle’ are fresh in our hearts. They have a timeless relevance that remains unmatched even though so many new comics have entered the market.

To hold on to these feelings of nostalgia, most of us are on a constant lookout for places that sell these comics in order to once again find the same comfort in them. Fortunately, New Delhi is a sanctuary of old memories with bookstores that have huge collections of old-school comics as well as all the new ones. Here are a few places in the national capital where you can probably find that illusive, ‘untraceable’, limited edition copy.

I. Raja Pocket Books

Located in the iconic Chandni Chowk market, Raja Pocketbooks are one of the biggest book distributors and publishers in the country. As the original creators behind the widely loved character ‘Nagraj’ in Raj Comics they sell multiple versions of the collectable. One can take a trip down memory lane alongside their childhood’s favourite Indian comics with copies of ‘Nagayan’, ‘Virat’, ‘Fang’, and ‘Doga’ available in both Hindi and English. Additionally, they also are the most prominent comics company in the country, accredited with making the finest Indian Superheroes and other characters.

II. Midland Book Shop

Home to the off-beat Japanese Manga comics, Midland Book Shop is located in the uber-cool Hauz Khas Market. You can find a whole array of comic publications, from ‘Archie’, to ‘Marvel’ to even ‘Tintin’ and ‘Astrix’, all at cheaper prices. Midland has an impressive variety of copies that are so closely associated with our childhoods, and even though the comics are available at a much cheaper price, they are in excellent shape.

III. Daryaganj Market

The perfect destination to find vintage books beyond comics, the weekly market in Chandni Chowk takes place every Sunday from around 10 am to late evening. The hidden gem of Delhi, Daryaganj market is located in the streets of Old Delhi but has unmatched collections of Indian and international comics that would be impossible to find elsewhere. In the heaps of comic treasures, even original copies of ‘Phantom’ and ‘Chacha Chaudhary’ can be found.

III. Faqir Chand & Sons

Known to be the oldest book shop in Delhi, Faqir Chand & Sons is a family-run independent store in the legendary Khan Market. They have large collections of classic comics from different periods of Indian storytelling and keep copies of international bestsellers as well. It’s the perfect place to look for a particular edition as the store is kind enough to source it for you when a particular comic is not in stock.

As an honourable mention, beyond shops, Delhi also houses a cafe where you can spend time with a comic book of choice over a meal or coffee without having to buy it. ‘What a Comic Show’ located in SDA market is the perfect place to indulge in multiple comics and spend leisure hours engrossed in the endeavours of our favourite characters.

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