Boston's Best Comic Book Stores

The era of video games is in its third decade, but comic book culture remains strong across Massachusetts. Fans both young and old love feeling a graphic novel in their hands and finding the story they have been looking for among shelves and shelves of paperback illustrated books. Throughout Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and Brookline are some of the area's very best comic book stores with everything from current anime to 1950s classics, posters and magic cards!

Newbury Comics
332 Newbury St.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 236-4930
www.newburycomics.com

Newbury Comics is Boston's best known series of comic book stores. Though the company now has a few locations across Massachusetts, it is still independently owned by its original founders from 1978. The store has evolved with the times and now offers a variety of wares, including posters, gag gifts, comic book and cult movie memorabilia, records, DVDs and of course comic books. It is a great place to shop for fun "nerd" gifts or to pick up some fun decor for a college dorm room. The original store on Newbury Street is still in business selling music and comics for almost forty years.

Hub Comics
19 Bow St.
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 718-0987
www.hubcomics.com

Hub Comics in Somerville is the perfect manifestation of an indie comic book store. Unlike Newbury Comics, Hub Comics still has its main focus on comic books and graphic novels new and old. The store is known for its amazing customer service and ability to help collectors find the exact item they're searching for in the comic book world. Hub Comics also uses the wall space in the store to rotate comic book-inspired art displays. Through all of July, the store is displaying "Princess, Amazon, Icon: A Wonder Woman Art Show" by Jessica Halley.

If you aren't looking for this specialty comic book shop during a stroll down Commonwealth Ave., you might just miss it. This niche comic book store specializes in graphic novels from Asia, specifically translated Japanese manga. The upscale, clean store and knowledgeable staff draw manga collectors from around the region. In fact, Comicopia has the largest selection of manga in New England. However, don't box the store in this category. Comicopia has plenty of American classic comics as well, including X-Men!

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New England Comics
316 Harvard St.
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 566-0115
www.newenglandcomics.com

New England Comics has a similar vibe to Newbury Comics. While the store offers a wide variety of comic books and graphic novels in all different genres, New England Comics also sells posters, tee shirts, board games and trading cards. This is a must for all Magic Card fans and comic book memorabilia collectors. Comic book lovers on a budget will particularly love New England Comics for their bargain basement, filled to the brim with back issues for as low as $1.00.

The Million Year Picnic
99 Mt Auburn St., Suite 2
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 492-6763
www.themillionyearpicnic.com

The Million Year Picnic, named for a classic sci-fi story by Ray Bradbury, is Harvard Square's iconic comic book shop. Unlike many comic book stores in the area, The Million Year Picnic has a great frequently updated website so that collectors can easily see when wares are coming in. The website is also a great way to find out about the store's fantastic programming, including comic drawing classes for children, special sales, book signings, lectures and more!

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