Toronto Hangouts

One thing I've seen around various forums and what nots, are complaints of where to buy comics, manga's, and other such nic nacs in Toronto. I've even heard these complaints from fellow Canadian bred Torontonians. Now I'm no expert but as big a place Toronto is, should it really be that hard? The correct answer is no, so here's a little list of places to visit.


First off lets assume this'd be the first comic shop you go to, in which case your gonna want to go somewhere where you'll be sent to the hospital due to major nerdgasm. For this I suggest the Silver Snail (367 Queen St. W), heck its even built like a dream as it looks small from the outside but once you get in and through the cramp front counter it becomes nerdvana. Figurines here, new and old comics there, Alien replica's on display, and maybe an interesting conversation can be heard somewhere in the background.


Now one for ALL your comic needs, I give you the Beguiling (601 Markham St.). As awesome as its name is confusing. This store has a personal place in my mind as it gave me the opportunity to say "Yes, its free comics day today". That's right you read right free comics during a single day of the year. Now I understand this isn't the only store that does this but it was the first one I found out about and almost hugged the person who told me (thank God for self restraint). Another aspect I enjoy about the Beguiling is its functioning web site, not a big deal to most but after using both Hairy Tarantula's and the Silver Snails website I'm giving the Beguiling credit for atleast having a functioning web page.


Now another one I enjoy going to, mostly out of convenience, is Hairy Tarantula. Now this one has two locations one at 6979 Yonge St, which is the one I've been to, and the other is 2949 Dundas St. W.This place has virtually everything from board games, to yu-gi-oh cards, and an impressive array of anime DVD's in stock. A favourite of mine because of the chill atmosphere of the place and a nice cast of characters behind the register.


That's my two cents thrown in to the mix and I hope I've been of some service to you loyal readers and 'true beleivers'. And to add to the above list hear are a couple more, Though I haven't been to many of these, or I have and it was on a very brief whim, so I can't really say much. But hey, that might add to the adventure


The Labyrinth, 1,000,000 Comix, , 3rd Quadrant, Excalibur Comics, Red Nails, Pendragon, Atomic Age Books, Cyber City, Red Nails II, and probably a couple more I haven't even heard/googled as of yet.