A local guide to Delhi’s most unique comic shops

Many of us grew 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 house and spending hours with the characters of Veronica, Betty, Archie, and Jughead, engrossed in the immersive imagery while my imagination ran wild. Likewise, 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 maintain these feelings of nostalgia, most of us are constantly looking for places that sell these comics in order to find the same comfort there. 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 nation’s capital where you can likely find this illusive, “unfindable,” limited-edition copy.

I. Raja Paperbacks

Located in the iconic Chandni Chowk market, Raja Pocketbooks is one of the largest book distributors and publishers in the country. As the original creators behind the much-loved character “Nagraj” in Raj Comics, they are selling multiple versions of the collectible. One can take a trip down memory lane alongside favorite Indian comics from their childhood with copies of ‘Nagayan’, ‘Virat’, ‘Fang’ and ‘Doga’ available in Hindi and English. Moreover, they are also the most prominent comics company in the country, accredited to create the best Indian superheroes and other characters.

II. Midland Bookstore

Home to quirky Japanese manga, Midland Book Shop is located in the very cool Hauz Khas Market. You can find a whole range of comic book publications, from ‘Archie’ and ‘Marvel’ to ‘Tintin’ and ‘Astrix’, all at cheaper prices. Midland has an impressive variety of prints that are so closely associated with our childhoods, and even though the comics are available at a much cheaper price, they’re in excellent condition.

III. Daryaganj Market

A great destination for finding vintage books beyond comics, the weekly Chandni Chowk Market takes place every Sunday from around 10:00 a.m. until late at night. Delhi’s hidden gem, Daryaganj Market is located in the streets of Old Delhi but has unrivaled collections of Indian and international comics that would be impossible to find anywhere else. In the heaps of comic treasures, even original copies of ‘Phantom’ and ‘Chacha Chaudhary’ can be found.

III. Faqir Chand & Sons

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

As an honorable mention, beyond the shops, Delhi is also home to a cafe where you can hang out with a comic of your choice over a meal or coffee without having to buy it. “What a Comic Show” located in the SDA Marketplace is the perfect place to indulge in multiple comics and spend hours of leisure engrossed in the endeavors of our favorite characters.

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