Around the corner from Cardiff Central Station, a hidden gem is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of high street shops. Despite being small and compact, Cardiff Comic Shop is a cool oasis of calm compared to the busy city centre. Since opening in 1978, the shop has packed brand new releases and a vast collection of classics into the upstairs nook of Jacob’s Antiques Market.
Owner Paul Haynes says working in the shop is “the best part of his week”. In addition to running Cardiff Comic Shop from Thursday to Saturday, Mr Haynes works for the Welsh Government. His passion for comics transformed him from a regular customer at the store to taking it over in 2021.
Mr Haynes says: “I always knew owning this shop was in my future.”
Dave Bath and Pete Watts launched the shop in the 1970s, after successfully selling comics in a local newsagents. They decided to start the first shop in Cardiff dedicated to comics, so they could share their passion with others.
Today, Mr Haynes is firmly determined the shop is “always going to be comics” instead of diversifying into other books and collectibles.
“I did change the look and organise things a bit.” Mr Haynes admits, “That’s the ex-retailer in me.”
He worked in several stores before taking over Cardiff Comic Shop, including being a manager at Tesco.
After Mr Bath sadly passed away from a brain tumour and Mr Watts decided to step away from running the shop, there was a concern the doors might shut for good.
Mr Haynes says:
He remains determined to keep the shop open and makes enough money to do so, although it isn’t profitable enough to make a living.
But Cardiff Comic Shop is more than a business.
For many people, it is a valuable source of community. Customers spend hours in the shop, chatting with Mr Haynes, Mr Watts (who still visits regularly), and other comic fans. There is an incredibly friendly atmosphere about the place, which provides a more fulfilling experience than the isolation of ordering comics online.
Mr Haynes says, “Some people have been coming here for decades and we’ve all built up relationships over time.”
Although the shop relies on regulars, Mr Haynes has noticed an uptick in new ones. Many of them are young, signalling a new generation might keep the comic industry alive. He says Marvel and DC movies have made people more aware of comics, but doesn’t feel they promote reading.
Instead, Mr Haynes credits DC’s ‘Absolute’ series with increasing customers. “You can get into the series without feeling left out. You don’t need to know what’s happened in DC for the last 80 years.” He explains.
While Mr Haynes’s favourite comic is definitely Frank Miller’s Daredevil, comics are about more than cartoon superheroes.
They can provide escapism, as well as entertainment and a good story, and they span all genres of fiction. Horror and fantasy are particularly popular, although many comics tell realistic stories too. Mr Watts pointed to The Death of Captain Marvel as a good example, in which the titular hero develops cancer and passes away like a regular man.
A mum brought her son to the shop, explaining he was very shy and didn’t talk much but loved comics. Mr Haynes says: “We started talking to him about comics and he just lit up, coming out of his shell, chatting with everyone. His mum looked at me and mouthed ‘thank you’.”