Amid all the doom and gloom about the high street and comic retailer woes, it’s great to hear that Eastbourne’s Scorch Comics is relocating and expanding in time for Christmas, with a big launch day planned for this Saturday, 14th December 2019.
Coming hot on the heels of the relaunch of Forbidden Planet International‘s flagship store in Glasgow last month, it’s welcome news.
It’s not just a small move, either – it’s a major undertaking, moving the business into Eastbourne’s The Beacon shopping centre and, as owner Sean Simmons says, “making comics mainstream” in the seaside town, just in time for Christmas, and a “new way of doing this comics thing.”
From Saturday 14th December – the store’s fourth birthday – you can find Scorch Comics next to Lush and opposite Wilko in The Beacon and, as a comics retailer with a good head for such things, you can expect a great opening day, which will include signings with comic book artists and authors, exclusive art prints, and freebies for anyone who dresses up!
“To think it all started carrying comics in a backpack and a table under our arms to car boot sales in the distant mists of 2015,” Sean notes.
The new store will offer new release comics including independent publishers, books, trade paperbacks, graphic novels, magazines, anime, manga, small press, pins, patches, art prints, art books, original pages of comic art, merchandise, apparel and more as the new year comes around.
“Beginning in 2020 we’ll also have a brand new state-of-the-art comic subscription system with in-store signup, membership discounts with partnered businesses, and some of the biggest publisher-partnered comic events this side of London,” Sean enthuses.
“Also make sure to listen out for announcements for the opening weekend of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Let’s just say we’re going all out on this one. We’ll have much more to say about Scorch and Cineworld very soon.”
If all of that wasn’t enough, Scorch Comics is relaunching The Cult Film Club at the Towner Art Gallery, kicking off their Winter season with Cult Film Club presents The Thing this Thursday, 12th December. Escape from the human-looking monsters in Westminster by chilling out in the cinema and watching human-looking monsters battle Hollywood icons armed with flamethrowers in Antarctica. The Scorch team will be there with goodies, freebies, and of course, popcorn.
“Basically, it’s all about to kick off, and we’re delivering you a geek’s banquet for Christmas,” says Sean.
“None of this would have been possible without you, our audience, our loyal customers, friends, family, and everyone that has supported us over the years. It’s been an incredible, mind-expanding wild ride. And it’s only just begun. Madness, eh?”
Those of you who love Scorch Comics current Grove Road store will be pleased to hear that kooky little bookshop will still be there, still be offering the full range of back issues and vintage goodies, along with a refresh in the new year with coffee, boardgames and a free-to-read library of hundreds of comics and graphic novels.
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events
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