Some good news for British small press publishers – another store wants your comics. The Manchester Comix Collective reports that part of a major makeover for the Nostalgia and Comics shop in Birmingham – which is owned by Forbidden Planet International – is to include more space for small press titles.

Kenny Penman, director of Forbidden Planet International (and Blank Slate publisher) has recently been overseeing the refurbishmet of Nostalgia & Comics and is fired up with his aim to make the store one of the best comic shops in the country with a stock range second to none.

Part of the re-development will include greater emphasis on British comics. “Small Press, self-published, call it what you like, the British scene is vibrant and interesting and really adds another dimension to a comic shop,” says Forbidden Planet International staffer Richard Bruton.

To that end, FPI is now contacting small press publishers about getting their comics into Nostalgia & Comics.

The trading terms being offered to small publishers are as follows: N&C will take 30% of cover price, whatever is set by the publisher; N&C will get full Sale or Return on any comics that are not sold; and publishers must meet the incoming post costs (FPI/N&C will meet the return postage).

Payments will be 30 days end on month terms – in effect that will mean 60 days. Publishers can ask for info on their sales once a month on the 1st – via Kenny and by e-mail.

“If [publishers] are local I’d encourage them to go in and make pals with [manager] Dave Hopkins,” Kenny Penman suggests.

If enough publishers respond, Kenny plans to devote a specific section to the material

• More info on this project on the Forbidden Planet International blog

• Publishers wanting more information should contact Kenny Penman’s via MANPEN AT aol.com.

• Nostalgia & Comics can be found at Nostalgia & Comics, 14-16 Smallbrook, Queensway B5 4EN. Phone: 0121 643 0143. E-mail: noscomic@noscomic.plus.com

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John Freeman

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.

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Categories: British Comics

Tags: Forbidden Planet International, Kenny Penman, Richard Bruton