Rochdale’s “Black Box” comic shop on a mission

By John Freeman on February 27, 2014

The Black Box Comic Shop, Rochdale

A new comic shop joined the ranks of Britain’s comics retailers last December – The Black Box in Rochdale, Lancashire (or Greater Manchester, if you want to get pedantic).

Specialising in supplying graphic novels, manga and children’s books to the general public, the Black Box is the dark sister company of Bright Books, a distribution company that has built a reputation over twenty years by supplying interesting and affordable books to libraries, prisons and schools

The Black Box mission is to bring books and reading back on to the high street and to provide the best graphic novels around.

‘Black Box’ is named after the textbook-excellent central Municipal Offices known locally as ‘The Black Box’, which closed in April 2013 to make room for the sell off of Public Land in the (literally) dead centre of the town, a grand scheme that attracted its critics, that will finally be completed in 2023. (“I know of no more neat a model of the removal of public utility for private greed,” notes local comic creator Smuzz).

While Black Box is a work in progress, “The people seem to know their stuff and are friendly,” Smuzz enthuses. If you’re a Rochdale-based comics buyer, why not pay them a visit.

• Black Box Comics is at 19 Baillie Street, Rochdale, Greater Manchester OL16 1JA and is open Wednesdays, Thursdays Fridays and Saturdays from 10.00 – 5.00pm. Email: theblackbox@brightbooks.co.uk Phone: 01706 646720

• Check out the Black Box on Facebook orTwitter

• Check out the downthetubes British Comic Shops Map (updates, corrections and extra information always welcome for this)

View British and Irish Comic Shops in a larger map

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.