Are you travelling to Portugal, or Lisbon, and, as any comic book fan, you would like to search and buy for your favorite books, authors or heroes?
Or do you want to learn more about comic books made in Portugal?
Well, I’m here to help you by letting you know which are the best comic book stores in Portugal. My Top 10.
In Portugal, this market is very concentrated in Lisbon but please take into account that there are, at least, two splendid comic book stores outside Lisbon. Stick with me and I will tell you which stores are those.
So let's move on to my Top 10.
10. Bertrand Chiado Bookstore + Chiado Alfarrabistas Book Fair
I'm doing a bit of cheating here, I know. Because this is like a "buy one, get one free" package. But it is also for this reason that these two spaces, right next to each other, are a mandatory comic book stop for me, whenever I walk around these streets.
Bertrand Chiado Bookstore is not only the oldest bookshop in Portugal. Nor is it just the oldest bookstore in Europe. In fact, Bertrand Chiado is the oldest bookshop in the world!!! Yes, it is! And just for that reason, I would say that it should atract each and every book’s fan to stroll in this incredible space with such a great history. Inside the shop, the space dedicated to comic books could (and should) be bigger, I admit, but, still, I like to go there and the truth is that I already bought lots of interesting comic books in this store. And there is a great plus when you pay a visit to Bertrand Bookstore: right next to it, on Rua Anchieta, you will find
Chiado Alfarrabistas Book Fair. This fair has been organized for nearly 20 years, every Saturday. It is usually full of stalls with used books, including comic books - among many other genres and themes. I always liked this fair a lot because it is possible to find some comic books relics here.
Address: Rua Garrett 73 - 75, 1200-203 Lisboa
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 8pm
How to get there: Take the metro to "Baixa / Chiado" station
Parking: Difficult
09. FNAC Chiado
It may seem a little strange and unimaginative of me to put a store as big as FNAC in my TOP 10 but I'll explain below why am I doing it. Is that, for my taste, at least, the comic area of
FNAC Chiado is different from all the other FNACs I have visited in Portugal. I usually look at these multinational chain stores as a slightly more evolved version of a “comic books supermarket”. Meaning that this is a place with a lot of shopping options, with products that have nothing to do with comic books and where, sometimes, the books are not treated with the care they deserve, regarding storage or maintenance. Nevertheless, I think that the people in charge of the Chiado’s FNAC store were very smart when they decided to allocate a small but reserved part of their huge store exclusively to comic books. This offers the opportunity to serenely browse the books at your own pace, making you feel that you are in a (small) comic book store inside another (huge) store of other sorts of products. I do not hide that when I go to Chiado, this is a mandatory stop for me, if I want to shop some comic books.
Address: Armazéns do Chiado, Rua do Carmo nº 2 Loja 407, 1200-094 Lisboa
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 9pm
How to get there: Take the metro to "Baixa / Chiado" station
Parking: Difficult
08. Casa da BD
Casa da BD is a little different from the others stores on this list. With an offer largely focused on Brazilian editions, it has the great added value of having certain books that no other bookstore has in Portugal. Here you can find the editions of
Pipoca & Nanquim, Panini,
Novelas Gráficas by Mauricio de Sousa Produções (MSP) or
Mythos Editora, which offers in its catalogue some Brazilian editions of works by
Sergio Bonelli Editore. So it is certain that you will find a good and interesting offer in this store. Also, Casa da BD has one of the greatest and best offers in
Funko Pop Figures and other types of merchandising related to comics in general. So, for those looking for Brazilian versions of comics, Casa da BD is more than a mandatory stop.
Address: Rua Luis de Freitas Branco nº 42 C 1600-491 Lumiar
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 6pm,
How to get there: Take the metro to "Lumiar" station
Parking: Easy
07. Legendary Books
Legendary Books is located in one of my favorite neighborhoods in Lisbon: Alvalade. This is a great place to stroll the streets and where the local commerce is so varied and with such a personal special treatment that surely will make you feel at home. The space is small but super cozy and has its own charm and decoration. Even though it is small in size, it should be noted that it has a good collection of comic books from portuguese authors, several back issues of comics, since the 60s, and a bookcase dedicated to manga. As well as other merchandising products. In one of my recent visits to the store, the friendly owners told me that Legendary Books will become bigger in a near future with some new areas: a restaurant and a space dedicated to culture with workshops and presentations. Which will make this bookstore even better. Right now, it is already good to visit Legendary Books, but I think that these two initiatives will make this space an even more mandatory stop for fans of the 9th art.
Address: Rua Acácio de Paiva 7B, 1700-037 Lisboa
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 11am to 7:30 pm
How to get there: Take the metro to "Alvalade" station
Parking: Moderately difficult
06. Cult
Cult bookstore is a different case in comic book stores in Portugal. Actually, let's face it, it's not exactly a comic bookstore. It has a lot of school products, newspapers, magazines and some books of literature. But, in addition, it also sells comic books, following the most recent releases by the portuguese publishers such as ASA, Levoir, Arte de Autor, Ala dos Livros, Gradiva, among others. And, in addition, it has some rarities, mostly in spanish, that its owner, Manuel Jesus, likes to show to his customers. I love to pay a visit to Cult because, when I do it, I don't feel like I'm "just" going to a bookstore that sells comics. It seems more that I am going to some kind of "private comic book club“ in which the school products, the newspapers, the magazines and literature books are just a masquerade for the true and essential passion of the friendly owners of the space: the comic books. It is common that during conversations with the enthusiastic Manuel Jesus, he goes to the warehouse several times to search for rare books or special editions that he invites us to get to know. As if he were a
sommelier who goes to his secret cellar to give us a taste of a rare wine. Of course, I do not deny that I would like the comic books to occupy more of Cult's physical space or be more visible on the available shelves, but even so, it is a space that I love to visit. And another advantage is that Manuel Jesus accepts specific requests to order certain titles in Spanish. In addition to always having availability for a good conversation about comic books.
Address: Praça Francisco Sá Carneiro 7C, 1000-159 Lisboa
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 8:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm.
How to get there: Take the metro to "Areeiro" station
Parking: Difficult
05. Tinta nos Nervos
I must admit that the first time I entered this store, I did it accidentally. I hadn't realized that there was this new bookstore located in Santos area, Lisbon. Very sober and clean in appearance, it seems to me a more serious store, less childish, whose decoration and organization of space reminds us more of an art gallery - or of a museum store - than of a classic comic book store. So don't expect
Spider-Man posters on the walls. And perhaps it is specifically for this reason, that this space assumes itself as a Gallery and Café, in addition of being a bookshop. It is not a very large store - in fact, it appears to be just a corridor flanked by bookshelves - but the quality and even diversity of its offer are surprising. I also highlight, with joy, that most of the this store’s catalogue are from European origin. So saying that
Tinta nos Nervos is "just" a comic book store, is clearly an understatement. In fact, it is a place where you can also have coffee and visit exhibitions. That's why it turns out to be an hybrid of bookshop + art gallery + coffee. The big theme that seems to guide the bookstore is more "drawing" as a whole, than comic books only. In this sense, and logically, the bookstore has many illustration books (for children and adults), graphic arts and animation. A modern and futuristic store that is unique - due to its originality - in Portugal and that you should pay a visit.
Address: Rua da Esperança 39, 1200-655 Lisboa
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 11am to 6pm and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 1 pm
How to get there: Take the metro to "Cais do Sodré" station
Parking: Moderately difficult
04. BD Mania
This might be the comic book store that I have been going to for the most years. When I was still very young and much more uneducated in the 9th art, this was already a mandatory stop for me. With a fantastic location, right in the heart of the city of Lisbon, just a few meters from Largo de Camões, this store by Paulo Costa, needs no introduction. This is a true sanctuary of American comics. Taking into account that I am an admirer of the European comics genre, I must confess that I would like
BD Mania to have more offer in this genre, even though it is true that one of the corners of the store is dedicated to European comic books. Besides, BD Mania has a good amount and diversity of graphic novels in English and French, too. Another positive point to highlight is the growing offer of comics in Portuguese language. More than a mandatory stop for comic book lovers.
Address: Rua das Flores, nº71 - 1200-194 LISBOA
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm
How to get there: Take the metro to "Baixa / Chiado" or "Cais do Sodré" stations
Parking: Difficult
03. Dr. Kartoon
No,
Dr. Kartoon is not a bookstore in Lisbon. Nor is it in Porto. It's in Coimbra. And, unfortunately, I admit that I only had the opportunity to visit this amazing store for once. But a mere visit is enough to be amazed by the quantity and quality of the catalogue - more dedicated to the European comic books - of this small bookstore. Yes, for lovers of comics of European origin this is possibly the most specialized bookstore in Portugal in the genre. It also helps that João Miguel Lameiras - an authentic comic book expert - is in charge of this project. There are some things that make me like Coimbra and Dr. Kartoon is, without a doubt, one of those things. Taking into account the quality of Dr. Kartoon’s catalogue, my only problem with this store is that I find difficult to not spend several tens of euros if I go there again.
Address: Rua Manutenção Militar, 15 - 3000-259 Coimbra
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm and Saturday, from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm
How to get there: Take one of these buses: 10, 19, 28, 2F, 2T, 43
Parking: Relatively easy
02. Mundo Fantasma
Unfortunately, like Dr. Kartoon, I also visited
Mundo Fantasma only once in my life, but it was enough to fall in love with the excellent work that this bookstore does for comics. The size of this store, as well as the enormous diversity and quantity of the comic styles it sells, including American comics, manga and European comic books, is truly impressive. I also like the somewhat vintage aura of this store. Its location, in the old
Shopping Center Brasília, also contributes to this kind of feeling. Even though it is true that the store has the new releases regarding comic books, I almost felt that I had entered a time machine when I visited this store. The next time I visit Porto, I will find a way to spend an entire morning or afternoon there. Believe me, they have enough books for doing that!
Address: Shopping Center Brasília - Avenida da Boavista, 267 - 1º. Floor, Store 509/510 - 4050-115 Porto
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 8 pm.
How to get there: Take the metro to "Casa da Música" station
Parking: Relatively difficult
01. Kingpin Books
The fact that this store has already been nominated (and finalist) 4 times for an
Eisner - one of the top prizes in the comic book industry - is immediately indicative of the quality of Mário Freitas' project. And even though the prize, called
Will Eisner Spirit of Retailer Award, has not (yet) been won by the Portuguese store, I am one of those who believes that the real prize, the real recognition, is to be among the finalists. But having a comic book store among the top 4 or 5 in the world is a real milestone achieved.
Kingpin Books has been around for 20 years in some other locations. But when the store opened its doors on Avenida Almirante Reis 3 years ago, in a wonderful wide space, with more than 200 square meters, it became even more irresistible. In addition to being the largest comic book store in Portugal, Kingpin Books has an important role in promoting comic books as a genre, having already organized several events such as book launches and autograph sessions. The offer is quite vast, with plenty of American comics, a good selection of manga, European comic books and several merchandising products, being the main highlight the
Funko Pop Figures, where there is an impressive wall entirely dedicated to them. A very favorable point in this store has been the growing (and recent) bet on the European comic books in French and Spanish editions. But there is no lack of Portuguese editions as well. Also noteworthy is the sympathy and impressive knowledge of comics that Mário Freitas has and that he is willing to share with his clients. In short, a Mecca for comic book lovers.
Address: Avenida Almirante Reis, 82-A, 1150-021 Lisboa
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 11 am to 8 pm, and Saturdays, from 10 am to 7 pm
How to get there: Take the metro to "Anjos" station
Parking: Difficult
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário