The 6 Best Comic Book Stores in Denver

For hardcore comic collectors, often nothing beats their LCS (local comic shop): somewhere close enough to home to rush over when their TBR runs low, when new comics are released, or, even better, where they can submit a pull list and have their favorites ordered and held for them. Luckily for fans of the image-driven storytelling genre, the Denver metro area has a good number of such dependable, homey hangouts. (We hear great things about Cobalt Comics and Collectibles in Aurora, Boulder’s Time Warp Comics, and JNJ Comic Books and Games in Thornton.)

But there are also comic book shops that are true destinations for Coloradans looking for rare Silver Age titles. For out-of-town cosplay enthusiasts visiting for Fan Expo Denver (the Mile High City’s annual comics/sci-fi/gaming convention). For MCU fans interested in learning more about Miles Morales’ storyline. For casual shoppers in search of the perfect gift for the comic book lover in their life.

If you fit into any of the categories above, check out these six Denver-area comic book shops. And if you don’t? Go nerd out anyway. You can often score new floppies for about $5, which is a small price to pay to feel like a kid again reading about your favorite superheroes saving the day—or, perhaps, to discover an offbeat indie title that makes you fall in love with comics for the first time.

Danny the Comic Shop

Unlike most comic stores, this new-in-summer-2023 Lakewood locale isn’t dominated by recognizable superheroes and villains from the Big Two. Instead, Danny the Comic Shop (the name is a riff on Danny the Street, a genderqueer character from DC’s Doom Patrol) has a neatly curated collection that centers diverse authors from indie publishers and inclusive storylines so that no matter your race, sexual orientation, or gender identity, you can see yourself as a hero. The website has helpful categories—middle-grade immigrant, refugee, and minority stories; critically acclaimed and groundbreaking; Black girl heroes—but we recommend stopping by during the small store’s limited evening and weekend hours to let proprietor Cliff Thompson lead you to your new favorite title. There’s a bookcase dedicated to youth and tween reads as well as more mature content: On a recent visit, he, ahem, turned us on to Sex Criminals, a very adult series (the protagonists stop time by orgasming, and then rob banks) that’s as original and funny as it is steamy. 1580 Teller St., Lakewood

Enchanted Grounds

A coffeeshop meets gaming mecca with locations in Littleton and Highlands Ranch, Enchanted Grounds (established 2006) doesn’t have the metro area’s biggest selection of comics. But its laid-back cafe atmosphere makes it an approachable environment for those new to the graphic novel and tabletop scene. Buy a latte made with locally roasted Coda Coffee to sip while you peruse cooperative board games like Castle Panic; Ravensburger puzzles; Marvel Champions: The Card Game packs and Magic: The Gathering foils; and newly released floppies. During the day, its reservable tables—generously sized to accommodate sprawling game setups—fill with laptop-tapping remote workers and retirees playing mahjong, while regulars come in for role-playing game gatherings at night. 3615 W. Bowles Ave. #5, Littleton; 8800 S. Colorado Blvd., Highlands Ranch

Hall of Justice Comics & Collectibles

This comic emporium, tucked between a kickboxing studio and an autobody shop southeast of Centennial Airport in Parker, is worth the drive from Denver and beyond, thanks to its unique combination of approachability and authority. Originally an online retailer, Hall of Justice opened into its first brick-and-mortar in 2015 then moved to its current space, tripling in size, in fall of 2022. There’s truly something for everyone in its clean, bright 6,600 square feet: Hold slots are filled with new releases for subscribers; a kids section has youth-appropriate comics, books, and toys; pre-made sets of various series (e.g., Joss Whedon’s Firefly, #1 through #12) make great gifts; and a locked glass case displays special items like a $3,800 Len Wein–signed original Giant-Size X-Men #1. Staff give you space to browse but seem genuinely excited to talk about, and help you track down, whatever single issue, graphic novel, or Funko Pop! figurine you’re looking for—a refreshing lack of gatekeeping in what can be an intimidating scene. 10136 Parkglenn Way #109, Parker

Mile High Comics

As you park in the chain-link-fence-enclosed lot and cross now-defunct railroad tracks to enter Mile High Comics’ massive Sunnyside warehouse, it kind of feels like you’re slinking through an abandoned part of Gotham City. A rainbow-striped platform leading to a red door, however, indicates that you’ve found the lair of America’s (self-anointed) largest comics retailer. With more than 10 million comics stashed in alphabetized filing boxes, 20-foot-high wall displays, and employee-only areas, Mile High Comics is very likely to have just about anything collectors are looking for—plenty of variant covers and even rare Gold, Silver, and Bronze Age issues. And if it doesn’t? Simply add it to your Want List via the store’s website to be notified via email if it comes in. Although you can order online, we suggest picking up in person so you have an excuse to wander the labyrinth of collectibles and graphic novels that also reside in the 45,000-square-foot shop—a significant upgrade from where the store began: in the basement of owner Chuck Rozanski’s childhood home back in 1969. 4600 Jason St.

Mutiny Information Cafe

In a corner building with a long history as a used bookstore, Mutiny, opened in its current form in 2013, smells like musty tomes, tastes like single-origin coffee, sounds like pinball machines dinging in the back, and looks like the kind of poster-covered hideout from which you’d plot a revolution. In other words, this staple of South Broadway exudes counterculture cool. New and used comics—including a manga section, bins with $1 and $2 floppies, and graphic novels—make up a large part of the inventory. If you need to offload some of your own collection, you can set up an appointment with “the Professor” to sell unwanted issues for cash…or store credit to reinvest at Mutiny’s live and streaming comic book auctions. Follow the shop’s comic-specific Facebook and Instagram accounts to hear about author signings and other events. 2 S. Broadway

Vision Comics & Oddities

If you’re into metal music, horror movies, and comic books, this haunt on Sheridan’s South Federal Boulevard, born in 2016, is for you. If you’re not—well, proceed with caution. In addition to rows upon rows of old and new comics, you’ll run into creepy character replicas and a collectible-filled mausoleum in the carnival-themed space. The macabre vibe leans more fun than frightening, though, and Vision hosts family-friendly community events. In particular, Star Wars fans will find plenty of paraphernalia to fill their curio cabinets along with their bookshelves. 3958 S. Federal Blvd., Englewood