There's A Cat Loose In Melbourne, Where Should He Go?

[Cat]

I'm making a hasty trip to Melbourne for a week. I'm actually typing this from the airport.

I've never been before. (Actually, it's sadly also my first time on a plane. That's already the highlight of the trip for me).

What are some good shops to check out in Melbourne?

I'm after a huge comic store, hoping for somewhere that sells vintage and reissue Transformers, and also somewhere that sells trading cards, from the 90's up of things like X-Men and Marvel lines. Somewhere that sells them in packs or sets or singles, whatever.

Can anyone make any recommendations for me?

The trading cards one would be great, as I've recently been trying to complete some old sets, and having trouble locating anywhere that sells them, particularly in packs.

And if there's any meetups scheduled, I'd love to come along and say hi!

[Paulbot]

We've got a list here

Comics R Us has vintage and reissue TFs and other 80s toys like MOTU, and is probably the largest comic store, but at a cost premium. Classic Comics is smaller, only comics, but many of us are more loyal to them. Minotaur is the largest store, and has a large range of comic collections, but their back issues are non-existant, and lots of other popculture stuff. But you can also visit all three in an hour or so since they are close by in the CBD.

Trading cards? Hmm. Most of the comic shops don't deal in them. Alternate Worlds did, but there main store closed down and I'm not sure what their new store is like (and it's in the outer suburbs). I think there are some specialty shops still around but not many survived the 90s boom/crash. There's always plenty of card sellers at collector fairs so some of them must have shopfronts but others might know more.

[M-bot]

Check out Minotaur on Elizabeth Street. It's huge, with comics and pop culture galore. TF's tend to be overpriced there though, and a bit haphazard in their stock. On Bourke Street, a block up from the mall, there's Comics R Us, which has some glass cabinets with loose G1's, although a few KO's as well if I'm not mistaken.

There's Alternate Worlds in Windsor (a short train ride from the city) which I remember as being pretty cool but I haven't been there in some time so don't really know what they've got. (Just now seen Paulbot's post so maybe the store isn't there anymore. Shame.)

Have a great trip mate!

[Kazza]

All stars comics on lonsdale st, which is now my favorite comic shop now.

[SuspectimusPrime]

All stars comics on lonsdale st, which is now my favorite comic shop now.

Very nice guys, the owner guy with a beret usually gives me a discount when I buy more than $30 worth of stuff. A nice surprise!

Also, I think they're the only ones that release new comics at 4:30-4:45pm on the Weds it comes out, rather than wait until the following day like Minotaur or CRU. I always seem to make it just in time to pick up the last issue so that made me feel special, lol. Classic Comics was good for chasing up on older issues, and seem to have R1 covers linger for a little longer than usual.

[Paulbot]

Classic Comics does the Wednesday night stocking as well. (Got the latest MTMTE there tonight on my way home).

[Cat]

Sorry I missed your message, Kazza!

It's been a bit of a whirlwind. Saw a few mates I haven't seen in ages, and had a bit of a look around. The human exhibition at the museum freaked me the heck out. Real organs..... Brrrrrrr.

I didn't find much I wanted, Transformers-wise, but was given a gift of a DST Thrust bust, which I didn't have, so that was great.

Looks like I'm heading home tomorrow, so sayonara Melbourne. It's a great city. I instantly felt as though as I was at home, a feeling I've never quite from Brisbane, despite being there over a decade.

[Cat]

Cheers for that.

Turns out Minotaur is only a few blocks from where I'm staying, so I checked it out this arve.

No TF toys other a few old ROTF ones. Bleh.

I still found some great stuff.

Hopefully I'll be able to check out Comics R Us on Wednesday.

First time here, and I'm loving it.

[Paulbot]

Welcome to Melbourne.

Minotaur tends to get one of each wave, but the good stuff goes quickly and the bad stuff hangs around forever.

There's no meetups scheduled at the moment, but a quickly arranged lunch or something could be done. I'm tied up all week but others might be free.

[Kazza]

I'm free today and will be going to the city to pay a bill, i can show you around the shops that have TF's and some vintage stuff.