I go through piles of graphic novels, and The Beguiling is my favourite place to get them. I can't believe I haven't reviewed them yet, actually. I particularly like coming here because you can always find the latest releases, often before they're available for purchase online. I tend to be anticipating releases for months prior, so I really appreciate being able to get them ASAP! The selection is vast and covers a good array of topics, interests and identities. There's what seems to me, admittedly v Anglo, a fairly big French section (and I think some other languages as well) and the kid's section is awesome-I read stuff fairly often that seems to be categorized as YA here. I feel very welcome and catered to as a queer person as well-the selection is super inclusive in this respect! You can also get many zines (lots seem local), manga, and comics here too, if those are more your speed. The employees don't pester you while you're browsing but are always friendly and helpful if you have a question. The current location is also accessible. For me, this is the ideal one stop shop. read more

The best pure comic shop in Toronto, you can find a great selection of comic books and graphic novels. The staff has gotten so much better since they moved. They have a children's area which has the material from their old Little Island location. I could imagine taking a nibling in there to go comics shopping and having a good time. Entry requires masking which, well, we're still in the middle of a pandemic so protecting the staff and yourselves is just a good idea. The books aren't cheap but they don't overcharge, so that's good; you need to just disabuse yourself of the brain poison that Amazon has infected everyone with. read more

This review is for curbside pick up during lockdown. The Beguiling has moved online and if you've got a connection, you can browse and order for delivery or pick up. Their selection is pretty solid, with lots of titles from smaller publishers and creators overseas already in store, so if you're in a rush for something you thought was obscure, the Beguiling might have you covered! Because they do have a wide selection, and possibly because they are handling a number of orders this season, i did experience a discrepancy between their website vs. in-store inventory. However, the have great online service. When I made an query they were super quick to respond, and they were also very helpful in making alternative suggestions to replace what they didnt have in stock. As for the pick up, they have staff stationed at a partitioned checkout window, so when you arrive you can walk up, give your name and pay for your order safely amd easily. Staff inside also have access to a microphone in case someone's having a hard time hearing. Overall, as they profess, the Beguiling does live up to its claim of premium window shopping. Whether comics and zines are your jam or if you need a zine/comic-related gift for someone else, consider visiting the Beguiling website or strolling up to their shopping window. If you can't visit in person, they also offer free delivery on orders of $80+. read more

The Beguiling - Close up of the shopping window - Bookstores Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've walked down this street a thousand times and noticed this awesome store for the first time on Saturday. When you enter this store it looks like a new-age comic store (if this makes sense to anyone but me) that is more spacious and less crammed then some others. With 2 massive rooms focusing both comic books and anime, you'll have no problem finding something you've been looking for or didn't know you needed to read. My friend from Connecticut was blown away by the selection and managed to by a bundle of Batman comics that value got well over $150 for only $50! My first trip to The Beguiling was a great experience and this store has definitely made it into my must stop shops. read more

The Beguiling - Portion of the manga wall. - Bookstores Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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M loves this store because it sells all the comic books his heart desires. We actually stumbled upon this place by accident but we always make a pit stop if we are in the area. The staff here are very friendly and don't bother you if you are just browsing. There are so many different types of comics and manga and all other sorts of comics I cannot even begin to describe because I have no idea what they are. So why only 3 stars? I wish they had other sorts of literature for people that aren't into comics so they have something else to do other than follow the comic book lover around like a puppy lol read more

The Beguiling - Bookstores Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The Beguiling is an indie comic store downstairs, and a super-hero comic store upstairs. They have a decent quarter bin, but there is also the fear that if you prefer Captain America to the latest release of Chester Brown you may not quite be 'up to scuff.' There is comic book elitism, but if you're after Indie comics, this is the perfect place for you. Unfortunately the space is rather cramped, and you'll find yourself moving out of the way for people who want to get by, more than you'll actually be looking at the comics. read more

so heres an opinion from a newbie. ROCK ON DEUTERONOMIES!!! (or duderonemies if you prefer.) the first floor of this place is essentially devoted to graphic novels. their collection is so vast that you dont know where to start. i suppose if youve been a die hard fan all your life, youd know but i comfortably went to the front and asked a guy who looked mildly like my dad for some suggestions. this gave me some comfort, for the reason that, as i expected, he directed me towards novels that focused on great writers, in addition to great comic book artists. more specifically, i was interested in things other than superhero comics (not damning those by any means, just different preference from the start). He was very humble, helpful and i felt like i was getting a peak at stuff that he really loved. this was the first of many times that i will return. thank you beguiling. read more

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I had never visited The Beguiling prior and I stumbled upon it during COVID as they had a manga boxset in-stock that was not available elsewhere. I placed the order on-line on a Saturday and aside from the initial confirmation email, did not hear from them for a few days. Finally on Wednesday, I decided to give the store a quick call as I wanted to surprise my son before the weekend got here. The gentleman who answered the phone was curt, and really did not seem interested in assisting me with my query. I work in retail as well, and I understand that COVID has completely upended local businesses. I also understand that delays are to be expected; not just from the courier/postal service, but also in business response times as everyone is on a skeleton crew. At bare minimum, I just wanted the gentleman to ask me for my order number, and then confirm: oh yes, I see that you placed this order on blah blah day and we should be able to pick and ship it two days from now. That's it. Instead, he just kept spinning me a line about delays with COVID, and didn't even offer to look at my order information. I couldn't even label this service as bare minimum. I am sure that The Beguiling is doing just fine during COVID and even with competition from behemoths like Indigo Books, if they can afford to ignore the basic tenets of customer service. read more

This store has awesome customer service! I ordered some Christmas presents earlier this month, but I wasn't expecting them to arrive for Christmas because they were special orders and I know that the pandemic has put a strain on transporting items. But then someone from the store (I believe it was the owner) called me yesterday and asked if my order included Christmas presents that I needed for the 24th. He told me that the last book from my order had just arrived at the store and that he would send the order to me via courier so that it would arrive sooner than it would if he mailed it. He sounded very earnest, and he said that he would do his best to get my order to me by Christmas. I really appreciate the time and effort he's putting in to do this! Update: It's December 23rd, the day after I got the phone call, and my order just arrived! Everything is accounted for and in perfect condition. read more

In the shadow of the looming giant that is Honest Ed's, the Beguiling quietly flourishes in its homey little space. But like Honest Ed's, when you head into the Beguiling, you're faced with so much stuff it's almost hard to know where to go first. The Beguiling, despite its small square footage, pretty much has it all. Single issue comics, superhero comics, graphic novels, manga, specialised art books, zines, tshirts & other small merch, original art and even some DVDs. It can be a dangerous place to browse because it's just so hard to leave all those tasty options on the shelf! Prices are reasonable, considering the range of stuff from commercial/big company books down to indie works. They've got a great online catalogue, too. Although it can seem chaotic, everything's organised pretty well - you can tend to find a lot of comics by particular authors upstairs also (Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, Neil Gaiman, Joss Whedon, etc.) - and if you're stuck, the staff know that place like the back of their hand and can help you find what you're after. If you find yourself on Markham Street and want to treat your senses to an overload of fantastic stuff, The Beguiling is the place you want to be. Don't get lost in there! read more

I could easily spend hours just browsing in here and the staff are friendly enough that they'd let you. Also, unlike many comic book shops, there's actually room for you to do just that. They really have the best selection, too. They carry all of the more well-known works but they also have indie and local books and proudly display artwork for sale around their walls and staircases. They've even got zines and small-run editions. The second floor is where you'll find the superhero and manga books. They also support the community by sponsoring exhibitions, selling tickets for them, and doing signings and launches. Much as I love this place, I have to be really careful about how often I'm there, otherwise I run the risk of spending too much dough! read more

I want to own everything in the Beguiling. This could be my favourite place in the city, with racks upon racks of diligently categorized graphic novels and indie (as well as mainstream) comic rags. Totally devoid of pretension, it's the old-timey comic shop for cool kids, nerdos, fanboys/girls, pervs and weirdos... you know, people like us. I always find my new fave author/artist when I go to the Beguiling and explore. read more

I just saw this on the front page and just had to put in my two cents. Love this store. It actually reminds me of a lot of stores in Japan in the way that you can judge from the outside but when you walk through the unsuspecting doors you are greeted with the wonderment of a place bursting at the seams with art books, comics, graphic novels and indie comics! You can tell that this place is stocked not by a top 40 but by people who really love books and go out of their way to find the most interesting things to put on their shelves no matter how big or small the artist. That last part i think is what really puts this store over the top for me is their support for local talent and the community. i mean hell they put on "TCAF". A FREE 3 day comic book convention!!! read more

This place smells amazing in a musty, papery kind of way (like an old florist?) And the selection is pretty good. Inner totalloser enjoys the wide selection of esoteric graphic novels and the 'poster rack' is full of some actually great prints, and original art's for sale too. Issue: They rarely have a complete series, so that a lady who has perhaps bought most of Optic Nerve over the past decade leaves dissatisfied. Great for present shopping: the anthologies here are a good price point and usually beautiful (lots of Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, Dark Horse etc..) But this search was sad: http://www.beguiling.com/titleresults1.asp?abc=irish+myths+and+legends . (Was going to buy for the 8th birthday of my unborn niece so I guess I have time.) ALERT!!! If you buy a Chris Ware, Charles Burns or Adrian Tomine work at Beguiling it gives you a ticket to their visit in November! Nerd nipples hardening. read more

Doesn't get any better than this for comic fans! Plenty of stock for new issues and an awesome basement full of back issues including bronze and silver age. Employees are friendly and helpful! read more

For fans of the graphic novel and comic genre this place is Mecca. The beguiling has the most comprehensive selection of graphic novels, comics and zines in the city. Instead of action figures and stuffed animals the shelves are stuffed with limited edition and indie literature. Apart from the superb content it's the staff that makes this place a five star. They are knowledgeable and super friendly. Even if your not into this genre i recommend everyone to check out the beguiling at least once when passing through Mirvish Village. read more

I've been to quite a few comic shops in Toronto - maybe a dozen or so - and The Beguiling is certainly my favourite one. They have an unmatched offering of "non-mainstream" comics and comic-related literature which covers the first floor. I've had non comic book loving friends come into the shop with me and tell me they liked it because it felt like a book store, instead of an exclusive environment. The second floor of the shop is where superhero comics and manga live. They have as good a selection of these things as they do of indie comics on their first floor. The staff itself are always friendly and willing to answer any questions you may have. They may seem like the "too cool for you" type, but trust me, that's not true. read more

I finally made it in here after walking by so many times at night when hitting up one of the neighbouring bars. There's lots of stuff here. Lot's of stuff that I don't have any clue what most of it is. There's comics and books from all corners of the nerdy realm. The great thing about this store it that they probably have anything you can think of, but the unfortunate thing is that you probably wouldn't be able to physically find it in the store. There's just so much "stuff" that it's mind boggling. There's boxes on the floor that you can dig through, shelves/counters with piles on top of piles, and it's a small space so getting around can be a challenge when it's busy. February Food-Free Yelping Challenge 19/29 read more

*Granted, I'm not extremely well-traveled compared to my fellow yelpers, I think that my love for books gives me at least some credibility with my review. I've never been to a better stocked comic/graphic novel bookstore as The Beguiling. They have everything from comics that you can bag and board to rare and second-hand single issues of Daniel Clowes' Eightball - and that's just factoring in the mainstream realm of comics. You could find stories about almost anything here and I can guarantee that you could find something up your alley that you had never seen or heard of. There's something for everyone in this store, including a size-able selection of French and Japanese books/comics for a shop that doesn't explicitly specialize in the aforementioned. Whether you need to get a gift, find inspiration for your own writing/illustrating, or if you just happen to be in the Kensington Market area, check this place out! Just a heads up: The space isn't particularly large, so it might be awkward to peruse the store when there are more than 15 people around. read more

One of the best comic book stores in the world. They carry everything, from your monthly superhero fix upstairs to obscure (to us) French and Japanese sequential art books on the main floor. They run a now annual convention (TCAF) that is growing into one of the best indie comic shows in North America, manage the sales of original art and pages from some of the world's best comic artists and now have a spin-off kids' store, Little Island, around the corner. Why would you buy your comics anywhere else? read more

I spent a few years working as a manager in a local Buffalo, NY comic shop. Now closed, that shop sold much more than comics from the big publishers. It stocked a great deal of Indy and small press comics. Having been to shops all around the US, I've often found it difficult to find one as Indy-friendly with a staff as knowledgeable (yeah -- I knew my stuff back then) about small press books. Oddly enough, it is our neighbors in the Great White North that host my next favorite Indy-friendly comic shop. The Beguiling is located on Markham street, a short ride from the public library that hosts the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF). It is also in walking distance of some great shops, restaurants, and paid parking lots. As soon as you walk in you'll see a ground floor shopping area to the left and a staircase in front of you. The area to the left houses an amazing collection of Indy books. Here you will find some rare posters, a few books printed in French, and a small-press rack that contains a quirky assortment of shorts and books that will satisfy your need for something non-mainstream. Upstairs is their back issue room, stocked full of long boxes and books from many popular publishers. Here you can find mainstream sets, old trades, statues, and even some rare Indy books. It has been a short while since I have had the time to visit The Beguiling, but if Chris is still working there I recommend you ask for him and spend some time talking comics. He is incredibly informative, knowledgeable, and will share a love for the books he stocks. Along with The House of Secrets in Burbank CA, The Beguiling is one of my favorite comic shops. It's well spaced, packed full of stock, competitively priced, and has that "old-building" charm. if you are a comic fan, I am certain that you'll enjoy it and come away with something new to read. read more

The Beguiling has been my go-to comic book store for years now. While the staff does have a reputation for being standoffish (though never rude) their recommendations are always top-notch. Their discount for subscribers is the best in the city. What really stands The Beguiling apart from other comic book stores is their selection of independent, global, underground, and local comics that are hard to find at most comic book stores. As the organizers behind the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, you'd expect them to have a great selection of rare gems, and they do not disappoint. read more

The Beguiling, tucked away in Mirvish Village just off of Honest Ed's, is probably the classiest comic shop in the city. They specialize in the more independent and art-range books, but still carry the superhero stuff too (because even the superhero stuff can be done exceptionally well). The quality-to-floor space ratio is unmatched. What's also impressive is how well connected The Beguiling is to the comics scene. For a small shop, they have a lot of signings by great talents; for instance, they brokered a charity auction of a Simon Bisley painting on eBay for tsunami relief a few years back. And no, I didn't come close to winning, alas. read more

The Beguiling - Bookstores Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great Comic shop !!!! I love that they have a f focus on underground titles and artists. They have the mainstream books as well, but for me, the alternative titles have always pulled me in. The space is clean, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable too. They have tons of books and many interesting books that i had never seen before.....They also have some discounted titles, and the prices are really awesome too. If your a fan of comics that go beyond the super hero genre; this place is for you !!! read more

If you are, or were, ever into comic books or graphic novels, then you will probably automatically have an affinity with this place. The comic selection and the featured graphic novels are quite the treat in this place. Comics and graphic novels aside, this place is awesome... They have some of the craziest books that you will never find or bear witness to were it not for this store. This is a great feature of Mirvish Village. Stop in at Victory Café and have a pint while you read through your finds from The Beguiling. read more

If you're looking to discover comics as an art form, Beguiling is the place to visit. Stepping in for the first time, the collection on their shelves can be overwhelming. But if you slow down and take a closer look, you'll definitely find something that interests you. Or maybe several things, after which you may end up having a hard time choosing. While there's impressive collection of superhero works here, what's really impressive is their selection of international and independent items. For instance, I found James Jean's PROCESS RECESS 2 on the shelves during one walkabout, still at an affordable price and well after it was out of print. Another time, I found Inoue Takehiko's DRAW DVD set - something I thought I'd never find on local shelves - in its manga section. The place never disappoints! And the guys, obviously, know their stuff. The Beguiling is one of those places that, in some circles, is synonymous with Toronto's Annex. For those that've read Scott Pilgrim, you may notice The Beguiling is something interwoven into the series' history :) Through their long life in the area, they've built up the Toronto Comics Art Festival (TCAF). A decade ago, TCAF 'took over' the area around Honest Ed's for one weekend every two years; now, it's held annually at the Toronto Reference Library. Through the growth, the festival has never lost its vibe - something closer to 'conventions' held overseas, or perhaps Artist's Alley (to compare closer to home). Because of their history, it's probable you'll find works by some of your fave creators 'before they were known'. Another example: Paul Pope's 'THE CORRUPTOR', one of his earliest works, I found here - signed, affordable, and a first print! I can't recommend The Beguiling enough. I've discovered a lot of comic works from around the world here, and and found a few I never thought I'd get my hands on. Oh, and if you're in Rosedale, they've got a second store @ the Toronto Reference Library now - a lighter selection, but definitely just as cool. read more

My favourite comic book shop in Canada. Cutting edge collection of art comics, graphic novels, and obscure publications of all sorts. The owner and managers of the shop are really unparalleled in knowledge and experience of comics publishing from around the world. Selection of European and Japanese comics is extraordinary. read more

I'm going to throw out the currently most overused word in the American vernacular in reference to this amazing TO gem - EPIC. If you are a comic fan who leans towards non- Big Two (read: Marvel and DC) publishers, a la myself, this is the Holy Grail for all your comic needs. The downstairs boasts a ridiculous collection of titles from all your favorites, alphabetized largely by author (Jhonen Vasquez, Adrian Tomine, Los Bros Hernandez, etc). You can find everything from their most notable works to super obscure early stuff that may be very limited edition. Prices are pretty reasonable for this harder to find stuff, IMHO, especially when a lot of it isn't even track-down-able online. The owner is usually behind the counter and he may give off an unapproachably, cooler than thou vibe but he's actually very helpful, laid back and concerned that you have the best experience as a customer. The upstairs caters more to general, less niche tastes. They have several large racks of the current issues, both mainstream and independent, along with trades, manga, a massive back stock of individual issues and magazines. I can only deduct a star (it would only be half a star if I was allowed) because the store is just TOO stuffed, especially the back issues. The promise of obscure, hard to find back issues at a place with such varied stock as The Beguiling is quickly ruined by how crammed and stacked on each other the back issues are. There is no real space to pull boxes out and the stuff is so tight in the boxes you have to pull 20 issues out just to have room to flip through. The staff has zero idea of what is in the boxes either (which is pretty common for a comic shop) so there is no way to discern if they have what you need except to look through- a daunting task I usually give up on after 20 minutes. Aside from this, the staff has always been super helpful and knowledgable about the stock. They also have a decent selection of interesting merch - buttons, posters, figurines, etc - that are reasonably priced. The much-beloved Scott Pilgrim is heavily represented and the shop has some very cool posters for the manga-style graphic novel series - if you see something on the wall you like, ask about it. Chances are it is for sale or they have another copy they will sell you cheap (for instance, a medium-ish poster in the stairwell featuring a variety of full-color Ramona's from SP is available for only $10). A huge mix of free flyers, cards, pamphlets and low-cost local indie comics, some hand drawn versus photocopy, also crows the front of the store. I LOVE this place and make a point to stop every time I'm in TO to stock up on hard-to-find and unique items, along with recent issues local stores are sold out of due to their smaller ordering volume. read more

Absolutely wonderful: loads of quality manga and comics to choose from. Decent interior layout. Tasteful selections. This is what a comic book store should be like: rich, intimate, satisfying. read more

The Beguiling has the best selection of Canadian and indie comics I've seen, and an excellent stock of spandex books upstairs. They focus on comics and graphic novels entirely, and don't seem to get into games or 'limited edition busts'. This place is serious. read more

Every time I go into this store, I feel adventurous.. like I've suddenly been transported to somewhere else. Love the fact that it is just a short walk from Bathurst subway and some of my favorite places to eat! Friendly customer service too- some comic book stores and the people working there can be intimidating but not The Beguiling!! read more

One of my favourite places in the city. You won't find anyone more knowledgeable and helpful. And the stock! The place is overflowing with amazing finds including lots of out of print books. read more

The Beguiling is a world-class comic shop that goes out of it's way to connect customers to works that they'll love. My favourite store to go to. read more

A dream place for anyone who loves comics. It hold so much charm in it's creaky stairs and disheveled books. Carries lesser known, rarer comics, graphic novels from local artists as well as the ones you'd see anywhere else. Lovely. read more

The Beguiling has provided an amazing selection of independent and mainstream comics, graphic novels, and books for as long as I can remember. The staff are very knowledgable and are usually very helpful. read more

Great store. One of the best selections in the city for graphic novels upstairs. They also have cool events where they bring in authors like Mike Carey (my fav). Also the staff is really friendly and helpful, which is not always the case in comic shops. I swear I have meet the real life inspiration for the Simpson's comic book guy in half the shops I have been in. read more

Loved this place. Great customer service from the tall dark haired guy upstairs. He was so patient with me as I asked to go through boxes behind him...first class! read more

My inner Sheldon loves this store. I hop in here nearly every time I'm in town. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. I end up spending too much time here. I highly recommend checking it out. read more

The place to go for comics in TO! Especially for indie comics. I didn't realize how much I would miss it until I moved from Toronto. They had all the recent English language releases from Pow Pow Press (MTL) in stock; and that was the driving reason why I went there in the first place. I was able to pick up a ton on CanCon that you can't get in the States as well as peruse the huge amount of stuff on D + Q that they have. Due to my pile of books that were forming in my hands they gave me even more suggestions to purchase based on what I already had! As a result I discovered Pope Hats (excellent!) and the recent release Johnny Canuck as a result of the war measures act with a forward by Seth. I will definitely be back the next time I am in TO to stock up on more things. The most embarrassing aspect is that I went there twice to pick up another Pow Pow Press book. I simply love to look at everything that they have and wish I could read their large number of Francophone books as well. I am not as big into manga as I once was but their selection is amazing as well and all of the mainstream stuff as well e.g. DC, Marvel, Darkhorse if you are into that stuff as well. read more

After reading numerous 5 star reviews on this place, I decided to visit this store to see the what's the deal with this place. This place is like a comic book lover's heaven. Even if you are not into comics, they sell drawings by local artists and art books. I guess most of time there I look at the art books. My friend found this ancient book on drawing 1980's spaceship thingy and we thought we will find better price on amazon nope beguiling had it cheaper by 20 dollars. I also found the workers of the place really pleasant and they seem really passionate about comic books.( You don't find that at Chapters lol) . So yeah overall it was great . I took one star off cause... the place is hard to navigate and browse its kinda crowded but still I wasn't too bothered by it read more