Comic books are growing in popularity in Durban… here’s why!
This National Comic Book Day, Time Out Durban chatted to the owners of Project Mayhem, KZN’s only traditional comic bookstore, about this growing trend.
Who would’ve thought that TV and movies would get us back into books?
But not just any old books… comic books!
The rise of the DC and Marvel universes on screen, alongside shows like The Big Bang Theory, has helped make geek culture considerably more mainstream – and local comic book store owners Reza Adam and Naseemah Desai are loving the inclusion.
To celebrate National Comic Book Day on 25 September, we asked the owners of Project Mayhemmore about this not-so-niche literary subculture, why comic books continue to draw new fans and why Durban’s geeks should stop in for a squiz.
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First things first: what exactly is a comic book?
If your knowledge of comics begins and ends with knowing that Batman lives in Gotham and Spider-Man has excellent climbing abilities, you’re not alone.
Comic books are, of course, illustrated stories, but for collectors and fans, there’s considerably more to them than speech bubbles and superheroes.
For Reza, the artwork is a crucial part of the experience.
“Comic books are not just storytelling but have a lot to do with the visual art that can stir one’s imagination. The artwork enhances the story. Most people have their favourite writers, artists and characters and will collect books that involve any of these aspects.”
So while the words tell you what’s happening, the art can completely change how you experience it. Different artists can give the same character a dramatically different look and feel, while particular writers become fan favourites in their own right.
And yes, there are comics for just about every taste.
Durban’s comic book scene has been around for a while
Project Mayhem isn’t exactly the new kid on the comic-book block.
Husband-and-wife team, Reza and Naseemah, started the business in 2011, initially because they wanted somewhere in Durban to indulge their own love of comics and collectables.
“We started it together in 2011 as there were no other traditional comic book stores in Durban for us and our friends to get our nerdy fix! The rest is history,” says Naseemah.
The business has been online for around 15 years and has had a physical store for just over five years during that time. It has evolved beyond simply selling comics into a gathering place for Durban’s pop-culture community.
She describes the store as a safe space for pop-culture fanatics, with themed events bringing the community together.
And for a city that has had other comic shops over the years, Project Mayhem is currently Durban’s only traditional comic book store.
READ: Geek is chic: Take a deep dive into Durban’s thriving Geek culture (…it’s bigger than you think!)
So… is Durban getting geekier?
According to Reza, absolutely.
“This is 100% a growing comic book community, and contrary to what many believe, it’s not just the boys; there is a growing interest from girls as well, from young ages, especially teens!”
He believes the explosion of superhero films and television series has played an important role in bringing new readers into the fold.
And then there’s The Big Bang Theory.
“A common occurrence we hear when people visit our store is ‘I feel like I’m on The Big Bang Theory’, which is a show that has become a pop culture phenomenon over the last 20 years and has shown many people that it’s cool to love what you love and be who you are!”
Basically, the nerds have won.
Never bought a comic? Start with what you already like
At the moment, Naseemah says the DC Absolute comic book series is proving particularly popular.
For those who haven’t ventured into the DC universe beyond the cinema, there’s a lot to explore – from Batman and The Flash to Green Arrow and countless other characters.
Perhaps you’ve always assumed comic books are for hardcore collectors who can explain 17 different versions of Batman without blinking.
Good news: you don’t need to know anything before you start.
Naseemah says the store gets asked about where to begin all the time, and her advice is simple: start with what you like.
“It all comes down to personal preference. We start by asking them who their favourite character is and the genre they prefer, and start our recommendations from there. Also, not all comic books are appropriate for kids, so age is important,” she says.
So if you love horror, fantasy, science fiction, crime or superheroes, there’s a place to start.
But aren’t some comics worth… a lot?
They certainly can be.
However, Reza has an important message for anyone thinking about getting into comics purely as an investment.
“So let me start off by saying that comic books are meant to be read, not just collected for investment purposes. When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created characters and stories, it was for people to read and use it as escapism.”
He says comic book values, like currency, go up and down depending on the character and the popularity at that given time.
“First appearance books always hold value; the more popular the character, the higher the value of the comic that has its first appearance. Census, demand and grading [condition] of the book are also important when determining value.”
In other words: buy comics because you love them first, and worry about whether you’ve accidentally acquired the next million-rand issue later.
It’s not just about buying comics
Project Mayhem has also become a gathering point for KZN’s pop-culture community, hosting events around major superhero movie releases and working with movie studios and cinemas to create special experiences for fans.
The store also participates in international comic-book events including Free Comic Book Day, Batman Day and Halloween Comic Fest.
More recently, Project Mayhem hosted the launch and signing of a new Image Comics book by renowned writer Tyler Kirkham, with local artist Leon Govender, who illustrated the book, attending for his first book launch and signing.
It’s this kind of community activity that helps turn a comic shop into something more than somewhere to spend your Saturday afternoon browsing back issues.
Why you should read a comic – at least once
Reza has a pretty straightforward challenge for Durban’s readers.
“Everyone should get to read a comic book at least once in their lifetime; it is never too late, no matter your age. Try it now.”
And really, why not?
Whether you’re a lifelong collector, a Marvel movie convert, a Batman obsessive, a fan of graphic novels or someone who hasn’t picked up a comic since primary school, National Comic Book Day is a pretty good excuse to see what all the fuss is about.
Find Project Mayhem
- Address: 9 Old Main Road, Oxford Village, Unit 98, Hillcrest
- Contact: 082 4786 346 | info@projectmayhem.co.za
- Order queries: collectibles@projectmayhem.co.za
- Website: projectmayhem.co.za
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