I’m pleased to add this wonderful print advert to my collection. It’s a Forbidden Planet The Empire Strikes Back promotion inviting fans along to their original and first London store to welcome visits by Dave Prowse (Darth Vader) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), along with the hope of a surprise visit from one of the American cast.

The advert’s style and graphics reminds me of an old-school boxing poster or a concert venue ad, while the ‘venue’ is proudly proclaimed as “London’s Newest Science Fiction and Comic Book Shop!”. The venue: located in London – number 23 Denmark Street – was Forbidden Planet’s first High Street store, and it opened all the way back in 1978.

The Brian Bolland connection

The 1978 print advert below is probably one of the first adverts for the Denmark Street store to be featured in a comic book. The artwork is by Brian Bolland, depicting an impressive lineup of famous comic book stars each trying to sneak a peek over Superman’s shoulders at what the Man of Steel is reading.

Due to its success and the demise of some of London’s older comic book outlets, Forbidden Planet grew up quickly and offered a broad product base, attracting fans of not just comics but also TV and film. A second store purchase (nearby in St. Giles High Street) was required to cope with popularity. Later, further location moves were necessary and the Denmark Street and St. Giles High Street stores eventually combined and moved to new premises.

Mail Order Catalogues

The following two adverts, with artwork by Brian Bolland, are both 1980 Denmark Street survivors. The first invites readers to send off for a catalogue of their choice from three categories: film & TV; science fiction & horror; and comics.

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Denmark Street in 1983

This 1983 ad features a range of Return of the Jedi merchandise and a Star Trek 1984 calendar, available for order by sending a cheque or postal order to the Denmark Street address.

The quarter-page adverts below all feature titles from 2000 AD.

2000 AD and Judge Dredd badges.

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Denmark Street in 1986

This superb colour ad (recognise Bolland’s work again?) mentions both the Denmark Street and St. Giles Street shops. The former is credited as ‘The science fiction and comic book shop’ while the latter is credited as ‘The cinema and television shop’. The advert also appears as a variation in 1984 showing alternative merchandise pictures to the later version below.

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Denmark Street in 1987

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Denmark Street in a comic strip!

23 Denmark Street the shop actually makes a surprise appearance in the 1987 photo story Nemesis The Warlock published in 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special, 1987.

I mean, it’s got to be it, hasn’t it? Forbidden Planet logo on the window, 23 on the door…

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Denmark Street in 1988

Here we can see the appearance of other branches outside of London: Milton Keynes, Brighton and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Forbidden Planet Today

The company eventually split into two entities: Forbidden Planet and Forbidden Planet Scotland (later renamed Forbidden Planet International). To date they have some thirty stores between them situated all across the UK including well-known associate stores such as Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham and Liverpool’s Worlds Apart, along with a US store in Manhattan, New York. Forbidden Planet also offers an established webstore and online presence. Not bad for its humble beginnings as a small high street comic store on Denmark Street, WC2.

Forbidden Planet 40th anniversary 1978 – 2018

I picked up this rather cool souvenir magazine at the FP store in Birmingham, England on a recent visit. So pleasing to see some of the Brian Bolland original artwork used to commemorate their big 40. Congrats FP, and here’s to another 40!

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Post updated with new images Sept 2018.