Lmst

#WorldsOldestComicShop

What's new at the #WorldsOldestComicShop? Rough (cheap!) Golden-age horror comics just added.

9/3/25 — Open 6-9p. No open drinks, please.

Mr. Mystery 3 is fragile. Astonishing is incomplete.
The 3 Journey into Unknown Worlds & Uncanny Tales are solid readers–one with a #BonnettsStamp! Ready now!

Top left: Atlas, Journey Into Unknown Worlds No. 24 includes "The Mummy Lives", "The Specimen", & "The Voice from Venus." A mummy attacks a woman as her male companion peers at a burst open crypt.

Top Center: Mr. Publications' Mister Mystery Dec.–Jan. '52. Eerie Tales of Horror and Suspense. An explorer clings to a rope, dangling above a giant, hungry praying mantis. Cover art by Andru & Esposito.

Top Right: Journey into Unknown Worlds No. 25, Mar. A dirt creature attacks a man with a pick-axe near a grave with wooden marker and skull resting on a pile of stones.

Bottom left: Atlas Comics' Astonishing No. 34. Don't miss "Transformation!" A close-up of a panicked man's face in a guillotine. A black-hooded executioner is about to cut the rope to release the blade.

Bottom center: Journey into Unknown Worlds No. 31, Oct. "The Strange Man." A statue of a man with curly hair in a suit and bow-tie has a shocked look on its face. A hunchback chisels a slab in the foreground. In the background a woman speaks with security, "Guard! I'm looking for my husband! He's five feet eleven, medium build, blond curly hair, and he's wearing a bow-tie!" He replies, "Sorry lady! The only one here is that sculptor over there!"

Bottom right: Atlas Comics' Uncanny Tales No. 22, July. A most uncanny fate befalls the "Half-Man!" A woman talks with a smiling man. He is split in half from head to toe. His other half is seated nearby, offering a cigarette to a shocked and horrified man.

A common question...

"How long have you been here?"

#BonnettsBooks has been in the same location since 1939. Stop in!

8/2/25 - Open 6-9p.

No open drinks, please.

#WorldsOldestComicShop #DaytonsOldestBookstore

A screenshot of a text-only post on Bluesky...

Bonnett's Books

@bonnettsbooks.bsky.social

A common question...

"How long have you been here?"

#BonnettsBooks has been in the same location since 1939. Stop in!

8/2/25 - Open 6-9p.

No open drinks, please.

#WorldsOldestComicShop #DaytonsOldestBookstore

August 2, 2025, 3:07 PM

#BonnettsBooks will be OPEN tonight after #GemCityComicCon! Visit the the Oregon District for dinner and come say Hello!

7/19/25 — Open 6-?pm. No open drinks, please.

Last night's Preview included many of these. There's more no one's seen except me!

Stop by to visit the #WorldsOldestComicShop!

24 comic books from the 1940s to the 1970s, including Spider-Man, X-Men, 2 unrelated Daredevil comics, Captain Marvel Junior, Blue Bolt, Boy Comics, Airboy, All-True Crime, Joker, Isis, Eerie Tales, and Babe, Darling of the Hills.

CLOSED Friday 7/18/25 ahead of #GemCityComicCon. OPEN Saturday Evening 7/19/25.

7/17/25 — Open 6-9p. No open drinks, please.

Cosplayers welcome!

I hope to visit the convention on Sunday. While you're in town, don't forget to stop at #BonnettsBooks, the #WorldsOldestComicShop, since 1939!

An enhanced photo of a panel in DC Comics' Wonder Woman, issue number 203 from November 1972. Art by Dick Giordano.

The panel is a facial close-up of a clearly irritated Diana Prince. Her long, black hair indicates she has just sharply whirled leftward to speak to someone behind her. Her left hand is extended, palm down, fingers spread wide, as if motioning "cut it out," and she exclaims, "HEY, you guys... !"

For context, at this time in the comic's run, Diana Prince had given up the powers of Wonder Woman to live life as a normal person. Just prior to this panel, she was being cat-called by a group of guys while walking along a older, big-city, neighborhood sidewalk. She has around turned to tell them off.

An enhanced photo of part of a 1940s-era black and white ad illustration. A girl with long, dark, wavy hair happily, excitedly, has something to say to the reader. She's leaning slightly to her left and showing the raised index finger of her right hand, skyward, to make a point.

The empty upper left corner of the image has been altered to include a color poster, by artist Stuart Sayger of Spider-Man atop a building, beneath a dark, cloudy sky, for the 2025 Gem City Comic Book Convention, July 19th and 20th at the University of Dayton Marriott hotel, 1414 South Patterson Boulevard in Dayton, Ohio. Weekend pass $10, Sunday only pass $5. Early Buy, 9 A.M. both days $5.

7/14/25 — Open 6-9p. No open drinks please.

Last night, at Dixie Drive-In (Est. 1957), I saw about half the characters from this portrait (ca. 1962) in the new Superman movie.

Visit #BonnettsBooks on 5th St., the #WorldsOldestComicShop, during #GemCityComicCon this weekend!
GemCityComicCon.com

A comic book back cover portrait of "The Superman Family" includes 24 popular characters from the early 1960s.

@somcak it was very nice to finally meet, and thanks for bringing guests! You can all now say you've been to the #WorldsOldestComicShop 🙂👍

It's a bit crowded in here, but I hope you all enjoyed looking around. I didn't expect to be quite so busy on a Tuesday. I guess the break in the heat brought people out of hiding.

Until next time... 🖖🙂

#GemCityComicCon is a large indie show. It outgrew Wright State University Student Union Hall long ago and eventually moved to the Dayton Convention Center. Alas, Dayton recently outsourced management of DCC to a 3rd party who care more for profit than Dayton's reputation. So, Gem City Comic Con has had to downsize & move. It's no longer a few walkable blocks away from #BonnettsBooks, the #WorldsOldestComicShop.

https://www.gemcitycomiccon.com/

https://bsky.app/profile/bonnettsbooks.bsky.social/post/3lsc4g7lark2h

Poster for Gem City Comic Convention, July 19th and 20th 2025 in Dayton, Ohio at the University of Dayton Marriott, 1414 South Patterson Boulevard. Admission sold at the fire only. Weekend Pass $10. Sunday Only Pass $5. Early Buy 9am Both Days $5.

A dramatic illustration of Spider-Man beneath a dark, cloudy sky looking down into the city from a vantage point atop a building.

Happy Juneteenth!

6/19/25 — Open 6-9p. No open drinks, please.

Here in the #WorldsOldestComicShop we've handled books with every version of Captain America & his different shields from the 1940s on.
Could Black Cap's shield use an update? The themes are already subtext in his stories. What If...?

A square cropped image of the star and nova from the center of the Juneteenth flag.

Per recent requests, these vintage Spider-Man comics are currently available at #BonnettsBooks!

6/10/25 — Open 6-9p. No open drinks, please.

If you're swinging into Dayton you could visit the #WorldsOldestComicShop to see what other goodies you might find!

A photo collage of 6 comic books featuring Spider-Man.

Marvel Team-Up 65 featuring Spider-Man and Captain Britain. At last! Marvel's British Super-Hero Sensation Explodes on the Stateside Scene--and Guess Who Is Caught in the Blast? Cover features Spidey vs Cap B in a high-rise construction site fight.

Marvel Tales 237 featuring Spider-Man and the X-Men. What's Going On?! Frankly, we haven't a clue! But we know the "unstoppable" Juggernaut is up to no-good again! Plus: Spider-Man meets Howard the Duck. McFarlane cover has Spidey in close quarters with Colossus and Nightcrawler.

Captain America (and The Falcon) 137 To Stalk A Spider-Man! Sal Buscema cover is an image of Spidey looming over city streets with Cap & Falcon on the hunt.

Amazing Spider-Man 194 featuring a Startling New Villainess! Never Let The Black Cat Cross Your Path! Spidey gets pounced on the side of a building in this blurry photo of the cover.

Amazing Spider-Man 46 Who says this isn't the Marvel Age of Vile New Villains? You and Spidey are about to be Jolted by: "The Sinister Shocker!" Our hero evades a jolt that takes down a limestone column.

Amazing Spider-Man 30 Only the Batty Marvel Bullpen could present such a truly Dazzling Display of Derring-Do as... "The Claws of The Cat!" Police spotlights from the street illuminate a rooftop water-tower being toppled onto Spidey by a hidden assailant.

Sometimes, I can't decide what cool new arrivals to share; so, #HappyCaturday!

5/31/25 — Open 6-9p. No open drinks please.

Today, Traveler is annoyed at being photographed instead of petted. Don't worry. She got her skritches right after this. Stop by & give the #WorldsOldestComicShop some love!

A photo of a cat's "serious face" as she looks back, over her shoulder at the camera, annoyed with being photographed instead of petted.

Added today at the #WorldsOldestComicShop...

5/13/25 — Open 6-9p. No open drinks, please.

Looking for a Unicorn?
He's blasting the X-Men with his forehead beam.

The L.B. Cole book has a Shocking¹ piece missing from the back. What happened is a Mystery². Still, it'll look great in your Cases³.

A composite photo of two vintage comic books.

On the left: Marvel Comics Group, 12¢ [original cover price], The X-Men 23, Aug [1966], "To Save A City!" "Action Lovers! This one's for you!" Approved By the Comics Code Authority. IND. Ice-Man, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, and Angel versus the Eel, Scarecrow, Porcupine, the Unicorn, and Plantman amid battle damaged columns in Washington D.C.

On the right: A Star Comic, Shocking Mystery Cases №. 57 [1953], 10¢ [original cover price], Thrilling Cases From Crime Files! ANC. L.B. Cole [cover illustration]. At night, under a full moon, three inmates about to descend a prison wall by a rope made of sheets witness one of their two outside accomplices, in fedoras and trenchcoats, being shot with a pistol held by someone out of frame. The other accomplice, startled, drops his rifle.

Remembering Grandpa on his birthday.

5/12/25 — Open 6-9p. No open drinks, please.

Harold "Hal" Murray Bonnett was a pulp writer from the 1930s through the '60s and founded Bonnett's in 1939. #BonnettsBooks is now #DaytonsOldestBookStore & #WorldsOldestComicShop.
Stop in!

Photo by Walter Bonnett.

A night-time photo, dated April 1983, of Harold "Hal" Murray Bonnett smoking a cigar and bending to feed five orange and white stray cats in an alley behind Bonnett's Bookstore. Grass and weeds grow in the cracks of the concrete pavement around them. To the right is a dark-colored, crooked, and decaying wall of an old wooden garage with large metal hinges on it's doors. Across the doors is a large message painted in sloppy white lettering, "No Parking - Police Orders," and a small metal No Parking sign. A few of the feeding dishes are repurposed plastic and styrofoam inserts from 8 millimeter film-reel packaging.

Haven't been to #BonnettsBooks? Here's a peek from a recent vid-test.

4/7/25 — Open 6-9p Mask recommended. No open drinks, please.

Toys, trinkets, knick-knacks, & decor are a collection–not for sale.

Books, movies, comics, & magazines are fair game.
#WorldsOldestComicShop

Hope to see you soon!

A photo inside Bonnett's Bookstore.
A row of DVDs in the foreground partially obscures a Marvin the Martian shoe caddy hanging from an old-school hand-crank pencil sharpener. To the right is a dimly lit alcove of bookshelves, above which can be seen an illuminated Leg Lamp. To the left of Marvin is a bright aisle full of shelves and boxes of books stretching into the distance. Further left, it's evident there's another aisle extending beyond a set of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, hinting at further stacks to explore. Throughout the shot are thousands of toys decorating shelves and hanging above aisles.

No foolin'... Before #GoldenAgeComics had the name, #BonnettsBooks was there.

4/1/25 — Open 6-9p Mask recommended. No open drinks, please.

Can you find the #BonnettsStamp on these comics that once sold for 5¢ each? Hint–there are 4.

When in Dayton, OH, be sure to visit the #WorldsOldestComicShop!

A composite photo of six Golden Age vintage comic books from the Dell Four Color series, as follows:

234 Walt Disney's Dumbo in "Sky Voyage". Has Bonnett's store stamp and heavy dust shadow along top and spine edges.

286 Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse and the Uninvited Guest. 52 pages, all comics! Has Bonnett's store stamp.

315 Walter Lantz Oswald the Rabbit. 52 pages–all comics! Has Bonnett's store stamp.

451 Rusty Riley. A boy, a horse, and s dog.

588 King Richard and the Crusaders. A CinemaScope production, presented by Warner Bros. Movie tie-in. Arrival date written above title in grease pencil.

606 Sir Lancelot (1954).

A composite photo of 6 Golden Age vintage comic books, as follows:

Rex Hart 8, Marvel Comics, photo cover. Your famous Western Star. Thrill to Rex's perilous manhunt as he tracks down "the Hombre who killed his Friend!"

The Brave and the Bold 3, DC Comics, cover missing. "The tiny village was defenseless—and toward it marched the scourge of the Northlands, Crassus the Conqueror! In his path stood only one man—Marcus, the Golden Gladiator. At his side stood children! Yet together, they formed... The Invisible Wall!

And, four issues of M-G-M's Lassie from Dell Comics. Lassie is a famous Collie dog. Painted cover illustrations, as follows:

Number 3, April-June, 52 pages—All Comics! Lassie and a man cross a rocky, tropical terrain.

Number 12, July-Sept. Lassie rescues a cat from a burning building.

Number 15, March-April. Lassie relaxes by her water dish near a white picket fence, but a beagle puppy wants her to play.

Number 20, Jan.-Feb. Lassie, in the snow, observes two small black and white birds perched on a nearby twig.

Happy Valentine's Day! And, for all the single cat-folk, Happy Feline-tines Day. 😻

I forgot book pics again so, here's a hearty close-up of my small but mighty cat, Traveler.

2/14/25 — Open 6-9p, maybe later. Mask recommended. No open drinks, please.

If you're a traveler in town, #BonnettsBooks is the #WorldsOldestComicShop! We're also a great place to shop before or after dinner in Dayton, Ohio's historic Oregon District. Stroll our aisles or scroll our timeline to see what you might find!

I spotted this "Ghostly Weird Stories" № 122 on Bluesky. It's a classic 1954 #PreCodeHorror comic with a wild #LBColeCover and our old #StoreStamp posted by (@)GoldenAgeComics(.)bsky(.)social. If you're over there, check it out!

#BonnettsBooks – the #WorldsOldestComicShop.

A photo of an old sci-fi/horror comic book. Ghostly Weird Stories 122, cover art by L. B. cole, published by Star Comics in 1954. The title story on the cover is called "Death Ship."

L.B. Cole was known for his use of bright, bold, and garish color combinations. This cover features a dead astronaut and crew floating in space, alongside the debris of their crashed rocketship, smashed into the surface of a heavily cratered asteroid or small moon. The crewmembers suits are shredded, bubble helmets cracked open, and their bodies are dessicated as if they've been there for a very long time.

#BonnettsBooks sold used comics for 5¢ in the 1940s. Other second-hand shops did the same. Like video stores, many marked their books with a #storestamp. Back then, as "Ohio's Largest Dealer In Back-Issue Magazines," a lot of comics were stamped... when they were five-cent books.

A knowledgeable #GoldenAge/#PreCodeHorror ( #GA / #PCH) collector shares his thoughts on our stamp at 7 mins in this sweet collecting video, minus historic context. ✌️😉
#WorldsOldestComicShop

https://youtu.be/rhczEiaaeN4?si=yOxd_epZTAxnhbfu

Hi, tusk-ed compadres. Just here to say, "I haven't forgotten about the fedi." All is well.

Truth is, I must focus on my immediate surroundings right now, in prep for Gem City Comic Con, just a few blocks away on July 20th & 21st.

As the #WorldsOldestComicShop I want to put my best possible foot forward. As a solo operation, with daily clients & vast offerings besides comics, getting things done is a tall order under normal conditions, let alone prepping for a convention.

Back to normal soon!

6/20/24 — Open 6-9p Mask recommended. No open drinks, please.

Is this a meme reply in a 76 year old comic book? Is it proof that time travel exists?

No. Of course not!

I couldn't resist poking some fun when I found this last night.

Panel excerpt from "Jeanie" № 19 (May 1948).

#BonnettsBooks #DaytonOhio #BrickAndMortar #UsedBookStore #WorldsOldestComicShop #JeanieComics #MarvelNotMarvel #ManOrBearMeme #ManOrBear #ComicsOutOfContext #GoldenAgeComics #GoldenAgeFunnies #Comics #ComicBooks

An edited and enhanced excerpt from a vintage comic book panel.

A panicked woman wearing a green dress and heels in a forest leaps up a tree and clings to a branch, exclaiming "It's a REAL bear!"

6/14/24 — Open 6-9p Mask recommended. No open drinks, please.

Just added! Reading-copy comic classics!

The last 15¢ Thor, an "Oriental Menace," WWII heroes together again, FF 70 reprint, fallen Defenders (Luke Cage, Hulk, & Black Knight),
Hellfire Club & 1st full appearance of Dark Phoenix in X-Men 131 & 135–respectively, New Mutants № 1, 1st full app. of Apocalypse, Mighty Mouse № 1 Dark Knight parody, & more!

#BonnettsBooks #DaytonOhio #BrickAndMortar #UsedBookStore
#WorldsOldestComicShop

#WorldsOldestComicShop

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