Welcome to the wonderful world of comics. That’s the first impression joint owners and husband and wife team, Glenn and Kate, like to give you when entering their comic shop ‘Time Invaders’. Formerly known as House Of Jumble and The Comic Vault, which relocated from Shrewsbury to a much bigger shop in Oswestry’s popular town centre in 2020, after accidentally getting into selling comics when Kate was ill off work.
Glenn, a comic collector himself, started selling comics in their shop and they’ve never looked back. After experiencing four exciting years of growth, the couple want to continue passing on their knowledge, passion for comics and annuals to the public in an amazing traditional family run shop. “We’ve noticed our shop has a wonderful way of lighting up customers faces, even through these hard times, when they enter seeing memorabilia from their childhood on the walls,” Glenn said.
Keen collectors, historians and archaeologists of comics, they not only buy and sell old and modern comics and annuals but restore and research stock. Recycling these back to the customers, instead of ending up at the recycling centre, lost forever. Particularly helping those keen to complete their collections – selling back issues, full stories, graphic novels and yearly annuals, which have become a particularly popular present for special birthdays 30, 40 and 50. It’s wonderful to see collectors’ eyes light up and big smiles all round as they find that all important missing back issue, which is more than enough reward for Glenn and Kate, seeing satisfied customers giving the comics and annuals good homes.
And like most businesses these days, they have also managed to adapt to an ever-changing world by introducing new collectable ranges. These include collectable figurines, Funkpops, Sci-Fi books and models. They’ve even opened a much-requested Retro Arcade, filled with Arcade machines playing over 600 games including Pacman, Space Invaders, and Street Fighter. They take regular bookings for Retro Arcade Birthday Parties provided with free Banners and Balloons.
Working with the local community in mind, Glenn and Kate have donated to local schools for the libraries to help with picture word association and some home comic and annual deliveries for the disabled and elderly after visits to the shop.
Next year’s shop plans are already in progress with the introduction of public illustration, art and comic writing workshops for all ages. Events to include Caricature drawing and demonstrating and possibly comic book signings.
The shop is open all week except Tuesdays 10am-5pm. You’ll always find a warm welcome and dog friendly treats.
Located at 23 Cross Street Oswestry SY112NF, get in touch by calling 07946 550916, email houseofjumble_@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.timeinvaders.co.uk.
Facebook and Instagram @timeinvaders23
