Forbidden Planet Hobby Shop, Union Square: Comics Since 1981

Forbidden Planet, at 832 Broadway NY NY 10003, is the hobby shop New Yorkers name first when the question is comics, figures or collectible cards. The shop calls itself one of the world's most acclaimed sellers of comics, graphic novels, toys and other collectibles since 1981, and it sits a short walk south of Union Square on the stretch of Broadway that runs down toward Twelfth Street. If you want one room that covers superheroes, manga, horror and tabletop in a single stop, start here.

The store has been trading since 1981, and the official site now runs a 45th Anniversary Signings series to mark the milestone. That longevity matters for a hobby shop. Publishers, toy makers and artists know the address, so signings, release parties and launch-week stock tend to land here early. The store describes itself as a rather large location in the heart of Union Square, and the size is the point: the range is wide enough that a casual visitor and a lifelong collector can both leave with something.

The shop is run day to day by store manager Jeff Ayers, and the team takes stock queries by email through the contact page on fpnyc.com. That is useful when you are hunting a specific variant cover or a boxed figure that sold out somewhere else. Write in with the title, issue number or product name, and you save yourself a wasted trip down Broadway on a busy Saturday afternoon.

Weekly comics are the backbone, and the shop leans hard into New Comic Book Day, when fresh issues from Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse hit the racks. The official site lists recent drops such as Dan Panosian's Wolverine story Paradise alongside Batman, Black Panther and Spider-Man variants. Graphic novels and collected editions get their own deep section, so you can pick up a full run of a series instead of chasing single issues one at a time.

The toy side is just as serious. The brand list on the official site includes Mezco, NECA, Super7, Pop Mart and Kikkerland, which covers everything from articulated horror figures to blind-box vinyl. Statues, posters, art books, pins, patches and lunch boxes round out the pop culture shelves. The store's own pitch names Star Wars toys, Magic the Gathering cards, the latest issue of Fangoria and the new Saga graphic novel as typical finds, which gives you a good sense of the range.

Manga readers get a real section rather than a single spinecase. The catalog runs across shonen, shojo, seinen, yaoi and yuri, with Viz Media among the listed publishers and long series like Blue Lock carried volume by volume. Anime fans will also find t-shirts, plush and figures tied to the same properties, so a manga stop here can easily turn into a gift run for someone at home who is three volumes behind you.

For the hobby crowd, Magic the Gathering is the headline card game named on the official site, and trading cards and comic supplies such as bags and boards sit in their own categories. If you play tabletop or collect sealed product, treat Forbidden Planet as a stocking stop rather than a play space. The shop is built for browsing and buying, and the games and gaming novel sections give board game and role-playing fans a reason to linger.

The busiest moment of the week is New Comic Book Day, when regulars come straight from work to grab their pull. Arrive earlier in the day if you want first pick of variant covers, since the rarer art cards go quickly. Weekend afternoons bring tourists and families from Union Square, so a weekday visit gives you more room to flip through long boxes and ask staff where a particular series has been shelved this month.

Signings are the other reason to plan ahead. The official events listing shows a Pumpkinhead Companion release party and signing with co-writer Gary Gerani on Saturday, October 24 4-8PM, part of a steady run of author and artist appearances. Join the Forbidden Planet mailing list on fpnyc.com to hear about special events, new releases and savings, since signing lines can stretch along the Broadway sidewalk once word gets out.

The shop doubles as a mail order business through fpnyc.com, its official webstore. Residents of New York and New Jersey can order online and collect in store, which is handy for pre-orders and limited statues you do not want to carry home on the subway. The site notes that webstore prices are not always the same as the prices in the New York City store, so browse both before you commit to a big purchase.

For orders shipping outside the United States, the team asks you to email sales@fpnyc.com or call 212-475-6161 during the listed customer service window. For questions about what is on the shop floor today, the store line is 212-473-1576. Having both numbers saved makes it easy to track down a missing issue or reserve a pre-order before a trip into Manhattan.

The closest subway stop is Union Square station, served by a cluster of lines that put the store within a few minutes on foot. Exit toward the south side of the square, walk down Broadway past Fourteenth Street, and the shop windows of figures and graphic novels appear on your side of the avenue. Buses along Broadway and the crosstown routes on Fourteenth Street also stop close by, which helps if you are hauling a heavy box set home.

Pair the visit with a loop through the area. The Union Square Greenmarket fills the north and west sides of the square on market days, and the Strand bookstore sits a block away at the corner of Broadway and Twelfth Street, so a comics run can turn into a full afternoon of paper and ink. Walk east toward the East Village afterward for coffee and a place to read your haul before heading home.

Bring a list if you are hunting back issues or a specific figure, and email the stock team ahead of time. Carry a sturdy tote for graphic novels, because hardcover collections add up fast. The shop sells comic supplies, so you can buy bags and boards on the spot to protect anything fragile. Ask staff about upcoming signings at the counter, as the event calendar changes week to week with new releases.

Forbidden Planet works for first-time visitors who want a quick tour of New York comic culture and for collectors who need a reliable hobby shop with deep stock. Give yourself at least an hour, more on New Comic Book Day, and leave room in your bag for something you did not plan to buy. Ask the Karpo APP for a nearby lunch spot or a second shop to visit, and you have a ready-made Union Square afternoon.