Grober Unfug

The comic shop on Zossener Strasse carries international comics and Japanese original manga, plus imports from the United States and Britain. A gallery in the back room hangs framed original drawings and a wall painted by the spray can artist WON. As a gift for men this is comic art rather than another paperback.

Grober Unfug on Zossener Strasse: a comic shop with a gallery in Kreuzberg

Zossener Strasse runs between the Bergmannkiez and Mehringdamm, with the underground station Gneisenaustrasse a stone’s throw away. Grober Unfug has run a shop here for more than three decades, and among Berlin comic fans it counts as an institution. From outside you see a narrow shop window, inside the shelves reach to the ceiling, and right at the back a further room holds the real surprise. The shop has been a fixture for Berlin comic readers for decades, and the staff are known for guiding newcomers as patiently as collectors.

That back room is a gallery. Framed original drawings hang on the walls, plastic figures stand in cabinets, and one wall was painted by the spray can artist WON. As a gift for men, what goes over the counter here is comic art to hang up rather than another paperback. The pieces change regularly, so a second visit is worthwhile even if nothing suitable turned up the first time,. Framed prints and figures make good presents too, and shipping within Germany is free from a hundred euros upwards.

Manga, imports and comic originals as gift ideas from Berlin

The range centres on imports from Japan, the United States and Britain. Japanese original manga stand volume by volume on the shelves, from One Piece through Naruto and Dragon Ball to Chainsaw Man, most of them at 12.95 euros. The international archive is sorted by language and by character and protected in clear sleeves, rarities included. Titles not in stock are ordered in. The selection of North American comics is particularly strong, and current imports from the US and Britain can be reserved in advance with an order number.

Beyond that there are soundtrack CDs, DVDs, action figures, shirts and games, along with self-published fanzines and German titles such as the comics by Fil. Once a year Grober Unfug takes part in Free Comic Book Day. The anime and manga calendars the shop imports itself are especially sought after and cost between twenty and fifty-five euros depending on the design. Anyone over in Mitte will find a second branch on Torstrasse. The business is run by Torsten Alisch, Andre Henning, Magnus Weise and Christoph Wienke.