Minotaur

this is nerd heaven but a pain in the butt if you hate stairs. We spent ages in there and didnt want to leave.

Cool little store,
Enjoyed my time there. Wide selection of Comics, DVD’s and more. Worth seeing!

Pre-​Dawn of the Nerd where Geek-​chic became a thing there were comic book stores who sold all sorts of merchandise and imported DVD that were simply impossible to source any other way and from when I lived in Melbourne Minotaur was a legend.
Much has changed in recent years with the general population coming to accept and even somewhat embrace comicon and cosplay and he like; however it’s good to see that the people who helped feed the audience still in business.
The shelves are still packed with all manner of DVD though today many more are local (and cheaper for it), they have many back issues or volumised editions, and of course the obligatory novelties and action figures.
Go and enjoy how these items should be experienced today!!!

I remember fondly as a kid coming into town to the Bourke St iteration of this store every weekend, spending all my monies on comics, widescreen VHS movies, action figures and other geeky knick-​knacks that were impossible to find anywhere else.
…then: the Internet.
Finding out how big the mark-​up was versus ordering online made me kind of feel like they had held geekdom at ransom for a while there. It’s not quite that bad anymore, of course, it can’t afford to be. They had to somewhat meet in the middle, although it’s still far from cheap overall.
Still, I love having an occasional wander/​wonder through Minotaur. There’s the occasional nice discounted graphic novel too, and a collection of back-​issues that are mostly $ 2 each for those like me who just want the odd small hit of nostalgia. For others big into their comics, I can see the appeal of perusing the new release single issue wall and salivating at all in front of you, which is a sensation that can’t quite be replicated online.

Okay, they call themselves the pop-​culture specialists but I would probably suggest that they are more the geek-​culture specialists because if you, like me, are a geek then there is pretty much everything that you would want in here from comic books to cult DVDs to a bookshelves crammed full of science-​fiction novels from almost every author imaginable. They also have a separate bookshelf dedicated to Nebula award winners (though that is not always a guarantee of a good book). Okay, you won’t find roleplaying merchandies or collectable card games here (though I could be wrong because this place pretty much has everything else and I still haven’t managed to explore every little nook and cranny), however if you are looking for anything related to Doctor Who — they have it. Game of thrones? Tick. Classic Hong Kong cinema — yep, they have that as well. The Simpsons? Well, yes, they also have that. Oh, did I mention the comic books? Actually I did, but if you like wasting your time trawling through boxes of comic books looking for ones that are yet to be a part of you collection, well, you can do that as well. All I can say is that I love this place because I know that if I want something real geeky, well I can find it in here.

Giant pop culture store! A great place to find gifts or collector items related to the pop culture clique of your choice. However, keep in mind that prices are premium here and that you might be able to find things for quite a bit cheaper elsewhere.

It has been a while since I was last at Minotaur.
The staff are knowledgable on all things DVD, Animé & Comic Books.
You can easily get lost in amongst all of the various shelves and can loose and hour or so just looking through the variety of collectables such as spiderman, groot, dr who to name a few.

Overpriced and unfriendly!
The staff were almost always rude and condescending to me, regardless of what I was doing there. Total elitist agenda, you’d better know your stuff before going in if you don’t want to be treated like crap.
Once, a male staff member asked me if I «even have a DVD player» when inquiring about a particular DVD.
Another time while waiting at the counter to be served, a male staff member totally ignored me and instead served the guy waiting behind me, because he’d seen him at a recent con and wanted to praise him. Apparently he was a more important customer than me.
I took a lot of shit from the staff there before I came to my senses and started going somewhere else.
There are more welcoming and better priced alternatives. This shop is just lucky to be so close to Flinders street.

As described in my «tip», Minotaur is truly a geek, otaku, manga, and comic book lover’s paradise! A huge range of the latest and classic reads are available and there is also a selection of relevant collectables and memorabilia available too. DVDs are also available.
Customer service is okay, not fantabulous but not bad either.
Borders (bookstore) no longer exists in my local area but I call this place the Borders of geeky things! So if you’re into the above things you will really enjoy browsing here. The only downside is that things can be a bit pricey compared to online so if wanting to buy an entire series or collection of something you may prefer to shop elsewhere.

Everything (well, almost) you could want about pop-​culture is here
tv shows, mangas, movies, music, comics… you just have to get lost into it and find some things you’ll never need but you will absolutely want.
Being a backpacker is pretty difficult for someone like me in a shop like this, because I wanna buy so much. and I just can’t.
However, sometimes the prices can get a little crazy, so beware.
As an horror movie fan, I still have to find the perfect store, which is not this one, but anyway, even if you don’t buy anything, you’ll find something which will make you say «aaawwwww !!!»
… and you’ll buy it.

I love Minotaur and have been visiting them for years, since they were located on Bourke St. The selection on offer here is insanely huge and these days I spend more time here than money.
Most of the stuff here you can find somewhere else cheaper (try All Star Comics on Lonsdale) but if it’s pop culture you’re after, Minotaur should definitely be your first stop.

Minotaur is the place to find countless items of movie
paraphernalia, collect-​ables, and of course many, many DVD films themselves.
It moved to Elizabeth street sometime ago, but used to be located elsewhere.
It features a back wall of new comics; emerging titles and new editions of
existing classics. There’s quite a lot here, but it depends on what you’re
looking for. There’s also rare and odd items scuttled about the place.
Take the escalator ride down.

Sensory overload.
There’s a lot to be said about Minotaur, more than can be expected from a quick Unilocal review, but I’ll do my best. I came through Melbourne on a recent trip to Australia and decided to see what the local comic shops were like. I had a great experience at Comics ‘R’ Us, which recommended I check out Minotaur when they didn’t have what I was looking for.
Minotaur was just around the corner and, unfortunately, in the process of closing for the day when I stopped by. Watching the stream of people leaving at the end of business, it was like a club letting out. I made a note to come back the next day.
Sure enough, it’s a great shop. It’s down below street level, and it’s a really large space filled with a MASSIVE amount of pop-​culture paraphernalia. The space is extremely full and extremely well organized, with different areas set aside for Dr. Who products, Manga, Comics, etc… each with an impressively comprehensive selection.
The only problem is that there might actually be too much. Like I said at the top, sensory overload. The selection is so huge that it’s actually a little overwhelming, and finding what you’re looking for is daunting. It’s definitely a good problem to have — better to have too big of a selection than too small, but it’s still a little daunting. I also wish there was a little more of a staff presence — when I went to the desk to ask for help, I was met with friendly assistance –but I noticed a few people wandering though the comic section looking lost and asking other patrons for help and recommendations.
If you’re in Melbourne, I highly recommend stopping by Minotaur, even if it’s only for the eye-​candy.

This place is an institution.
If you like pop culture then get your cape on and come underground. This is heaven.
Heaps of toys, comics, DVD’s, books, manga and graphic novels to ensure that your skin will stay pasty for weeks. You won’t need to go outside with all the wonderful treasures you’ll end up buying.
They also have the largest Dr Who section I’ve ever seen as well as a great comedy section; I bought a book which I was really close to ordering from the USA because no one seemed to have it. Plus, they had a Soprano Family Cookbook AND a Dexter doll that came with his own knife and garbage bag.
You could lose hours in here, it’s huge and it’s utterly filled with glorious pop-​culture goodies.
Years ago, this place introduced me to Chris Ware and so it’s held a very special place inside my heart ever since.
Minotaur is the shiz.

I have a friend who is a closet nerd. Closet because he doesn’t wear glasses, he dresses well, he has lots of friends, he’s very good looking, but when once he’s at Minotour it’s almost impossible to pry him out. It’s like a vacuum of socially acceptable behaviour.
Coming from a non-​nerd, Minotour is a pretty ‘cool’ place. It’s full of pop culture merchandize, like figurines, posters, DVDs, books, the works really. It’s also a great place for rare finds, but all that is lost on me.
Minotour is a den for the most closeted of nerds. When you step in, you somehow feel seedier than a patron at an adult bookstore. If you’re a nerd and you haven’t yet accepted it, you can find solace here.

Holding possibly the most expensive plastic in Melbourne, Minotaur is like a toy store for grownups. If you want overpriced Dr Who merchandise or a posed Megatron statue, Minotaur’s the place to go. It’s also not bad for comic books and fantasy novels or for black t-​shirts with various things printed on them.
Thing is, though, pretty much anything you can get at Minotaur you can get cheaper somewhere else. And their range, while specialised, is also a little dull. It’s what you’d expect, and nothing you wouldn’t.

I can’t say that I’m an aficionado of comic books. I like pretty pictures. I like the concept of witty dialogue between fictional characters (not to mention real characters). But here you are bound to find something for the little comic book fan in all of us.
The purple sign doesn’t let on what’s going on and you have to go down the stair and pass that strange caricature statue of a minotaur before the amass of printed bits hits you.
Kind of cut into categories — comics, books, toys, costumes, etc. — I found it better to simply start at one end and work my way through to the back. There’s several themes — The Simpsons, anything Tim Burton did, Tank Girl i think — so if this doesn’t tickle your fancy it’s easy enough to pass by.
The bestest best bit ever? They don’t stop you from reading comics.
Respect the product and the place, I wouldn’t spend more than an hour doing it but you can flick through the latest editions to catch up on what’s been happening with Superman since the movies (so much!) and more without a shopkeeper all up in your grill expecting you to pay for to something.
That said, it’d be a bit harsh to not pick up some affordable wares from this place. Their art book collection of comic book artists is second to none in Melbourne. Amazing town all round

Most people who are into comic books, graphic novels, manga, animé, sci-​fi, and everything else considered to be geeky and/​or nerdy would already know this. But for many of you who don’t:
Minotaur is pretty expensive.
Though prices have come down a lot over the years, in many cases it’s still cheaper to find your stuff elsewhere or even have it shipped in from overseas. That’s only if you can be bothered waiting for the item or doing the research and leg work. Otherwise just pay the extra cash and get your stuff now from Minotaur.

Having never been especially interested in reading comic books, other than a brief obsession with Tin Tin when I was 10 (although I have been informed that they are actually graphic novels), much of what Minotaur offers is lost on me.
I do, however, very much appreciate the many many shelves of licensed Dr Who and Star Trek memorabilia, and being able to find complete seasons of the obscure sci-​fi shows I like to watch without having to order them in from overseas and then waiting a good 10 years for them to arrive.
I think sometimes the prices are a bit much. Shipping can’t add that much to a price, can it? So I suspect the store is cashing in on the desperation we geeks sometimes have to get our 10^th Doctor sonic screwdrivers before the ABC shop stocks them.

I really enjoyed coming to this place. Right across the street of Flinders Station, Minotaur prides itself on being a go-​to dealer for pop-​culture products. A title well-​earned! They have absolutely everything in this store.
I’m a comic book enthusiast, so the comic book section excited me a bit. Unfortunately, the majority of their comics are wrapped in plastic so free loading in the store is out of the question (darn!). If you’re into the more Asian side of comics, they have a pretty good manga section too with all the essentials (maybe missing a lot of the obscure mangas, but Minotaur is a good place to start if you’re just getting into it). They also have a wide collection of films, posters, books, shirts, and even games and toys. There are random knick-​knacks too so it is always fun to come in and just take a look around even if you aren’t purchasing anything.
Cute things I have found: a stuffed animal of the pig TonTon from Naruto, SuperMario Brothers Mushroom Backpack, Star Trek Bobbleheads, Hello Kitty Monopoly, and multi-​coloured Domos!
2 stars off because the prices are pretty steep… but even if you aren’t purchasing anything, I would recommend you stopping by just to take a look around.