AN independent comic store owner says he is looking forward to welcoming back his regular customers.

To The Batcave, which has been operating on Town Hall Street since 2010, had been forced to close last December following tier 4 restrictions but, like many other retailers, it is now preparing to reopen today.

Nas Bat, 45, owner of the store, said: “I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be nice to see all the regular customers again.

“We’re quite a specialised shop, so a lot of our customers we’ve known for a long time.

“We’ve got a lot of stock piled up because the comic industry hasn’t stopped and neither has the gaming industry, we’ve had new stuff in every week, and we’ve got a lot of new stock to get on the shelves.”

The store, which holds an annual free comic book day, had been forced to cancel this year's event due to restrictions, but remain hopeful that the tradition will be able to continue in May 2022.

Explaining the importance of comic bookstores, Mr Bat said: “The alternative is to get them online, they’re a bit more expensive and you don’t get the same atmosphere or the same buzz.

“If you’re into comics you like talking to people that are also into them as well.

“I don’t recommend comics to people to sell them, I recommend them because I think they might be interested in them and because I like them myself. If you become friends with your customers, and recommend comics to them, they’ll trust you.”

Danny Duncan, 37, who’s been shopping with To The Batcave for over three years, explained why independent stores and owners, such as Nas Bat, are so important, stating: “The shop experience is always better, you get to meet like-minded people, online is quite robotic and isolated.

“Nas is very passionate, I’ve even seen him recommend other businesses and comic places if someone’s looking for something.

“Whereas some people think ‘oh I can cash in on this’, Nas isn’t one of those guys.”

With shops and businesses able to resume their usual activities, there’s even talk of the Blackburn Wargamers making a comeback at the site.

Mr Bat added: “A lot of people have been in touch to say they can’t wait to get into socialising again."