Banja Luka Comic Shop: A Reminder of Childhood
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Mister No is a New Yorker, a World War II veteran, and a pilot who, in the late 1950s, leaves everything behind to seek a different life in South America - settling in the Brazilian town of Manaus. He is a man running from the pressures of modern life, a charming drifter who skillfully avoids the trap of marriage. However, “Mister No” is also the name of a comic shop in Banja Luka, which was recently opened in the Nova Varoš neighborhood.
Editor’s note: This article is part of the HEDONIST archive and was originally published in 2021, in the sixth issue of the print edition.
A Place for the Ninth Art
For lovers of the ninth art, this comic shop offers a vast selection of comic books and magazines. Beyond buying and selling, it is designed as a space for exchange - where visitors can trade their own copies and share their passion.
On its shelves, you’ll find cult classics such as Alan Ford, Zagor, Blek, and Mister No, alongside newer titles like Batman, Spider-Man, and Daredevil.
Very quickly, “Mister No” became a gathering place for comic enthusiasts - both those who grew up with these stories and younger generations just discovering the magic of comics.
Behind it all is Dragan Glušica, who decided to open the shop purely out of love for this form of art.
From Passion to Community
As someone who grew up reading comics, Dragan created “Mister No” to give fellow enthusiasts in Banja Luka a place where they could fully immerse themselves in the world of graphic storytelling.
The shop offers thousands of issues, but more importantly, it offers a sense of belonging.
Dragan’s friend Zoran Mandić, who also works at the shop, shares the same passion. According to him, once you fall in love with comics, you stay loyal to them for life.
For him, working in the shop is the perfect blend of pleasure and purpose.
“Our initial idea was to create a space where comic lovers could finally have a place of their own,” Zoran says. “We also wanted to bring comics back from the brink of fading away - to reconnect those who once loved them and introduce younger generations to reading comics.”
Growing Up with Heroes
As it turns out, Banja Luka has far more comic lovers than one might expect.
For many, that love begins in childhood - through characters like Zagor, Captain Miki, or Blek, with whom generations learned how to read.
“Later came Tex Willer, and then Dylan Dog, Mister No, and Alan Ford - characters that stayed with us forever,” Zoran explains. “That was our way of growing up.”
Today, comics have evolved even further.
“We now have editions so well written that they feel like film scripts turned into graphic form. New heroes have emerged, more complex stories - and today, everyone can find something for themselves in comics.”
More Than a Shop
One of the key motivations behind opening this comic shop was also to inspire younger generations - to encourage them to read, to step away from screens, and to embrace the values that comic heroes often represent.
That is why the team plans to introduce a comic drawing school for children, an idea postponed due to the pandemic.
“And I have to emphasize - this is not a typical store,” Zoran adds. “This is a place for meeting people, exchanging comics, talking, and relaxing.”
Visitors can browse and read comics over a cup of coffee, sell or trade their own collections, and explore various items connected to comic culture - from T-shirts to collectibles.
Rare Finds and Collector’s Pride
Among the shop’s prized items are a Jason Voorhees mask and a Funko Pop figure signed by Ari Lehman, the actor who portrayed the iconic villain in the cult horror film Friday the 13th.
Alongside these collectibles, the shop also houses several rare and valuable comic editions - true treasures for dedicated fans.
- Written by Milovan Matić / HEDONIST
- Originally published in HEDONIST Magazine, Issue 06, 2021
