Yesterday, the Facebook page of Dark Side Comics, of Chelmsford, Essex, posted the following;

TOMORROW is your last chance to pop into the store before we close! ✨✨✨ Come by, celebrate 6 INCREDIBLE years, pick yourself up a treat to help us cover the costs of closing, and party with us! We're sure there'll be a few tears… and plenty of love and hugs! See you then! 😭💖 PS. Our card machine is offline now! Please bring cash for your final trip to the Dark Side! Thank you so much 💸✨

Well, that's today. A few hours left. Adding;

It's time, folks. Lets throw an epic shop party for the last time, to celebrate your most favourite comic shop in the whole world! 🌎 ✨ Where? Dark Side Comics UK

✨ When? Saturday 28th September

✨ Time? 10am – 6pm (Although it's best to arrive between 11am – 3pm if you really want to take advantage of the most fun!) We'll have characters in-store and definitely encourage you to dress up too – Don your best outfits and celebrate the last amazing 6 years in style! We'll crack out some nibbles and free comics too, plus the irreplaceable, all-inclusive, super friendly, mega awesome atmosphere that you've come to know and love at Dark Side Comics! Come and grab yourself a treat for the last time, share in some hugs and tears, and have the best, biggest party yet. 💖🥳

The store opened in 2013 and has a good reputation for running events, workshops and signings, that might be more in keeping with a London comic book store, say. It's a damn shame.

Bleeding Cool tries to mark the passing of comics stores as well as their opening. Existing fanbases are likely to make the former more well known, but please let us know if a comic store is opening or closing in your neighbourhood. Just e-mail richjohnston@bleedingcool.com.