The Million Year Picnic

I have been to all of the local comic stores because I have kids who are Manga fans. For such small store, it is packed with good stuff. We stop here at least once a week and are not disappointed. My middle son’s latest jam is Steven Universe and this was the only place that he was able to find the comic book in stock. The staff is very knowledgeable and are always able to answer your questions.

My favorite comic shop ever, and my first stop to find the comics I wanted for over a dozen years while I was still a Bostonian. A great selection (especially underground and erotic stuff), and one of the two owners is a great, charming knowledgeable guy!

I was wandering through Cambridge, thinking that my comics shopping had to happen at those famous Newbury stores, when I found this. It’s located in a basement and it’s tiny and fully stocked of lots of comics, but it’s breathable and clean, if you’re worried about asthma. The toys are fine but happily 90% of the location are shelves FULL of comics, the way it should be. I got everything I was looking for and spent a little fortune here, but left satisfied. The lady at the counter was very helpful and she obviously knows a lot about comics.
My only complaint is it needs more «world» comics, as the store is probably 80% American material, and the rest, stuff from the U.K. Also, sales and discounts would be awesome.

I’ve been inside every comic book store in the Boston/​Cambridge area, and Million Year Picnic is hands-​down the best one. If you’re wondering whether I’m exaggerating, I travel an hour out of my way to pick up my weekly comics here, despite living walking distance from a New England Comics and my job being around the corner from Comicopia.
If you’re going to complain about the space, let me give you the brief flip-​side. In MYP, I’ve always gotten a communal feel with employees and customers. People make recommendations to total strangers, engage in conversations about their favorite creators across the store, and it all feels normal. This happens every time I’m in there, and has for years. There’s something about an expansive store with a mile of wall space that doesn’t lend itself to the same vibe MYP always achieves, as customers keep to themselves as they’re likely too exposed. Staff can be friendly and knowledgeable at many places, but there’s no doubt customers feel more comfortable being themselves in MYP. And in an age where comic book fandom has largely migrated to message boards, that’s a perk you can’t put a dollar value on.
That being said, MYP is tied or ahead of all other local stores with their subscription policies. A great discount on everything, weekly emailed newsletter, and no questions asked when you add and drop books (which is definitely not the case with other stores). Back issue selection is definitely better than most, especially since the owner, Tony, deals a ton of Silver Age books online. He has access to even more than you can probably find in the store, all you’ve got to do is ask.
To top it all off, MYP is incredibly supportive of the local independent comics scene. I never pretend to be knowledgeable in this area, but the promotion and space they give these people is truly admirable as a fan of any art form. I literally cannot give a higher rating for business practices.

Hands-​down my favorite comic book shop, ever. The space may be kinda small, but the selection is awesome, and the customer service is super-​heroic. Seriously, the staff here is not only amazingly cool, but they’re also incredibly friendly and helpful. Infinite love for this place.

This is just a fun place to shop for comics. Not as much space as its neighbor, New England Comics (four stars), but any twinge of claustrophobia I felt was quickly dissipated by the quality of the selection and the friendliness of the gentleman behind the counter. Really fun afternoon. Thanks, MYP!

Speaking to the owner of this fine shop, I was informed this is a contender for the longest continually open comic book shop in the country. In operation since the 1970s, The Million year Picnic offers a good variety of comic products old and new.
The size of the space versus the amount of product strikes you the moment you enter the sub-​street location. A lot of that space is dedicated to current and long-​running series. But in addition to the modern and mainstream, the shop manages to maintain a decent manga section (a daunting task in our time), as well as a section for merchandise and gifts. Like the best of its kind, this shop also sets aside a part of its store to old issues – including both comics and fantasy/​sci-​fi magazines. Costs are what you’d expect in an industry seeing a resurge of interest. Don’t expect any great deals on new products, but for the casual browser looking to pick-​up something there are no over-​the-​top prices.
If there’s a failing in the store’s set-​up it’s connected to my own failure to find the book I was seeking. While this store does a good job at bridging the two concepts, many comic stores have split between those promoting only recent materials and those focused on used and older issues. The balance point has it’s advantages, and has likely allowed this store continued success in a high cost area. So while not quite a fault, I’d still like to see stores like this persist while expanding their promotion of used and reprint comics.
This is the kind of store to which you make a special trip! If you’re anywhere near Boston and haven’t visited this comic shop, do so!

Million Year Picnic has a lot in a small space. On the plus side, they have a wide variety of titles, many of which come from independent publishers. They didn’t have what I was looking for though. I couldn’t tell from the way the store was organized, but the clerk let me know when I asked. I nosed around a bit, but I found it cluttered. Because the store is in the basement, I also found it dark and claustrophobic. The parking is terrible too. You either have to get lucky and find a metered spot, or you have to pay out the nose for the parking garage.

I was looking for them, and I almost missed them. Their window display is at knee level.
I had the place to myself that morning, and the clerk treated me like a regular. Super friendly dude. He was happy to check his stock for what I was looking for.
Great selection, and huge variety packed into such a tiny space. Set up in such a way that you feel like you have room to move in.

I love this place and have dropped serious cash here. Why? Not because I’m a career comic book enthusiast on the hunt for insanely expensive collectibles, but because I come in with vague inklings of the type of books I like and the staff are more than eager to have thoughtful, deep conversations about their various titles and subsequently make considered, tailored recommendations.
I wholeheartedly recommend MYP if you love comics and want to shop local. Just be sure to enter with a budget.

The bf and I were walking by one day when we looked down and saw a whole bunch of comics from a basement window. We’ve all seen it. And Cambridge is something of a haven for comic book stores… there are more here than any other place I’ve lived at so that’s my perspective anyway. We’re both fans of graphic novels, web comics, etc. so we made plans to go visit and hang out there for a bit one Saturday.
In my head (and, ok, out loud too) I keep calling this place Midnight Picnic or Morning Picnic because I’m silly like that but now that I’ve been to the store I definitely won’t forget the name! As others have noted, it’s cosily nestled in the basement of a building on that curvy end of Mt Auburn St. The entrance isn’t obvious but it’s the glass door to the right (also the entrance to plan b and some other businesses).
Kid me would have gone gaga for this place. They have comics of all kinds. Manga, super heroes, newspaper comics, web comic compliations, and all sorts of graphic novels. There is something here for everyone. From light and fluffy to politically charged and sexually curious. I found a lot of books I had heard about floating around here and a lot of terrific new finds.
The place seems a bit disorganized, but that added more to the charm for me, especially since I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. Everything they carry is in English but they have publications from all over the world. They also have what looked to me like a vintage comic book section. I’m not big on that so I couldn’t really comment on that particular aspect of the store.
The staff is knowledgeable and while we were there, we overheard some of the conversations the guy at the register had with other customers. He came across as very helpful and you can tell that’s the kind of friendly atmosphere they want to cultivate here.
There’s a Staff Favorites and New Releases shelf. But, if you ask me, to make this store more accessible to comic bookstore beginners, they should put out short reviews and recommendations for books around the store. In other bookstores I’ve been to I’ve found that to be helpful in finding new things to read. Or you could just chat with the staff and see what they have to recommend and I’m sure you’ll walk out of there with something new to read.

This place was heavenly. Nestled underground with windows lining the sidewalk, it feels cozy and warm. The lady working was great and knew all about everything we had questions about.
She introduced me to the valkyries and even asked me to write down my Tumblr and etsy usernames so she could follow!
I simply loved this place. Wish I lived near it.

Good old-​school comics shop with a wide selection, especially of international comics and more adult fare (not talking XXX, just clearly adult-​oriented comics).
However, every time I’ve been in looking for a relatively run of the mill kids’ comic or graphic novel, they haven’t had it. Don’t come here for kids’ or tweens’ comics unless they’re into Tintin.

This little shop was such a pleasant surprised when I moved here. Not the biggest in the world, but they always have the book I am looking for and I’ve discovered a few new ones while here.
Better yet, their back issue collection seems to change more often than most shops.

Great place, great books, up to date, will have what you need, and has an unbelievable back issue collection. Both times I have been in, the employee has not been helpful, welcoming, and one man closed the store an hour early while I was browsing.

One of the best comic stores I have ever experienced, while some of the glory days (when they had two whole store spaces in the same building) may be behind it at the moment, it still does not disappoint. If you want something other or in addition to the usual super hero fare then The Million Year Picnic or Hub Comics are the place to go. This is one of the best places for the kind of underground artwork and «comix» now popular in cartoons like Adventure Time and The Regular Show or the Scott Pilgrim comics — you could find it here years before those shows ever became popular.
Parking? You had best leave the car at home or at a parking lot by a T station and take the subway and/​or bus. If you have a bike bring it in to the building to keep it safe or find a place to lock it on a pole outside.
Please see my photos of the store!

If you’ve ever wondered what being a nerd was like before being a nerd was cool, MYP is it. I’ve tried my best to make that sound like the compliment I believe it to be, but perhaps I can explain a bit more:
MYP is a comic book shop done right. Despite its location in Harvard Square, it’s more or less tucked away from the general population; not even directly accessible from the street. Its organization and layout is initially confusing, although said confusion eventually gives way to an understanding and appreciation. Its book to collectible ratio leans far more toward the former. You might find yourself holding a conversation with whoever is behind the register. It smells like paper, and eating anything off the floor may potentially net you a super power.
It’s glorious.
Many reviews have mentioned the great work the shop does towards its manga, its indies, and other obscure books you might find on the shelves. What I’d like to mention here is that while this is all true, the store’s standard back issues are no slouch either. This store’s responsible for filling a few high-​priority holes in my collection. I had Daredevil #184; MYP got me #183. I had FF #348−349; MYP got me #347 (completing the «New Fantastic Four» story). I had ¾ X-​Men vol.2 #1 cover variants, and MYP got me the Magneto one, completing the set. That’d make for a good several trips, but each of the 3 books above were acquired on the same day, and for less than I would’ve expected (the Daredevil book was the most expensive, coming in at $ 6… because apparently everyone knows who Frank Miller is now).
For long-​time comics enthusiasts, this is a must-​see if in Harvard Square. You may soon find yourself inventing reasons to head back (suggestions: there’s some new sushi shop that opened; it’s probably the Honk festival, right?; I hear Harvard’s handing out honorary doctorates today).

Love me a great old school comic shop and this place definitely fits the bill.
It’s a little dusty and bit of a tight squeeze but as I dug a little further, I was surprised to see they really cram in a TON of great comics and books, as well as a solid collection of Marvel and DC back issues. Picked up Spider-​Man #15 (the one Todd MacFarlane didn’t write, draw and ink) and the TPB of Batman: Hush.
And the staff, despite what some other reviews on here may say, were very friendly, helpful and knowledgable.
If you happen to be in Harvard Square (I was visiting from NYC) this spot is definitely worth stopping in for a peek.

I love graphic novels, and I love supporting local businesses, so this place is a pretty easy sell for me.
They have EVERYTHING (that I can think of, at least): Osamu Tezuka, tons of random titles that I see popping up on awards lists, Chew, Fables, etc. They have acres of manga, lots of weird indie stuff, and then all that superhero business of which I know and understand little.
The only problem (s) I have with this little store are:
— finding things, since it’s broadly organized by section and then the shelves are haphazardly stuffed; and
— paying full full bucks for these titles; dude, I bought two graphic novels last time (American Born Chinese and Joe Sacco’s Journalism), and I shelled out $ 50(!!) for the privilege. Argh, my eyes, my frugal eyes, it burns!!! I know I’m supposed to resist Amazon, even if its smart algorithmic search caters to my every need, both conscious and suppressed, and even if the prices are so much lower. But arrghhh, sometimes it’s hard to resist!
Nonetheless, I will resist. I consider it a local-​community-​remains-​awesome tax.

While I’m not super into comics, I use to work with them for years, so I have a pretty good sense of a good comic store. Million Year Panic has a great location and a very large selection of comics. If you’re ready to spend a lot of time here, you can probably come away with some cool stuff. The problem I saw was that the organization was a bit off. Maybe it was just the layout of the store, but the flow of each section seem very disrupted. So again, be prepared to spend some time.