Ace was founded in 1981 by owner and managing director Martin Averre, with the flagship Colchester store being opened in 1982. Since then, Ace has expanded to six shops around the UK and become the third biggest direct market chain in Great Britain, but still retains its independent spirit.

The pre-order service was set up in 1984 and has consistently provided customers from England to as far afield as Thailand with great, flexible service and cheap comics and graphic novels. Thanks to our great working relationship with Diamond Distribution we can order in almost any comic still in print.

We have also been trading on eBay since 2004, and continue to provide cheap comics and fast dispatch with daily stock updates, over 20,000 positive feedback ratings and a huge range of stock.

Martin Averre has become a well-known name in the comics industry, having previously been one of the organisers of the prestigious Eagle Awards, publisher and contributor for After-Image magazine, writer for Comics International, and re-launched the Comic Book Price Guide in 1989. He is still based in the Colchester store, where he overseas all aspects of the business.