Comic collecting for 65 years: The ‘fairly passionate’ Napier man whose house has become a shrine to pop culture

Napier man Geoff Harrison has been collecting comics for more than 65 years. Photo / Mitchell Hageman

When you first meet Napier retiree Geoff Harrison, it’s abundantly clear you’re speaking with someone who lives and breathes pop culture.

He’s Napier’s very own Captain Comic, a man whose house is stacked with what could be thousands of stories from days gone by, all with their unique history and place in the cultural zeitgeist.

“The funny thing is when some people come in here, they think it’s like The Twilight Zone. It’s like they are in a different period,” Harrison laughed.

From Dick Tracy to Deadpool and Mad Max to Marvel, stepping into Harrison’s captivating comic cave is a sight to behold. It’s a living record of Harrison’s 65-plus years of dedication and passion.

“I was born in 1946, and by 1956, when I was 10, I was into it. I started reading comics and it never ended,” the 77-year-old said.

“Back in the 50s, there was no TV, so you only had the movies, books or comics. Comics were a big thing at school and we would swap them.”

A leak in his shed meant Geoff Harrison had to store his prized comics throughout his home. Photo / Mitchell Hageman

Not only has he kept comics from his childhood, but he’s obtained some dating back two centuries.

“I think my earliest is my Comic Cuts, which is 1897. Then we’ve got Charlie Chaplin in 1919. There’s a fair bit of history here.”

Harrison says the crux of his passion stems from his love of the art and the tactile nature of the art form.

“It’s not the money for me; it’s the art and the feel of the things. Some care about the money, but that’s life.”

He’s done everything from swapping comics with Germans to even sourcing a South African issue of Spider-Man. Road trips with his wife and friend in the 70s were plentiful, and he is still buying stuff on Trade Me and elsewhere online.

“I’d often find some really nice stuff in second-hand shops, which are fast disappearing now. I think the most I’ve paid for a single comic is $140. Sometimes, you’ll get some really great ones for $10.”

There’s also a special slice of Kiwi history among the myriad international icons like DC and Marvel.

“New Zealand used to have a comic industry. My earliest is 1937, but they went through right into the 60s, like The Phantom, which was printed in Wellington.”

Harrison’s house wasn’t always piled as high with comics as it is today. Many of them were previously in his back shed, which sprung an unfortunate leak, putting many of the fragile pages at risk.

“I just had to try and save the stuff,” he said.

“I’m just trying to preserve them for as long as I can ... I’ve sold some to the National Library in Wellington, but getting them to agree and get the deal done took about four months.”

The comics potentially have a shelf life as Harrison, who has been retired for 12 years, said his son had occasionally threatened to dump them when he died.

Inside Geoff Harrison's incredible cave of comic wonders. Photo / Mitchell Hageman

But while he’s still alive? No chance.

“I’m fairly passionate. Hobbies keep you going,” he said.

“I’ve got a couple of mates who just have nothing, and I just think, how do they survive?”

And in the spirit of giving, Harrison also continues to share his love of comics with the wider community.

For those interested in keeping tabs on Harrison’s latest comic insights, he’s also started the New Zealand Comics Facebook page where he details the history of a selected comic in his collection.

If you would like to see Geoff’s collection, trade with him, or just chat comics, he is available at geoffharrison971@yahoo.com.

Mitchell Hageman joined Hawke’s Bay Today in January 2023. From his Napier base, he writes regularly on social issues, arts and culture, and the community. He has a particular love of stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.