A Marvel-lous new comic book shop is opening in the town centre.

The Comic Book Shop, at 70 Chestergate, will be Macclesfield’s only store dedicated to all things super - from heroes to villains and beyond.

It is being launched by dynamic duo Daniel Slater, of Chapel Street, Macclesfield, an aircraft engineer who has had a lifelong passion for comics, and his business partner Laura McCarthy, 21.

He said: “One day when I was young my dad came home with six cardboard boxes full of comics that his friend was throwing away. I opened them up and was immediately hooked. I started collecting them properly about eight years ago. X-Men has always been one of my favourites, as well as Batman and the Punisher.”

Laura is going to be in charge of running the shop while Daniel, 30, continues as an engineer, but he will be working at the store on Saturdays.

From his years of collecting Daniel has amassed about 20 boxes full of comics.

He added: “There’s probably about four or five thousand issues. I have a few that are worth a bit of money – including a New Mutant issue 98 which is the first appearance of the superhero Dead Pool that would probably sell for £250. Opening the shop is something I have always wanted to do - a dream come true.”

To celebrate the shop’s launch on February 14 it is now running a competition for school children aged between 5 to 16. All they have to do to enter is drop a picture of their favourite superhero, or one they have created, through the letterbox of the shop’s door on Chestergate along with their name, age and address by Friday, February 13.

This will placed in the shop’s window, and the winner gets £20 to spend in store and a signed comic from Macclesfield’s Marc makes comics.