Posted in: Comics | Tagged: forbidden planet, Jim Hamilton, rip

Jim Hamilton Of Forbidden Planet Has Died, Aged 67

Jim Hamilton of Forbidden Planet International and Forbidden Planet Glasgow died yesterday, at the age of 67

The word reached Bleeding Cool last night that James Hamilton – or Jim Hamilton – of Forbidden Planet International and Forbidden Planet Glasgow passed away yesterday after suffering a heart attack, at the age of 67. The sad news was confirmed this morning by the store. Jim Hamilton and Kenny Penman were owners of one of the UK's oldest comics and SF stores, Science Fiction Bookshop, in Edinburgh, which opened under previous owners in 1975, and which they bought in 1985. The first Forbidden Planet, founded by Nick Landau, Mike Lake, and Mike Luckman, began life in 1978 as a small store on Denmark Street, cheek by jowl to the Sex Pistols' location, before opening a second store and then relocating to larger premises. The original partners then paired with Hamilton and Penman to open other stores around the country, expanding Forbidden Planet out and making it the first British proper chain of stores. In 1992 and 1993, the original chain split into two firms, known as Forbidden Planet and Forbidden Planet Scotland, later renamed Forbidden Planet International. That team included Mike Lake, Kenny Penman, Jim Hamilton, with additions of Andrew Oddie, Richard Boxall, and Colin Campbell. And Jim Hamilton had remained prominent since, especially in the running and recent relaunch of Forbidden Planet Glasgow, recruiting his old friend Frank Quitely to design artwork for the store.

His business partner of over forty years, Kenny Penman, wrote to staff, "I'm very sad to have to let you know that my partner and fellow founder of the company, Jim Hamilton, passed away on Sunday.  Both Jim and I came from pretty ordinary working class backgrounds, and despite not coming from wealthy families both had happy childhoods a big part of which was the escapism of the cheapest form of entertainment going – comics. It was our first passion, and for both of us, it never waned as we grew Forbidden Planet from one little shop on the backstreets of Edinburgh. We were a partnership; I had perhaps more of a business head, but Jim knew comics like no one else, and he was always the one guiding the product mix. He loved trading cards, action figures, statues – anything embodying the sci-fi and comic worlds, which led us very early on to be a lot more than a comic shop. I, on the other hand, never really got toys and was an out and out Jack Kirby comics head – so even there Jim was the one who opened my eyes to Love & Rockets, RAW, Manara, Chester Brown, Seth, Craig Thompson, Ashley Wood, Hugo Pratt, Underground comics and so many other great creators I might have missed out on.  Jim's greatest comics love was, of course, Batman – as you who knew him will know – and he had an amazing collection of comics, books and merchandise dedicated to the Caped Crusader. He also counted Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly as close friends, and in long Friday chinwag sessions in the basement of the old FP store on Buchanan St, he discussed some of their greatest comics with them as they developed or honed their ideas. He would be too modest to have said, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of his input ended up in some of their works. When we started out, our ambition was that Science Fiction Bookshop would be the shop Jim, as a fan and collector, wanted to shop in. We worked hard to achieve that over the years, and I know he was very proud of the amazing shop that is our Glasgow store. There were always new things to be doing, but I think he felt we had nearly achieved what he set out to do, and more, by bringing all sorts of new fans into the fold, with the Sauchiehall St branch. If there was one thing we can all do to remember Jim, I think he would be more than happy if, by our love and application, we finally perfected his vision."

Co-founder of Forbidden Planet, Titan Distribution, Titan Books and Titan Comics, Nick Landau told me, "I am so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. He was a gentleman and an excellent retailer who cared deeply about his customers and the stores he looked after. He was an exceptional partner in the stores we owned together until 1993 – and I offer my deepest condolences to his family".

There were always business controversies, as the organisation of Forbidden Planet got more complex. But I've been going back through some old emails with the man, discussing and debating another of his best friends Grant Morrison and his work in Batman and Final Crisis, the popularity of The Umbrella Academy, and issues with Free Comic Book Day. He remained throughout a massive fan of all this stuff, and he will be missed, by friends, family and customers.

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