Photo credit: TripAdvisor.comThe Beguiling is a comic shop located in Ontario, Canada, and for decades has been a beloved staple for comic enthusiasts of all types in its home city of Toronto. Known for its extensive collection—self-proclaimed as “the largest selection of alternative, underground and avant-garde graphic story telling in the country” [source]—it has recently expanded its offerings to include an impressive selection of danmei titles you’re unlikely to find anywhere else. Rosmei and Via Lactea sit alongside series from Seven Seas Entertainment, and even hard-to-find titles from the recently closed Peach Flower House have made their way onto the shelves.
DanmeiNews visited The Beguiling in December 2024 to chat about their growing danmei collection with the staff.
The Danmei Section
DanmeiNews spoke with Christine Wong, the manga manager at The Beguiling’s main location and a passionate danmei fan. Her journey into the genre began in 2021 when Seven Seas announced its acquisition of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s trilogy of titles. After binge-watching The Untamed, she quickly dove into the novel on which it was based (Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation) and then devoured the rest of the author’s works. Her enthusiasm for danmei grew rapidly, inspiring her to champion lesser-known publishers and carve out a dedicated danmei display within the store. Her all-time favorite? The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu—a fact that might explain some familiar faces on the danmei section signage.
Christine curates the danmei section with a hand-picked selection you won’t find in big-box stores. In addition to bestsellers from Seven Seas Entertainment, the store features titles from indie publishers like Aloha Comics, Via Lactea, and the recently closed Peach Flower House. They also carry Rosmei titles, which are difficult to find in North America due to regional licensing restrictions. Most recently, they announced a partnership with Hai Tang Books, and will be stocking upcoming danmei releases from the new publisher.
The Beguiling also offers French editions of select danmei titles and can special-order works in French upon request. For zine enthusiasts, there’s a small collection of fan zines, along with a large selection of secondhand zines and doujinshi (a Japanese term for comics based on existing IP), not limited to only danmei. The store also accepts gently used zines on consignment.
Christine’s dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Danmei books are hot sellers at The Beguiling, with some titles flying off the shelves within days. For example, their stock of Rosmei titles sold out just two days after the initial availability announcement, with Coins of Destiny being the first to disappear. Some fans have even driven hours—crossing provinces and international borders—to get their hands on these coveted titles. Beyond danmei, the section includes related series that fans might enjoy, such as the Link Click manhua adaptation, the Nirvana in Fire manhua, and the KinnPorsche novels. As the danmei market grows in the West, The Beguiling is excited to grow alongside it.
With currently one of, if not the most, robust selections of English-translated danmei available through a single retailer, The Beguiling is a fantastic source of officially licensed series. For those unable to visit in person, The Beguiling also has an online shop that ships domestically and internationally, including a danmei-specific category page. Since our visit, DanmeiNews has added them as a retailer to our Book Catalog, offering direct links to purchase from their site.
About The Beguiling
Founded in 1987, The Beguiling is an independently owned Canadian store specializing in comics and graphic novels. With two locations on College Street in Toronto—The Beguiling Books & Art and Little Island Comics—it is well known for its support of indie artists and publishers from around the world. The two stores offer a diverse selection that ranges from mainstream titles to niche genres, including a vast collection of graphic novels, manga, and single-issue comics. It also frequently appears as a vendor at local conventions, such as Anime North, and has strong ties to the Toronto Comics Art Festival (TCAF). The Beguiling was awarded the Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award in 2013.
The Beguiling Books & Art
319 College Street
Toronto, ON M5T 1S2
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