Forensic scientist realises comic book shop dream

A man who quit his career as a forensic scientist to run a comic book and trading card shop said he had not "looked back" since opening.

Harry Smy opened the store in Ipswich town centre which he said had been a lifelong dream.

Despite leaving the world of forensics, Mr Smy said he could still use his professional skills to judge the authenticity of cards and spot any fakes.

He stressed comics could offer "real value" to society with the messages they portrayed and recalled how these magazines helped him learn to read growing up.

"It's been a dream of mine for years," Mr Smy said.

"It was one of those things that sits in the back of your head and you go, 'No, I need to do what's expected of me and do the professional thing and have a career', and I did.

"Then life happened, and you re-evaluated. I wanted to build something and enjoy it at the same time - I haven't looked back."

Mr Smy said originally it had been crime shows that had interested him into a forensics career.

He said he had now "repurposed" his skills into to his new career.

"I still do investigating, finding out the authenticity of a signature, whether cards are real or if they've been faked and unfortunately there are some very good fakes on the market," he continued.

"We're talking cards that are potentially worth a couple of hundred or thousand and some of them you cannot tell the difference between the actual and the fakes."

Mr Smy felt comics and trading cards could be something for anyone to enjoy, no matter their age.

He said they brought joy, while comic book storylines often tackled real-world issues.

"I originally learnt to read from comics," he added.

"Some people think they are frivolous and just for fun or they're for kids, but they offer real value to society as well."

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