“It’s a word you never get tired of saying,” says Mary Gibbons, referring to the store’s name Rocketship, which has no reference to any comic book whatsoever. In 2006, Mary and business partner Alex Cox, opened up their Brooklyn store, which has been increasingly drawing a comic-happy crowd of avid readers, many like myself who are now enjoying the sweet post-adolescent reboot of a nerdy pastime. To quote Paul of Tarsus, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child … but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Of course Paul never read Watchmen.
Somewhere in the last several years I awoke from my own comics slumber, as all good fanboys do, and found myself walking into a store called Rocketship on Smith Street in Cobble Hill. How fitting was it that they still had the old school pharmacy sign above the front window? Rocketship was the opium-cure to my undiagnosed adulthood blues. Hooked instantly, I had suddenly returned to the oasis of imagination that comic books represent.
Rocketship evokes hipness. It comes across as a setting to some new Nick Hornby book, whereby having an elusive hobby is part of your cool – even if it is fetishistic. It’s a reminder to all you latent nerds, geeks and spaz artists that “adult” is what you make of it, perhaps one of the remaining redeeming legacies of recyclable hipster culture in this New York, U.S.A. of ours.
The setup inside is simple: shelves of new release comics, graphic novels and trade paperbacks along the walls and on tables. Books are shelved according to creator rather than title and there are just as many small print indie gems, (Scott Pilgrim and Strangers in Paradise to name a couple), as there are men-in-tights superhero comics from the big two of DC and Marvel. Browse through them all to the low hum of indie rock, which co-mingles nicely with conversations about Michael Lark artwork or whether or not Civil War was poorly executed or just poorly conceived.
Rocketship has an event calendar chock full of artist and creator appearances usually only reserved for the busy floors at comic conventions. There are also lovely bars and restaurants to read your new purchases at, once you leave the store (see our recent article on nearby Court Street for ideas). New products arrive on Wednesday. Rocketship Rocketship Rocketship.
How to get there: Rocketship is located on that most forgiving of social stretches in the outer borough’s Smith St. in Cobble Hill. The store is located between Baltic and Butler, which can be arrived at via the (F) or (G) to Bergen Street stop. Just look for the “Stride Rite” sign and you’ll find Rocketship underneath. They are open seven days a week from 11-7 Sunday and Mondays, 11-8 Tuesday and Thursday, and 11-9 Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. (208 Smith St., Brooklyn, 718-797-1348, www.rocketshipstore.blogspot.com for announcements on upcoming events.)
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram