What a week to be a PANELGEEK in New York!

I hit Midtown Comics this wednesday to check the latest releases and was elated to see that the latest Astonishing X-men was on the shelves. Astonishing X-men is, as far as I’m concerned the only X-men comic worth reading these days, turning away from the depressing M-Day phenomenom (in which most of the mutant universe woke up one morning with no powers, making mutants an endagered species) and follows up on the staggeringly brilliant run on “New X-Men” written by the incomparable Grant Morrison (whom I worship as one of the greatest writers of the Modern Comic Age)

The Astonishing team is made up of Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, Emma Frost, Shadowcat, Collosus, and a handful of “Xavier Institute” students, some of which are on their way toward graduating into bona fide X-men.

The main selling point on Astonishing X-men is it’s new writer: Joss Whedon, of Buffy fame (a demi-god of geekdom in his own, very earned rite.) Drawn by the very realistic and emotionally expressive John Cassaday,

Whedon applies his snarky dialouge we’ve of course seen in his TV work to characters we already have known and loved for years. Also, in traditional Buffy fashion he juxtaposes awkward romantic and sexual situations alongside life-and-death situations with blissful hillarity.

The current AXM storyline is a little weak. It involves an off-world trip to a warrior planet and the issue this weak seemed mostly like filler leading up to the grand finale. Whedon’s tenure at AXM was from the beginning, understood to be temporary, and so grabbing one (0r all!) of his AXM TPBs (Gifted, Dangerous and Torn) would be a good buy. Dangerous was my favorite.

In other news, it’s Spider-Man in New York Week! Of course with the premier of the 3rd instalment of the phenomenally successful Spider-Man franchise hitting theaters tomorrow, NYC & Company, the city’s tourism bureau has all sorts of special promotions related in some way (and in some cases very loosely) to the ultimate Web-head of New York.

Spider-man has always been an essentially New York character for a number of reasons, the most obvious of which being his webslinging between buildings. Spidey thrives on skyscrapers, and in many ways, I believe he derives much of his spiritual energy from the ambitious vibe that exudes from the man-made towers of glass and steel all over our fine city. Come on, can you imagine trying to web-sling across Montana?

Combine that with his perpetual level of stress, and the endless wisecracks coming from behind that mask, and you get the ultimate New York Super-Hero. Too bad Tobey Maguire has that perpetual head-in-the-clouds doofus/douche-bag look on his face, and couldn’t wise-crack with a Queen’s accent if his life depended on it! (which Spidey’s often does.). . . Sorry, I never thought Maguire made a good Peter Parker. I lke the movies, but hate Maguire.

Next week I’ll write a little something about some of the SM in NY stuff, but in the meantime, be SURE to hit the comic shops this upcoming Saturday for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!! The first Saturday in May you can load up on free comics! PERFECT for someone who wants to get into the wonderful word of comics.

This is all leading up to the first PANELGEEK meeting and discussion group at the Bowery Poetry Club downstairs room (retitled: The PanelCave) This upcoming Thurday May 10th at 5pm.

See you there! And bring your favorite books!