Comic-book nerds, rejoice! Thanks to a spate of comic book-themed bars, restaurants and exhibits around NYC, it’s now hip to be square. So grab your pocket protector and embrace your inner geek with these heroic happenings:
FOR COMIC-LOVING CARNIVORES
Even superheroes get hungry. And when they do, they head to Action Burger, Brooklyn’s only comic book-themed burger joint, which opened last month. With cut-up comics pasted into collages on the walls and tables, and dozens of titles from “Spider-Man” to “Archie” stacked at each table, it’s impossible to resist a comic’s four-color charm.
“When you walk into a place like this, it brings you back to your childhood and makes you remember why you got into comics,” says Williamsburg resident Vladimir Williams, 22.
“If you weren’t into comic books before, chances are you’ll pick one up here,” he adds.
Nerds can watch cartoons on a giant screen, or sink quarters into vintage Street Fighter and Rygar arcade games. Bulk up with the Action Burger ($6) off the “Villain” menu (less-healthy food), and add an order of sweet potato fries ($3, off the “Sidekicks” side menu) for a fiendishly good meal.
292 Graham Ave., Williamsburg; 718-599-4376, actionburger.com
FOR SOPHISTICATED SUPERHEROES
For some, comic art has become as respectable as anything hanging on a museum wall. Such high-minded fans can revel in the pop mastery of artist Phil Noto in his current exhibit, “35MM.”
Noto, the artist on Marvel Comics’ “Uncanny X-Force” title, brings his heroic flair to the canvas in a series of paintings inspired by his favorite films — think sleek renditions of “Planet of the Apes,” “Goldfinger” and “Blade Runner.”
“For someone not familiar with my fine-art stuff, this is an extension of the work I do on my comic covers, just taken to an extra level,” says Noto. “Someone familiar with painted comics and covers will see the similarities between this and my comic work.”
The exhibit, at the Bold Hype Gallery in Chelsea, is the perfect chance for comic aficionados to view what they usually see on the page in a different context.
547 W. 27th St.; 212-868-2322, boldhype.net. Through Nov. 10, free.
FROM COVER FOR GEEKY GAMERS
With a 3-D mural of Batman and Superman bursting out of the wall, comic-book fans will feel right at home at Gotham City Lounge. Wonder Woman posters, superhero statues and action figures — pulled from co-owner Ray Torrellas’ lifelong collection and contributions from loyal patrons — give the space an amazingly geeky vibe that puts even comic shops to shame. In fact, Torrellas originally wanted to open a comic-book store, but his wife and co-owner, Louisa Lattin, wanted to open a bar — so they compromised.
Although the watering hole has been around for several years, Torrellas says he’s seen a large upswing in his geek clientele during the past few years. “We have these hard-core comic fanatics, and they actually come in looking for someone to talk to about a specific comic book,” he says. “A few years ago, being called a nerd and a geek was not a good thing,” Torrellas adds. “But now I have people arguing about whether this is a ‘nerd bar’ or a ‘geek bar.’ ”
Torrellas accommodates his caped crusaders with activities like pool, screenings of comic book-centric movies and TV shows and other special events, such as tonight’s Halloween costume party. And make sure to brush up on your comic-book trivia — Torrellas is known to wander around the bar asking patrons questions. Answer correctly, and you win a free drink. One cocktail he recommends is the Harley Quinn ($5), a raspberry vodka, gin and lemonade cocktail named for the Joker’s top henchwoman.
1293 Myrtle Ave., Bushwick; 718-387-4182
FOR HISTORY BUFFS
To some, comics may still seem like nothing more than a piece of geek entertainment, but they actually hold an important place in America’s pop cultural history. Case in point: The Museum of Chinese in America’s exhibits exploring the impact of comic books on Chinese-American culture in the 20th and 21st centuries.
In the “Monsters and Marvels” exhibit, comics’ most prevalent archetypes of Asian-Americans display the social impact of the industry’s infamous depictions between 1942 and 1986. “People can get a sense of this secret history of comics in the United States that you can’t get anywhere else,” says curator Jeff Yang.
On the flip side, the museum showcases how current Asian-American storytellers express their identity through comic books in the accompanying “Alt.Comics” exhibit. Featuring a collection of work from the personal portfolios of renowned Asian-American comic creators such as Derek Kirk Kim and Gene Luen Yang, the exhibit offers a modern response to Asian-American portrayals found in 20th-century comics. “Whether you’re on team Marvel, team DC or team Dark Horse,” says Phil Hughs, 21, of Chinatown, “it really is an eye-opening experience.”
215 Centre St.; 212-619-4785, mocanyc.org. Through Feb. 24, $10.
NERD ALERT: IF YOU LIKE COMICS, YOU’LL LOVE THIS!
Imagine Science Film Festival
There’s more to Superman than his flying through the sky: It turns out there’s a scientific side to getting the superhero’s speediness onto the silver screen — or at least, that’s what the upcoming Imagine Science Film Festival will prove. Featuring panels, receptions and access to more than 100 movie screenings, the fest bridges the divide between art and science. Case in point: “Controlled Experiments,” a flick about how one filmmaker created a fully working movie camera out of Lego parts. “We’re trying to find ways to communicate science that avoids stereotypes about scientists,” says festival artistic director Alexis Gambis. “There’s a visual excitement about science.”
33 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn; imaginesciencefilms.com/festival. Nov. 8 to 16, $100 for an all-access pass.
