The Shop: Montasy Comics
Midtown: 431 5th Ave
Perched in a second floor retail space overlooking the hustle and bustle of 5th avenue, Montasy comics is easy to miss. To gain access to this realm of nerdistry, you’ll have to locate the buzzer of an unassuming entryway next to the MedMen CBD shop and follow the anime themed signs up the stairs or elevator to the second floor. From here, your journey will take you to the bright, welcoming space of Montasy Comics. Montasy has all the new titles from the big boys of comics publishing (Marvel, DC, and Image), as well as plenty of manga and funkos for days. But this store isn’t really about the comics– the telltale tables in the back reveal to any practiced nerd that this spot is for the gamers. Pokemaniacs, Magic the Gatherers, and Yugiohmanticists will all find not only plenty of supplies, but a place and community in which to duel and trade. Their calendar has all the details for their almost daily events for card gamers. Having left my MTG days behind long ago, I stick to the comics when I hit up Montasy! Though the selection pales in comparison to the behemoth Midtown Comics 2 avenues west, I’ve always appreciated Montasy’s calm, casual vibe and friendly staff who don’t mind if you take your time to browse and hang.
What I got:
X- Men Red #3 & Immortal X-Men #2
Destiny of X has arrived! For those of y’all not caught up, the X-Men relaunched 3 years ago with the mind-expanding House of X/Powers of X mini series. To cut a long story short, X-Men good and evil put aside their differences to found the polygamous, technologically advanced, and functionally immortal mutant ethnostate of Krakoa. This ambitious reset has taken your X-faves to all kinds of crazy places! The standout of the current phase is X-Men Red, which follows some fascinating political intrigue after the mutant colonization of Mars. After a strong first two issues, issue #3 had a jaw-dropping end with one of my favorite Magneto moments in my 29 years of being a nerd. Immortal X-Men is another promising new title, each issue narrated by a different X-character involved in Krakoa’s morally ambiguous ruling body the Quiet Council. This issue following mutant messiah Hope Summers was less exciting than the previous ish centered on sassy and conniving Mr. Sinister, but I’m excited to see where this story goes, especially as the cryptic phrase “you’re a ghost” uttered throughout both issues appears to be a reference to one of my favorite John Cale songs.