New York City is the birthplace of the comic book, and I’m pleased as punch to announce that Forbidden Planet’s sponsoring a series of walking tours in which you can experience the medium’s rich history firsthand. The folks over at ETC Custom Events are offering the following sojourns, titled “New York is Comic Book Country.” There’s an email address at the end of this article. Reach out to them if you’re interested in any or all of these fascinating tours.
It Started on Yancy Street
Ranging from the birthplace and childhood neighborhood of “King of Comics” Jack Kirby — co-creator of Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and scores more — to the laboratory of Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2, this tour through the Lower East Side and Greenwich Village shows guests a veritable history of comic-book lore in New York. You’ll see Peter Parker’s pad in Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, the site of Dr. Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, the original home of both All-American Comics (where the Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and the Justice Society of America all began) and EC (Tales from the Crypt, Mad), the campus of Marvel’s “Empire State University” and much more. The tour ends at Forbidden Planet, the be-all and end-all of comic books, graphic novels and comics collectibles. We’ve got some surprises in store (pun intended), both along the way and at the final stop. This is a great one for all comics True Believers.
Look — Up in the Sky!
The amazing lobby of the skyscraper where Timely (later Marvel) Comics began sets the stage for our midtown Manhattan tour, which takes sightseers to such venues as the W.R. Grace building (site of the Silver Surfer’s flight from the Human Torch in Fantastic Four: Rise of the SilverSurfer), the lair of Superman’s Lex Luther below Grand Central Terminal, and the home of the famed Daily Planet. Along the way, you’ll peek into Midtown Comics, see the sites of the Baxter Building and the Stark Tower (film version), and maybe even hang out right where the Avengers staged an epic battle. We’ll see where DC Comics got started and where the original Captain Marvel (Shazam), Human Torch and Sub-Mariner were born — not to mention Superman and Batman. Bank on a few surprise extras and a bunch more stops en route. Want even more? For the true devotee (or those with extra-sturdy sneakers) this one has several optional stops — ask us about them.
Avengers Assemble!
Stan Lee’s inspiration for the Avengers Mansion came from a real mansion right here in New York, and it’s the first stop on our uptown comic-book themed tour. Learn about the current headquarters of Marvel (you’ll even pop into a Marvel staff hangout). You’ll pass the former homes of two comics superstars, mosey on over to the site of Stark Tower (which might now be under construction), wander by the art studio of a brilliant but reclusive comics legend, and see other cool stuff as you explore the comic-book world here in NY. Ask us about a special add-on: A visit to MoCCA (the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art) for a brief tour.
All tours available Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Feeling devil-may-care and spontaneous? Email us about our next-day tours, Thursday-Monday: Book a tour the following day for a 10-percent discount. Email us: eventsbyetc@gmail.com for info and to book a tour!
