Anyone who regularly visits a comic book store has seen all of the other Wednesday afternooners circling the new release section, carefully perusing issues with one hand and building a small stack of chosen titles in the other. Just like the comic book industry itself, “the stack” is serious business—at least to the guy building it. This attitude most certainly shows during the unrehearsed, 60-minute “Comic Book Club” that brings hosts Alexander Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage together with comedians and industry professionals for a humorous look at comic book consumption. It’s sort of like “The McLaughlin Group,” but instead of debating campaign financing, it’s the origin of Red Tornado and analysis of promotional materials in the hopes of deciphering more of the untold mysteries of the large-scale crossover event, “One Year Later.” But the fanboy pundits themselves are the most entertaining. Tyler’s endearing mouthiness and LePage’s sardonic nature dominate the stage and play off of the guest panelists’ personalities. And just when you think the show can’t revel anymore in its geekdom, here comes an oddball musical performance featuring a banjo or a musical saw. To ensure they don’t lose you by floating into esoteric chitchat, Zalben & Co. give you the opportunity to win prizes and take part in Q&A with the mysterious Booth-Man. But seriously, it’s not their fault if you aren’t enlightened enough to understand how the resurrection of Starman has damaged his comic company’s credibility. Just be happy that someone’s finally willing to address the issues that really matter and by that, of course, I mean the ones distributed weekly by DC, Marvel and Image.
Tuesdays, PIT, 154 W. 29th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-563-7488; 9:30, $5.
