A major move for myself + a light comic book release week = A very specially themed edition of Panel Discussion.
In keeping in the theme of moving and new homes, I've put together my list of the top five places in graphic literature where I wouldn't mind hanging my hat.
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1. Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum
Location 177A Bleecker Street in New York City's Greenwich Village
First appearance Strange Tales (vol. 1) #110
Why live there It's a classic M.C. Escher-interior designed-brownstone-built-over-a-Native American-burial-ground dwelling you're likely to find in any of your major urban city centers. And although it doesn't sound like it, being hell dimension adjacent does have its perks. For instance, the property is bigger on the inside than it appears from the outside. Plus, that fancy bay window on the roof keeps all the nasty spirits, spells and creatures from escaping. Those unexperienced in the mystic arts need not submit an application.
2. The Regency Hotel
Location Upper Iest
First appearance Cerebus #26
Why live there When visiting Upper Iest, might I suggest staying at the Regency and booking the Ambassador Suite. The hotel's staff will cater to your every whim, even if it includes drawing a bath and washing you or keeping your belly full of the finest foods in its larders. But watch out for the Regency Elf; rumor has it she's got a thing for whiskey.
3. The Aerie
Location 555 Eagle Plaza, Dallas
First appearance Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #184
Why live there Built in the late-1980s, this multi-storied penthouse owned by the mutant Forge would still be state of the art today. It has floating platforms on each level and holographic projectors that can either change the room decor or transform the dwelling into an entirely different environment. But more importantly, it's got a pool!
4. Danny the Street
Location Anywhere
First appearance Doom Patrol (vol. 2) #35
Why live there If you ever get the chance to live on a transvestite street that can teleport anywhere in the entire world, you say yes.
5. Peter Parker's apartment
Location Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan
First appearance Amazing Spider-Man #139
Why live there This is my nostalgia coming through. When I was in elementary school, I always thought Peter Parker had the quintessential bachelor existence. He lived in a cool city, he worked for a newspaper, and he was fucking Spider-Man! In hindsight, his Manhattan apartment is far from ideal, but to 10-year-old Joe, it was the shit. For only $110 a month, you got three-and-a-half rooms and a skylight (great for sneaking out unnoticed in your superhero identity). And did I mention his nude sun-bathing neighbors?
Honorable mentions
- Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters (Uncanny X-Men) I don't care if I would need to be part of a feared-and-hunted minority. I wanted a room next to Kitty Pryde … just like every other 13-year-old comics geek in the '80s.
- Costigan Manor West (Love and Rockets) H.R. Costigan always throws the best parties. And Penny Century, his wife, wears clothes at only 5 percent of them and has sex with the guests at all of them.
- Dream's Castle (Sandman) I'm such a nerd the only reason I'd want to live at the heart of the Dreaming is for unlimited access to Lucien's library of every book that's ever been and never has been written.
Dishonorable mentions
- Wayne Manor (Batman) It sounds cool at first, but you know Batman and Alfred will never let you play with any of the cool stuff.
- The Baxter Building (Fantastic Four) Do you know how many times this building gets attacked/blown up? Plus, Reed Richards will never let you play with any of the cool stuff.
