The problem with throwing new axis and allies players into G40 is that it is overly intimidating and takes excessively long.
If the group is used to games such as Risk, then moving up to 1941/1942 2nd edition is the next logical step in complexity and time.
If the group is the kind that WILL sit for hours upon hours and delve deep into strategy, then sure, G40 is a great choice.
Ultimately it depends a lot on the group involved. In my personal experience it’s usually better to take smaller steps than to jump right in with both feet into the most complex version of a game available. Smaller steps is the most likely way to keep people interested and wanting to come back for more generally speaking. Of course, again, it depends entirely on the group involved and how much they are willing to absorb all at once; and the person introducing them needs to determine that for themselves.