Images from a New Jersey Comicon (NJ Comic Expo, Teaneck NJ)

"Some days you can't get rid of a bomb!"

The Dynamic Duo and the Jaunty Jew

Ready to take off aboard the Batcopter!

With artist and DC VP/Art Director, Mark Chiarello

Mark Chiarello, Captain Action Enterprises' Ed Catto, and cartoonist/letterer Rick Parker

And speaking of Captain Action

Writer and one-time DC Comics' production manager, Bob Rozakis

Lee Meriwether, Catwoman in the 1966 BATMAN movie, autographs the Batcopter from the same film

My pal (and collaborator) Jim Beard, editor of Sequential Arts' GOTHAM CITY 14 MILES, to which I contributed an essay

Golden Age great and DONDI creator, the inimitable Irwin Hasen

Artist and one-time DC production artist, Steve Manion, with Papercutz editor/publisher Jim Salicrup, and Una McGurk

"Rest easy, citizens!"

From the Midtown Comics Ballroom Overlooking Lexington Avenue...

I'm on the air!

Or on a podcast, courtesy of New York's Midtown Comics! I talk about Archie Comics, Captain Action, and other topics ranging from my old series Checkmate to superhero fashion. Have a listen here!


And, over on pal Rob Kelly's All In Black & White For 75¢ blog, is an interview with yours truly covering my work for Marvel's Crazy Magazine, as well as the single issue of Savage Sword of Conan I wrote.

Let Justice Be Done!

Out this week: Captain Action #5 from Moonstone Comics. In addition to featuring the continuing saga of current-day CA and an episode of Action Boy written by my pal Vito Delsante, it also contains a 6-page story starring the "classic," 1960s CA, "Captain Action Classified: The Missile of October," written by myself and illustrated by John Hebert.

Me, Lady Action, Ed Catto, Sean Ahearn, Joe Ahearn, Vito Delsante and a table full'o merch!

I did an appearance at the fabulous Jim Hanley's Universe, one of New York's premiere comic shops on 33rd Street across from the Empire State Building, last Friday to sign that issue (and anything else people wanted to bring for me to sign...and believe me, some folks dug deep and found some ancient comics for me to scrawl all over). Signing with me was the aforementioned Vito Delsante, as well as CA Enterprises muckety-mucks, Joe Ahearn and Ed Catto...and the lovely and ever-dangerous Lady Action (aka Nicky).

Me, Lady Action, and the equally dangerous Vito Delsante

A great time was had by all and a lot of Captain Action fans passed through to pick up copies of the new issue, some oh-so-cool CA merchandise (I got a Cap cap!!!), including the new coffee table book, and spend some time talking. A few old friends came by to say hello, some on purpose, others who just happened to be there on their regular weekly visit.

Team Action will be appearing next at the Brooklyn Book Festival on September 13...I'm hoping to be there with them 'cause I hate to pass up a chance to visit the old neighborhood, meet some new friends, and be surrounded by books and book lovers!

New York Comicon: Aftermath

And a fine time was had by all. I don't know how many people attended the 2009 New York Comicon at the Javits Center this weekend, but the show sold out and sometimes, it felt as though I knew just about every third person in the room. I saw tons of old friends, some of whom I haven't seen in a decade or more, and many, many more convention friends (people you see once, twice a year at comic cons but seldom anywhere else).

This year, I brought a sketchbook and came home with a few choice pieces by some of those old friends and acquaintances which, still being a fanboy deep in my heart, I just had to share. As always, click on an image to see it at a larger size.

All characters (c) respective copyright holders

JUDGE DREDD by Brian Bolland. Brian did lots and lots of covers for me during my tenure at DC Comics, including a two-year run on Wonder Woman covers, but I couldn't resist having him do a Dredd sketch. It just goes so well with my Carlos Ezquerra (co-creator of the character) Judge Dredd sketch.

CAPTAIN ACTION by John Hebert, with whom I've been doing the "Classic" Captain Action back-up stories for Moonstone Comics. Response to our efforts have been so good that we were given the go ahead to do a Captain Action Classic one-shot.

JUDGE DREDD by Anthony Williams. Anthony drew one of the story arcs in the DC Comics licensed Judge Dredd comics that I edited in the mid-90s.

SCOOBY DOO by Joe Staton. I can't count how much Joe and I have worked together over the the years (The New Doom Patrol, Legion of Super-Heroes), and, when I was editing in DC's Licensed Publishing Department, Joe was always my No. 1 go-to guy for anything in the animated style...and I continued working with him at Weekly World News and World Wrestling 'cause he's just that good, fast and reliable.

IMPULSE by Craig Rousseau. I hired Craig to replace the departing artist on Impulse, one of the handful of artists I first gave work to who went on to better things.

KID FLASH by Alex Saviuk, a commemoration of the single Kid Flash back-up story we did together about 30 years ago.

New York Comicon: See You This Weekend?

Planning on being at this weekend's New York Comic Convention at the Jacob Javits Center (February 6 - 9)? What a small world. Me too! I'll be wandering the convention on Friday and Saturday, so if you spot me, please don't be shy about coming on over and saying hello.

I'll also be moderating a panel on Friday evening at 6:00 in Room 1A17 on Superheroes in Prose, with guests Greg Rucka, Marv Wolfman, Ron Goulart and Keith RA DeCandido.

And I'll be signing copies of Captain Action #2 (and anything else you care to bring with you) at the Captain Action Booth (#1862) on Saturday at 3:00, also with Marv Wolfman. Plus, I'll likely be dropping in on the Moonstone Comics booth as well. Come on by and say hello.

Wear comfortable shoes.