Okay fans, last week I mentioned my upcoming appearance at the Asbury Park Comic Con this weekend. Turns out it’s just one stop on what I’ve decided to call the “Paul Castiglia’s SPRINGING INTO ACTION Tri-State Tour!” You’ll have several chances to meet and greet me, and if you’re so inclined, get an autographed book or comic in the process.
Yes, it all starts at the Jersey Shore in Asbury Park, birthplace of Bud Abbott, the celebrated straight man who met more Universal Monsters than even makeup maestro Jack Pierce. I’ll be at the Asbury Park Comic Con this Saturday, March 30 from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. This will be a full-service show as I’ll be bringing all I can carry – not just my ARCHIE’S WEIRD MYSTERIES and VINCENT PRICE books but also a variety of books I’ve edited including volumes from the ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES, a variety of comics for which I’ve written stories, some SONIC THE HEDGEHOG collections featuring my tales and a new text book to which I contributed a chapter, WITH GREAT POWER.
The Asbury Park Comic Con takes place at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Boulevard in Asbury Park, New Jersey. For more information, go to http://www.asburycomiccon.com. For directions, go to http://asburyparkcomicon.com/travel#sthash.9I6nD6dE.dpuf
On April 18th I hop on back to Bridgeport, Connecticut for another BEDLAM AT THE BIJOU double-feature screening. Yes, Brian Solomon has graciously invited me back as his special guest for an inspired double-feature of the classic Rankin-Bass monster bash MAD MONSTER PARTY and a film it helped inspire, TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. We’ll talk about the films, give out cool goodies, do trivia and whatnot. I’ll also have ARCHIE’S WEIRD MYSTERIES and VINCENT PRICE books available for sale there.
The fun takes place on Thursday, April 18th starting at 7PM. The theater is located at 275 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut and you can contact them at (203) 332-3228 or info@thebijoutheatre.com for more information.
A couple days later I’m back in my home state, good ‘ol New Jersey for another SUPERHEROES FOR HOSPICE Charity Comic Book Sale. This will be another full-service show where I’ll have the works with me. As always, there will also be (long) boxes and boxes of comics for sale from all decades as well as other great comics creators on hand to autograph comics, do sketches and sell original art. Proceeds benefit Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 20th at the Barnabas Health Corporate Office, located at 95 Old Short Hills Road in West Orange (directly across the street from Saint Barnabas Medical Center). Admission is free. For more information or to make a comic book donation to Superheroes for Hospice, please contact Spiro Ballas at sballas@barnabashealth.org or 973-322-4866.
Last but certainly not least, it’s off to the Bronx, New York where once again I’m involved with KIDS COMIC CON. This year I’m mostly volunteering at the great event that caters to kids who love comics. I’ll be helping out in a variety of capacities including conducting podcast interviews on the show floor.
I’ll also be dropping by the Archie booth to sign copies of ARCHIE & FRIEND DOUBLE DIGEST #27. This issue is coming out shortly before May 11th, and while my story inside is not new, it is being given the lead-off slot. The background on this one is interesting – originally intended to kick off a 35th issue of ARCHIE’S MYSTERIES, the tale of larcenous illusions called “The Magic Is Back” ended up headlining ARCHIE & FRIENDS #85 instead, as ARCHIE’S MYSTERIES was canceled after its 34th issue. Now, a decade later the story is getting another workout (hey, my work is forever immortalized – long after I’m gone readers will be getting chuckles from my quirky trifles, and I couldn’t be happier. :)
The 2013 KIDS COMIC CON is set for May 11 at Bronx Community College, 181st Street and University Avenue, Bronx, NY from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Admission is FREE. There will be a TON of great talent at this show including Muppeteers from Sesame Street, animators, comics and children's book artists and even an archery demonstration! The theme for this year's convention is all about making the connections between real science and your favorite comic book heroes. Cool all the way around! For additional information and up-to-the-minute programming updates, please visit www.facebook.com/KidsComiCon. You can also check out the con's official site at www.kidscomiccon.com
Hoping to see some of you during my tour! In the meantime, please enjoy this encore presentation of my television appearance from a couple summers past, talking comics on the appropriately titled show, “Comic Book Conversations” hosted by Scott Golodner and co-starring David Levin. See you in the funny pages!
