Arie
Here’s My 2026 San Diego Comic Con Schedule!
Are you going to the San Diego Comic Con next week? If so, you can see me on two different panels, both of which are moderated by Danny Fingeroth. Here’s the pertinent info for both of them:
On Saturday July 25th, 2026 at 1:00pm in Room 23ABC, I’ll be appearing on a panel called “Will Eisner’s New York.”
Here’s an official description of the event, as well as a list of all the panelists:
No one portrayed New York City like Will Eisner. His hometown-inspired works include Will Eisner’s New York, The Building, City People Notebook, and Invisible People. He showcased New York City—disguised as Central City—in his classic comic series The Spirit. New York City is also a backdrop in many of his graphic novels, including A Contract with God and Dropsie Avenue. Moderator Danny Fingeroth (Will Eisner Studios) and Eisner experts Frank Miller (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), Paul Levitz (Will Eisner: Champion of the Graphic Novel), Jeff Smith (RASL, Bone), Charles Kochman (Abrams ComicArts), and Arie Kaplan (From Krakow to Krypton) reflect on the powerful relationship between the artist and his city.
For more information, click HERE.
And on Sunday July 26th, 2026 at 11:00am in Room 4, I’ll be appearing on a panel called “Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor at 50.”
Here’s an official description of that event, as well as a list of all the panelists:
Harvey Pekar (1939–2010) created and wrote American Splendor comics, which debuted 50 years ago in 1976. American Splendor also inspired a branch of memoir comics and the 2003 American Splendor film. Joyce Brabner (1952–2024), Pekar’s wife and creative partner, collaborated on American Splendor, along with artists including R. Crumb, Gary Dumm, Frank Stack, Joe Zabel, Joseph Remnant, Spain Rodriguez, Dean Haspiel, and Josh Neufeld. The work influenced generations of graphic novelists. Panelists include Joe Zabel (American Splendor artist), Peter Kuper (Insectopolis, who knew Pekar in 1970s Cleveland), Arie Kaplan (From Krakow to Krypton), Jackie Estrada (Comic-Con International, friend of Harvey’s), Andrew Kunka (USC Sumter), and moderator Danny Fingeroth (Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero).
For more information, click HERE.
“Potato Pancake” GN Selected As PJ Library Title
I’m happy to announce that my graphic novel The Day I Became a Potato Pancake has been selected as a PJ Library title, and it’s also the recipient of PJ Library’s Grinspoon Jewish Story Award (GJSA).
This means that this book has been selected for use in PJ Library’s fall 2026 lineup.
The Day I Became a Potato Pancake was written by yours truly and illustrated by the incredible Beilin Xu. It was originally published in the fall of 2024 by Behrman House, via their Apples & Honey Press imprint. The book is about two kids, Naomi and Ben, whose friendship is put to the test when Ben is transformed into a walking, talking potato pancake.
Here’s what critics have said about this book:
“This speculative, character-focused graphic novel highlights aspects of Jewish identity and culture through multiple lenses to craft a goofy yet nuanced read.”
“This is a really funny Hanukkah-themed sci-fi graphic novel for middle grade or early chapter book readers…It’s a silly read that kids will love.”
“I happily recommend this book to all readers.”
Anyway, I just want to thank Chris Barash, Tasha Flagg, and everyone else at PJ Library for this great honor. Know what? I had a wonderful time writing The Day I Became a Potato Pancake. The work is its own reward, right? But over the past two years since its initial release, it’s been really gratifying to see this graphic novel find an audience. To see critics and audiences respond to it in such a positive way. And now to have won this award, and to have had the book selected as a PJ Library title? That’s just the cherry on top. Except that I don’t like cherries. They really…I don’t know. I don’t like the way they taste. (No offense to people who like cherries.) Who started that whole deal, anyway? Putting a cherry on top of an otherwise delicious ice cream sundae. Was there a period of trial and error there? Did they first put a pickle on top of a sundae and that didn’t really gel with the taste of the ice cream? Then they tried a nectarine and they were like, “Closer, but we’re not quite there yet…” And THEN they tried a cherry? And why do we spell it “sundae,” while the day of the week is “Sunday”? I mean, it’s not like there’s a computer in my pocket which is shaped like a Pop-Tart, and which could answer that question for me in a matter of nanoseconds. Oh wait, there is! Never mind!
“96 Facts About FIFA” Featured in PW!
As you’re probably aware, the FIFA World Cup is currently taking place across the US, Mexico, and Canada. And speaking of the FIFA World Cup…
My latest “96 Facts” book, 96 Facts About FIFA, was featured in a Publishers Weekly article called “World Cup 2026: Soccer-Themed Books for Young Readers,” which you can read HERE.
96 Facts About FIFA was written by yours truly and illustrated by the incomparable Risa Rodil. It’s out now from Penguin Random House. This book is filled with fun and fantastic facts about the greatest soccer stars who’ve ever lived.
Here’s the official publisher description of 96 Facts About FIFA:
The ultimate fact book and journal about the world’s premier authority on soccer and its biggest tournaments, like the World Cup. Packed with fun facts, quick quizzes, and bonus pages for journaling, this is a must-have for anyone wanting to know more about the international governing body of soccer and some of the sport’s best players, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Mia Hamm, Marta Vieira da Silva, and Pelé.
The book is available HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Here’s a photo of a copy of 96 Facts About FIFA in a store window in Westchester, New York, surrounded by World Cup fringe scarves (as you can see). This pic was taken by a friend of mine, Belinda Smith Fallon. And right after snapping this photo, she bought a copy of the book, because she’s awesome! Thanks, Belinda!
And to see all of the other books I’ve written for Penguin Random House (even the ones that don’t have anything to do with soccer), click HERE.
