Conventions
HanuCon Announcement!
On Sunday November 22nd, 2026, from 9am-3pm, I’ll be a special guest at HanuCon, a family-friendly pop culture convention which is taking place at Chizuk Amuno Congregation in Baltimore, Maryland!
HanuCon brings together fans of comics, animation, movies, television, gaming, collectibles, cosplay, and more for an exciting day of entertainment and interactive experiences.
Designed for fans of all ages, HanuCon features celebrity guests, voice actors, artists, authors, panel discussions, autograph and photo opportunities, vendors, gaming, and hands-on activities. Whether you’re a lifelong collector, a casual fan, or introducing the next generation to your favorite fandoms, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
And it’s all happening in my hometown of Baltimore.
Here’s the official guest announcement from the folks at HanuCon:
GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT!
Arie Kaplan is coming to HanuCon 2026!
We’re thrilled to welcome USA Today bestselling author, comic book writer, screenwriter, and pop-culture historian Arie Kaplan to HanuCon on Sunday, November 22!
Arie is the author of the Hanukkah-themed graphic novel The Day I Became a Potato Pancake — a PJ Library selection for Fall 2026 and recipient of the Grinspoon Jewish Story Award.
Comic fans may also know Arie as the author of From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books, an acclaimed exploration of the incredible Jewish history behind the comic book industry. His writing credits span some of pop culture’s biggest names, including Star Wars, MAD Magazine, Archie, Looney Tunes, Batman, The Simpsons, LEGO Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and more!
And yes, Swifties — he’s also the bestselling author of 96 Facts About Taylor Swift.
A Baltimore native, Arie is coming home for HanuCon — and we can’t wait to welcome him!
Sunday, November 22, 2026
Chizuk Amuno Congregation & Schools
Tickets and more HanuCon guest announcements coming soon!
For more info, check out the HanuCon page on the Chizuk Amuno site.
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.
Here’s My 2024 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, one of which I’m moderating, and one of which I’m not. Here’s the pertinent info for both:
On Friday, July 26th at 7:00pm, in Room 29AB, I’ll be moderating the “Epic Myths and Legends” panel. You see, I wrote an upcoming nonfiction book called The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends, and like the book, this panel will be all about the influence that ancient mythology had on modern-day pop culture. Here’s the official description of the event from the SDCC site:
The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends is a forthcoming nonfiction book by Arie Kaplan that details the influence of classic stories on contemporary pop culture. Without these myths, many of the most beloved fictional universes— everything from the Marvel and DC superheroes to Star Wars and Lord of the Rings—wouldn’t exist. Moderator Arie Kaplan (Frankie and the Dragon, LEGO Star Wars: The Official Stormtrooper Training Manual) and panelists Jonita Davis (The Black Cape, We Gon’ Be Black Today: Exploration of Black Nerd Culture), Mark Hoffmeier (Legend Quest: Masters of Myth, Avengers Assemble), and Jesse J. Holland (Black Panther: Who Is the Black Panther?, Star Wars: The Force Awakens—Finn’s Story) will discuss the influence these ancient myths have had on Hollywood blockbusters and comic book worldbuilding.
More info on the “Epic Myths” panel HERE.
And the second panel – the one I’m not moderating – is called “Neurotic Superheroes Across the Multiverses,” and it’s happening on Sunday July 28th at 2:30pm in Room 29CD. It’s moderated by Travis Langley and Danny Fingeroth. Here’s the official description of the event:
Dr. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology; Spider-Man Psychology) and Danny Fingeroth (author, Superman on the Couch; editor, Spider-Man) lead this lively discussion of superhuman angst, guilt, suffering, and pain: Is Spidey the most neurotic superhero? Did Wolverine, Deadpool, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, or another take the title? Or has Batman topped the list all along? For a comparison of how superhero neuroses have manifested over the years, across multiverses, and between different media depictions, join Gerry Conway (Amazing Spider-Man; Detective Comics), Deric A. Hughes (Arrow; The Flash), Natasha Lee (Insomniac Games), Arie Kaplan (From Krakow to Krypton), Justine Mastin (Blue Box Counseling; Starship Therapise), and maybe a surprise multiverse wrecker. Could the most neurotic superhero be the most human of them all?
More info on the “Neurotic Superheroes” panel HERE.
Who will end up being the most neurotic superhero? Will it be…ME? I mean, I can hope, right? Speaking of which: I hope to see you at both of these pulse-pounding panels! (See what I did there?)