Lectures
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.
Upcoming Virtual Lecture at The Workers Circle
On Tues April 12th, 2022 at 7pm EST, I’ll be giving a FREE virtual lecture on the history of Jews and comic books at The Workers Circle. To register for the event, click HERE.
The lecture is called “From Krakow to Krypton,” and it’s based on my critically acclaimed nonfiction book of the same name.
I’m hoping you knew that already. Did you know that already? Well, now you do.
Swamped by Croc!
Happy New Year! Hope you’re having a fantastic 2022 so far!
A few new developments I wanted to share:
Recently, I wrote a Batman children’s book called Swamped by Croc, which is out now! The book was illustrated by Francesco Legramandi and Gabriella Matta, and it was published by Penguin Random House!
Here’s the official publisher description for Swamped by Croc:
“Batman follows the criminal Croc into the dark waters of the Gotham City swamp-but will the swamp’s quicksand prove to be as deadly as his foe? Young Batman and DC Super Hero fans will love the action as their favorite super hero battles the monstrous villain in this full-color storybook that features more than 30 stickers!”
Speaking of Batman: Back in 2019, I wrote a MAD Magazine story called “What If Batman Were Actually 80 Years Old.” It was illustrated by Pete Woods. More recently, “What If Batman…” was reprinted in MAD Magazine #23 (the Batman-themed issue), which is out NOW, and which is cover-dated February 2022! Pete and I both put tons of Easter Eggs into this story. Robert Pattinson even puts in an appearance! (Seriously!) You can see Tom Richmond’s cover art for the issue HERE.
What else? Oh, here’s something: Last year, I wrote a humor piece for Weekly Humorist, called “Thanks To The Pandemic, Nobody Cares That I’m A Centaur.” Earlier this month, it was selected as part of Weekly Humorist’s Best of 2021 List.
And last but definitely not least: I made a video about the history of Jews in animation for the Union for Reform Judaism’s “RJ On the Go” platform. The video is called “Drawing the Line,” and it’s viewable until January 31st. Check it out!