Mythology
Early Reviews Are In!
Two of my upcoming books – The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends and The Day I Became a Potato Pancake – were recently reviewed by prominent publications. Now, if they were negative reviews, I’d pretend they didn’t exist. But they are in fact positive reviews, so I acknowledge their existence wholeheartedly!
First, there’s a glowing write-up of The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends in Kirkus Reviews. The critic who reviewed my book said that it was “A revealing study of ways in which mythology is still very much with us,” and that it “offers a broad perspective and unusually rich and stimulating parallels.” Click HERE to read the whole review.
The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends comes out in October. So does The Day I Became a Potato Pancake, which is a children’s graphic novel that was written by yours truly and illustrated by the incredible Beilin Xu.
And if you’ve guessed that the second write-up concerns The Day I Became a Potato Pancake, you guessed right, because that book got a fantastic review in Publishers Weekly. And just in case you don’t have a subscription to Publishers Weekly and therefore cannot read the review, here it is:
Young inventor Naomi Hirsch and her best friend Ben Sherman love playing with her scientist mother’s inventions, like the hologram simulation program. But when they break into Professor Hirsch’s lab after being banned, they find something even more powerful: the Transfogram, “an experimental machine” that accidentally turns Ben into a human-sized latke. Naomi’s mother endeavors to develop an antidote before Ben’s transformation becomes permanent at sundown on the first night of Hanukkah, but Ben’s sudden boost in popularity among his classmates makes him reluctant to be human again. Kaplan (96 Facts About Bad Bunny) maintains gravitas amid silly circumstances by utilizing emotional dialogue centered on character relationships and growth. Singaporean illustrator Xu’s brightly colored art showcases facial expressions that emphasize the struggle between knowing what’s right and letting go of something that makes one feel special. This speculative, character-focused graphic novel highlights aspects of Jewish identity and culture through multiple lenses to craft a goofy
yet nuanced read. Naomi and (human) Ben have tan skin. Back matter includes an art activity. Ages 7–9. (Oct.) —Publisher’s Weekly
Pretty cool, eh?
And if you DO have a subscription, HERE is the link to the review on the PW site.
The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends will be published by Quarto on October 8th, 2024, and The Day I Became a Potato Pancake comes out from Behrman House on October 15th, 2024. You can pre-order both books now!
So How Was Comic Con, Arie?
I went to the San Diego Comic Con last week. How was it? Pretty good. Here are a few things that happened:
On Thursday July 25th, I went to a mixer for animation writers organized by Charlotte Fullerton. It took place at Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop just a few blocks away from the convention center. I hadn’t seen Charlotte since the last time I was at SDCC, back in 2019. So it was great catching up with her, and with various other folks. Saw some old friends, made some new ones, had a ton of ice cream.
The following day, on Friday July 26th, I had lunch with fellow author Stacia Deutsch. Stacia and I both belong to an organization called the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers, or IAMTW for short. After lunch, we went to the IAMTW’s Comic Con panel, which started at 2pm. Stacia was one of the panelists, and the panel doubled as the ceremony for the Scribe Awards, which are given out each year by the IAMTW. The Scribe Awards acknowledge and celebrate excellence in licensed tie-in works based on TV shows, movies, and games (video games, computer games, RPGs). It was a great panel, and even though I wasn’t one of the panelists, the panelists pulled me up on stage with them after the event to take a couple of pictures, because I am a member of the IAMTW.
In this first photo, you can see (from left to right) Scott Sigler, Chris Ryall, Jonathan Maberry, David Avallone, Stacia Deutsch, Deborah Daughetee, Jennifer Brody, and me.
In the second photo, you can see (clockwise from left to right): Me, Jesse J Holland, Stacia Deutsch, and Scott Sigler.
Although Jesse is also a member of the IAMTW, he was not on the Scribes panel. But he WAS on the panel I moderated at 7pm that very same day. This was the “Epic Myths and Legends” panel, which I put together to help promote my upcoming nonfiction book The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends. Aside from Jesse, the panelists were Mark Hoffmeier and Jonita Davis. During the hour-long panel, the four of us discussed the connection between ancient mythology and modern pop culture, a subject which is examined at length in my forthcoming book.
The panel went really well! There was a good-sized crowd, and the panelists were amazing. It was – wait, what do optimistic people say when they talk about how they enjoy something? Oh yes, that’s right: “Fun.” It was fun. The panel was fun.
Now, two days after the “Epic Myths” panel, I was also supposed to be a panelist on another panel discussion called “Neurotic Superheroes Across the Multiverses.” But my immune system had other plans, because early in the morning on Saturday July 27th, I tested positive for COVID. At this point, you’re no doubt saying to yourself “Oh, no!” To which I counter: “Oh, yes!” Because of my new – um – status quo, I had to skip the last two days of Comic Con, which obviously also entailed bowing out of the “Neurotic Superheroes” panel.
So now I’m at home in NYC, recuperating. And honestly, even though I was only there for the first 60% of the Con, I had a really nice time. That probably has something to do with the fact that I tried to pace myself this time around and not get too overcommitted with too many meetings and too many parties and too much hectic stuff in general. It probably also has to do with the fact that I tried to spend as much time as possible with my wife Nadine and daughter Aviya. But – you know – don’t tell them I said that. It would go against my hard-won reputation as a god-tier buzzkill. And I fear that my loved ones would reject the newer, sunnier, me.
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?)