From Derek Riggs to the Death Seat at the Old Canal Inn, My Latest Iron Maiden Quest

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Iron Maiden artist Derek Riggs' art book, T-shirt and print

I’ve been an Iron Maiden fan since High School when Somewhere in Time was hitting the shelves at The Wiz. And I’ve written about my quest in England for a single can of Trooper beer. Recently with Maiden currently selling out at arena after arena across the country, I found myself facing another Maiden-filled quest. No, I wasn’t looking to score tickets to the band’s Run for Your Lives world tour. (Though my son did …

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Getting Things Started on Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Tour

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Andrew standing in front of Jim Henson's Emmet Otter Jugband puppets

It’s tough to beat the day I got to interview the Muppets. But last weekend’s tour of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop came a close second. When I first learned about this exclusive (and rare) tour a few months ago, I was pretty excited and surprised. What surprised me even more was how quickly my wife jumped on it and said we had to go! Located in Queens, NY (that’s Long Island for you out-of-towners), this …

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My Father-in-Law was the Yankee Veteran of the Game

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Phil Thau adjusts his Yankees cap on the field of Yankee Stadium

It was a cold day in the Bronx. Especially for April. According to the digital readouts at Yankee Stadium, it was a whopping 45 degrees out. But that didn’t matter one bit. Because the love surrounding my father-in-law that day could warm the heart of even the most devoted Red Sox fan. Nearly my wife’s entire family was on hand to cheer on the legendary Philip Thau. (Sounds like “thaw.”) A Bronx native. Korean War …

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Marvel Secret Wars Celebrated its 40 Year Anniversary in Full Hasbro Pulse Style

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Marvel Secret Wars comic book and action figures

It’s no secret that Hasbro Pulse puts out some of the coolest action figures around for serious comic collectors. But when they recently announced a second wave of Marvel Legends Series Secret Wars action figures, I just had to have them. Constrictor! Falcon! Daredevil! These figures looked just like they stepped out of the 1984 comic book series that pretty much kickstarted the whole annual comic event crossover trend. The thing is… I didn’t even …

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Diving into SpongeBob Squarepants: The Art of an Undersea World

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SpongeBob SquarePants the Art of an Undersea World book cover

There’s just something special about that SpongeBob SquarePants fellow. What is it about this ridiculous looking and acting cartoon character that appeals to young kids, teenagers, adults and even grandparents? At the core, I think it has to be the pure innocence of SpongeBob himself that just makes him so very likable. Toss in a hilarious cast of sidekicks. Catchy songs. Brilliant writing. And an oddly artistic approach to the background scenery. The result? Over …

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