Official Press Release

On November 14-16, Michael Carbonaro will present the 2008 NATIONAL BIG APPLE COMIC BOOK, ART, TOY, & SCI-FI EXPO! This three-day annual event, NYC's longest running Comic Book & Arts Convention now in its 12th year, will be held at the Penn Plaza Pavilion, on 7th Avenue at 33rd Street, directly across from Madison Square Garden. There will be more than 300 dealers & exhibitors, showcasing comics, toys, action figures, original art, videos, autographs, non-sports cards, TV & movie memorabilia & more. It's the place to buy, sell or trade your collectibles!

This year's NATIONAL is our biggest comics show yet, getting back to our roots as the place to meet over 100 comic book artists, writers, and editors who will be present, including ROY THOMAS,legendary comic book writer (X-Men, Conan the Barbarian) and Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee's hand-picked successor as editor-in-chief! Renowned artists NEAL ADAMS (Batman, Green Lantern/Green Arrow), CARMINE INFANTINO, (The Flash, Star Wars), JOHN ROMITA SR. (The Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America), RUSS HEATH(Frontline Combat, Sgt. Rock), and British comics legend BRYAN TALBOT (The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, Judge Dredd) will be appearing all three days. Other fan favorites appearing are CHRIS CLAREMONT (X-Men), DAVID LLOYD (V For Vendetta), Mark Evanier (Groo the Wanderer), KHOI PHAM (Mighty Avengers), Alex Saviuk (Spider-Man), Billy Tucci (Shi), Irwin Hasen (Dondi), Jim SHOOTER (Legion of Super-Heroes), LARRY HAMA (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero), Michael Golden (Doctor Strange), RUDY NEBRES (Vampirella), Mark Sparacio (Green Lantern), Mark Texeira (Moon Knight), Rich Buckler(Fantastic Four), BRIAN PULIDO (Lady Death), Paolo Rivera (Spider-Man, X-Men), STAN GOLDBERG (Archie), SCOTT ROBERTS (Fogel's Underground Comix Price Guide Supplement), TOMMY CASTILLO (Batman, George Romero's Toe Tags), NAR (Inkworks trading cards artist on Family Guy, X-Men), SEAN CHEN (Iron Man), Tim Vigil (Faust), and underground cartoonist DAME DARCY (Meatcake). Appearing on Saturday only: Dick Ayers (Fantastic Four, Sgt. Fury), JOE GIELLA (Batman, Mary Worth), JAMES SHERMAN (Legion of Super-Heroes), WALTER SIMONSON (The Mighty Thor), and Fred Hembeck (Fantastic Four Roast). Appearing on Saturday and Sunday only: BOB Hall (Batman) and Ron Wilson (Marvel Two-In-One).Many other comics professionals will be appearing as well, including: Marcus Boas, Ivan Brandon, Buzz, Jim Calafiore, Jacob Chabot, Jon Cooke, Ed Coutts, Guy Dorian, Ian Dorian, Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, Danny Fingeroth, Professor Bill Foster, Ken Gale, Chris Giarrusso, Rob Granito, Janet Jackson, Brian Kong, Mike Lilly, Andy MacDonald, Chris Moreno, Rodney Ramos, Mark Romanowski, Jim Salicrup, Dave Simons, Mercy Van Vlack, Mark Voger, Michelle Witchiepoo, the organizations Comic Artist Guild, Friends of Lulu, and the Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art. More to be announced!

Headlining the special guests at this year's National Convention will be GEORGE LAZENBY, who portrayed James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, just in time to celebrate the release of the new Bond film Quantum of Solace! Mr. Lazenby has also appeared in Gettysburg, "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "The Adventures of Superboy", and as a voice actor in "Batman Beyond". He will appear all three days. The National also proudly presents special guest KATE MULGREW, Captain Kathryn Janeway on "Star Trek: Voyager", and promoted to Admiral in Star Trek: Nemesis! Some of Ms. Mulgrew's many other credits include: Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, "Mrs. Columbo", "Roots: The Gift", "Cheers", and her acclaimed performances portraying Katherine Hepburn in the one-woman play Tea at Five. She will be appearing only on Friday for three hours from 3 to 6pm. We are also pleased to present Bond Girl GLORIA HENDRY from Live and Let Die, who also co-starred in Black Caesar, MICHAEL BOATMAN from "Spin City" and "Arli$$", and actresses and models JASMIN ST. CLAIRE from National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2, "Metal's Darkside", and CATHY ST. GEORGEfrom Star 80 and Brewster's Miliions.

There will be FREE GIVEAWAYS at the door and SPECIAL EVENTS including panels about comic books, Q&A sessions with celebritiesandthe fan favorite CAPTAIN ZORIKH'S COSTUME CONTEST!

DATES: Friday - Sunday - November 14, 15, 16 / Fri. 1pm-8pm, Sat. & Sun. 10am-7pm

PLACE: Penn Plaza Pavilion, 401 7th Ave. @ 33rd St. (Across from Madison Square Garden)

TICKETS: $20 per day in advance/3 day pass - $35

INFORMATION: Press Contact Dan Fogel (510) 220-6314 or www.bigapplecon.com