Official Press Release

When Straczynski heard of the sophomore and junior high schoolers' plans to raise money for their art program with a benefit comic convention, the famous TV writer and Paterson, New Jersey native immediately made room in his busy schedule to attend. Now living in Los Angeles, Straczynski hasn't appeared at an East Coast convention in ten years and, besides donating his time and the expense to attend this special show, will provide autographs to his fans for a charitable contribution of $1, the proceeds of which will go directly to the students.

One of the most prolific and highly regarded writers currently working in television, Straczynsk - whose work includes episodes of Murder, She Wrote, The Twilight Zone and Jake and the Fatman - created the successful science fiction series Babylon 5 and currently writes Amazing Spider-Man for Marvel Comics.

He will join more than two dozen stars from the comic book industry, including legendary Batman writer and editor Denny O'Neil; Batman artist Tommy Castillo; Scooby-Doo artist Joe Staten; legendary creator of Dondi Irwin Hasen; Nickelodeon Magazine comics artist and Patty Cake creator Scott Roberts; Hero Gets the Girl author and reporter for the Asbury Park Press Mark Voger; Milk and Cheese creator Evan Dorkin; Action Girl editor Sara Dyer and comics industry painter and instructor at New Jersey's Joe Kubert School of Comic and Cartoon Art Dave Devries.

Activities include comic art lessons for the kids, panel discussions, an anime theater and charity auction, proceeds from which also will benefit the Hawthorne High School art program.

Plus, area Dealers will be in attendance selling, trading, buying comics, toys, original art, anime, DVDs & Videos, non-sports trading cards, video games and more!

Hawthorne High School is ideally located at 160 Parmelee Avenue in Hawthorne, N.J. 07506, just 30 minutes outside Manhattan and accessible by bus and train. Directions can be found on MapQuest.

Admission is only $3.

For more info, please contact Allan Rosenberg at alllal@aol.com