Appearance Schedule

To book Jay Piscopo for school and library visits, please contact Tami Burke at tami@maine.rr.com.

May 7, 2016
Free Comic Book Day
Jay will be at Bull Moose in the morning and Casablanca Comics in the afternoon doing free superhero sketches

June 4, 2016
Portland Public Library
Portland, Maine

June 11, 2016
10:00 - 6:00
Concord, New Hampshire

October 23, 2016
Portland, Maine

5.30.2009

Who is the Sea Ghost?


Here's a sneak peek at a page in progress for the forthcoming Sea Ghost one-shot comic book by Jay Piscopo. Check out a couple more pages in progress at this link. Sea Ghost is an integral character in Jay's The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli graphic novel series.

Sea Ghost first appears in Volume 1 of The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli. His origin story is then revealed in Volume 2. Fans will discover more about Sea Ghost in Volume 3 coming later this year.

Check out this short video clip of Jay drawing for fans at the Maine Comics Arts Festival earlier this month in Portland, Maine. He's drawing a sketch of the Sea Ghost and tells us a little more about who the character is. Stand by for adventure!

The special Sea Ghost one-shot comic book is coming this Summer and is written and illustrated by Jay. This comic is about a far out adventure Sea Ghost has on another planet and there's a special cameo appearance by Commander X.

Wenham Museum - Colorful Characters: Storytelling Through Comics

June 9 - September 13, 2009
Colorful Characters: Storytelling Through Comics
Wenham Museum - 132 Main St., Wenham, Massachusetts

Artwork courtesy of featured artist Jay Piscopo

It’s a bird. It’s a plane...It’s Superman! The Man of Steel will be one of the many characters in this action-packed exhibit with over 125 comic books, original artwork, graphic novels, and collectibles. Little superheroes can have adventures with family-friendly interactives like Superman’s phone booth and Batman’s Batmobile!

SUPERHERO SATURDAY:
Saturday, June 27; 4-7pm

Free with museum admission
Dress as your favorite superhero, chat with local comic book artists, fly in the bouncy house, watch Jay Piscopo – author and illustrator of The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli – draw your favorite superhero, and top the day off with SUPER ice cream sundaes and hand-crafted Capt'n Eli's Soda!

CARTOONING WITH JAY:
Thursday, July 23; 1-3pm

Pre-registration required: $25(non-members); $20(members)
Call: (978)468-2377
Author and Illustrator of The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli, Jay Piscopo, offers a step-by-step comic strip drawing course for aspiring artists. Ages 7+.

5.21.2009

Western Knight - New Commander X Action Figure

NEW! Introducing Western Knight Commander X! The newest Mego-style Commander X 8" action figure. Created by Jay Piscopo, author/illustrator of The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli.

When you order a Commander X action figure you are automatically entered to win a super-limited-edition 8" Sea Ghost action figure prototype.

The more figures you order, the more chances you have to win! We'll be releasing new Commander X variants all year long. If you've already ordered a figure, you've been entered in the contest as well.

There are only three Sea Ghost prototypes!
The first winner will be drawn December 15, 2009.
The final two winners will be drawn July 15, 2010 and December 15, 2010.

Click HERE to order a figure.

Be sure to keep your eye on the Facebook Sea Ghost fan page for sneak peeks of the prototype and package art!

Sculpted by......Troy Younger
Painted by........Dana Shaw
Costumes by....Brian Leitner
Parts by...........Paul Clarke - Dr. Mego

5.19.2009

Maine Comics Arts Festival: Flickr Group and The Beat

Were you at the Maine Comics Arts Festival? Add your photos to the Maine Comics Arts Festival Flickr Group HERE.

Heidi MacDonald was at the Festival and posted a great report and pics in her Publishers Weekly column The Beat.

5.18.2009

Wow! Maine Comics Arts Festival

Wow! What a festival! Rick, Laura and the Casablanca Comics team put on a fantastic Maine Comics Arts Festival at Ocean Gateway in Portland, Maine, overlooking beautiful Portland harbor and Casco Bay. Check out photos HERE and stay tuned for video and even more photos this week.

Jay Piscopo and The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli crew were pumped to see so many families at the festival. Kids are the core (and future) of comics and it was great to see that in action in our hometown of Portland. We were proud to be a part of this fantastic show with so many great creators.

Jay sketched and sketched and sketched some more....

Huzzah to Rick Lowell and Casablanca Comics for hosting this festival!

5.17.2009

Today: Maine Comics Arts Festival in Portland

Jay Piscopo and the Capt'n Eli crew look forward to seeing everyone today at the Maine Comics Arts Festival. Stop by Ocean Gateway Terminal in Portland, Maine today between 10:00 and 5:00. Jay will be doing free convention sketches and the Capt'n Eli's Soda crew will be there handing out free soda samples for attendees. For directions and more about the festival click HERE. Stand by for adventure!

Last night, The Inn on Peaks Island hosted a fantastic VIP reception for comics creators attending the festival. A great time was had by all! The Inn is hosting many creators, educators, and comics reviewers as guests this weekend as part of its support for the festival.

5.15.2009

WCSH6 Features the Maine Comics Arts Festival


Tonight, be sure to tune into "207" on WCSH6 at 7:00pm to hear more about the Maine Comics Arts Festival (which is being held this Sunday from 10:00am - 5:00pm at Ocean Gateway Terminal in Portland).

Jay Piscopo author/illustrator of The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli talks about the festival, Maine creators, and the world of comics. Watch an interview clip at this link.

EDUCATORS AND LIBRARIANS: Sunday at 10:30am don't miss the special FREE graphic novel workshop presented by Peter Gutierrez and Laura Richter. Read more HERE.

Capt'n Eli: Ian Carlson's Teach Comics

High school English teacher (and lifelong comic book geek), Ian Carlson, writes a fantastic blog called Teach Comics which is a great resource for educators who wish to incorporate comic books into the classroom.

His most recent post is about the curriculum developed by Laura Richter for Jay Piscopo's The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli graphic novel series.

Read Ian's blog at this link.

Check out Capt'n Eli curriculum at this link.

"As a teacher who believes in the potential of comics as a teaching tool I applaud Jay and Nemo Publishing on their efforts to bring the message to the masses. Capt'n Eli is a fun, light-hearted read, and coupled with the thoughtful lesson plans of Laura Richter these books would make a great addition to any classroom." ~ Ian Carlson, Teach Comics

5.12.2009

Friday, May 15: Tune in to "207" on WCSH TV

If you live in Maine, on Friday, May 15 at 7:00pm be sure to tune in to WCSH TV's "207" for an interview with Jay Piscopo about the Maine Comics Arts Festival and The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli graphic novel series. Don't miss the Maine Comics Arts Festival in Portland this Sunday, May 17. Sponsored by Casablanca Comics. More than 70 comics creators will be there and Jay Piscopo will be doing free sketches and the Capt'n Eli's Soda crew will hand out samples of this hand-crafted Maine-made soda.

5.11.2009

Comixology: Jay Piscopo interviewed by Peter Jaffe

This week, Comixology podcast listeners are joined by Jay Piscopo, writer and artist of The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli, who discusses the independently published all-ages graphic novel series as well as his background as an illustrator and animator. Listen to Peter Jaffe's podcast at this link.

This Sunday: Capt'n Eli at the Maine Comics Arts Festival

Jay Piscopo and The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli crew look forward to the Maine Comics Arts Festival this Sunday, May 17 at Ocean Gateway Terminal in Portland, Maine.


You're in for a treat! The Capt'n Eli's Soda crew will also be there handing out free soda samples throughout the festival.

Educators will not want to miss the free graphic novel workshop with Peter Gutiérrez and Laura Richter. Download the flyer HERE.

5.08.2009

From the Capt'n Eli Mailbag

"I like how Capt'n Eli has all these adventures. I like how the
Seasearchers' symbol is the fish. I like Capt'n Eli, Barney, and Roger!!" -Julia, First Grader, Brooklyn, NY

Thanks for your note about The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli, Julia!

The author/illustrator Jay Piscopo was happy to do this sketch of your favorite characters. Look for it in your mail box next week! Thanks for reading and stand by for more adventure with Capt'n Eli and the whole Seasearcher crew!

May 17: Download a Flyer Here - FREE Graphic Novel Workshop for Educators

May 17
10:30 - Noon
Free graphic novel workshop for educators and librarians at the Maine Comics Arts Festival in Portland, Maine. Presented by Peter Gutiérrez and Laura Richter. Download a flyer at this link.

5.06.2009

2009 Spring Teacher Institute: Capt'n Eli in the Classroom

Yesterday, Maine educators Laura Richter and Katie Yando took part in the 2009 Spring Teacher Institute: Pictures Sounds Numbers Words…Teaching and Learning with Technology.

A first for Maine, this Institute is completely online. Laura and Katie presented their workshop "Literacy and Technology across the Curriculum with a Graphic Novel." They shared a language arts classroom experience infused with technology and using the graphic novel, The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli, by Portland, Maine author/illustrator Jay Piscopo.

This session focused on a 7th grade classroom experience in a language arts class at the Skowhegan Area Middle School.

Although this lesson is literature based, they provided an overview of how to use the graphic novel in geography, science and art. Watch their presentation at this link.

Check out the Capt'n Eli curriculum at this link.

5.04.2009

Newsarama: Reports from the Field

Newsarama was stationed at Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find in Charlotte, North Carolina for Free Comic Book Day but it was a true nation-wide event, and they’ve got a few reports from the field, including Rochester, New Hampshire. Read Ralph DiBernardo's report at this link.

"Everyone was very pleased that we had created a very family oriented free event. In a discussion with Jay Piscopo he pointed out that we were only going to grow the comic industry if we were able to get children back into comics and that this event was a good step towards that. I could not agree more." ~ Ralph DiBernardo, Jetpack Comics

Super-Powered Comics Reading at the Maine Comics Arts Festival

Read full press release HERE.


SUNDAY, MAY 17: Educators and librarians won't want to miss this FREE graphic novel workshop at the Maine Comics Arts Festival!

Acclaimed national speaker Peter Gutiérrez will present “Super-Powered Comics Reading: Building Literacy and Having Fun” -- a special graphic novel workshop for educators and librarians at the Maine Comics Arts Festival. This free presentation will be held at the Ocean Gateway Terminal in Portland, Maine from 10:30am to Noon as part of the day-long festival. This is Gutiérrez’s first time presenting in Maine.

Gutiérrez will provide an overview of the ways graphic novels, comics and manga foster and enhance a love of reading. His tips and techniques work across all age levels and translate perfectly into librarian-led book circles and read-alouds. He will share kid-centered ways to leverage the unique strengths of the medium to read with expression, expand vocabulary, practice visual literacy, identify story elements and master comprehension strategies.

His hour-long workshop will lead into a half-hour session with award-winning Maine educator and technology integrationist Laura Richter. She will present her new curriculum for The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli graphic novel series. The curriculum is available for FREE at this link and complimentary copies of the graphic novel will be provided to workshop attendees. The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli is written and illustrated by Jay Piscopo of Portland, Maine.

Richter will demonstrate how teachers can integrate these interactive and engaging lesson plans to expand their curriculum to an interdisciplinary experience where students learn language arts skills, geography mapping, scientific research techniques, ancient mythology, world history, and art. Authentic assessment strategies, technology integration, 21st century skills, and real life learning are all integral to the learning process embedded in these lessons.

Read more HERE.

5.03.2009

May 17: Maine Comics Arts Festival

Check out the Maine Comics Arts Festival website.
On Sunday May 17 from 10-5, Jay Piscopo and The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli crew will be at the Maine Comics Arts Festival in our beautiful hometown of Portland, Maine. You're in for a treat because the Capt'n Eli's Soda team will also be there offering free soda to festival-goers! This first-year festival is presented by Casablanca Comics.

More detail coming this week about a special free workshop for educators and librarians which will be presented by acclaimed national speaker Peter Gutiérrez and award-winning Maine educator and technology integrationist Laura Richter.

Stand by for adventure!

5.02.2009

Rochester Rocked It

Check out photos HERE.
Fraffle! Ralph DiBernardo and Jetpack Comics rocked Rochester, New Hampshire today with the Free Comic Book Day city-wide festival. It was the place to be! Jay Piscopo and The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli crew were there and gave away hundreds of free comic books, collectible card games, buttons, and Seasearcher tattoos. Fans lined up for Jay's free superhero sketches and it was a great day connecting with families and comics fans of all ages. Huzzah to Ralph and the Jetpack Comics crew!

Free Download for Free Comic Book Day

Celebrate Free Comic Book Day with a free pdf download of "Commander X Adventures" at this link.

Stories
The Guardian of Tantarus
By Jay Piscopo

The Thing in the Moon
By Ron Fortier, Art and layout by Mike Fyles

A Friend in Need
By Michael Thomas, Art and layout by Mike Fyles

Pinups
Undersea Adventure Cover
Joe Zierman

Commander X and the Yeti
Lauren Monardo

Commander X
Jay Fife

Rumble in the Jungle
Jay Piscopo

Old Commander X
Jay Piscopo