Name change / Upcoming blog change
This will be the last post I make here at ARealAmericanBook. In a few days, the blog will get a format change courtesy of web-guy Harry Candelario and a design makeover courtesy of Brian Sauer. This will still be my bit of internet real estate to write about G.I. Joe and tell you about my book, but I am leaving behind the “A Real American Book” name in favor of something different. It’s a good change, and the old URL (arealamericanbook) will redirect to the new place, so you’ll still land “here” if you forget the new URL, even though I’m trying to make it easy on you.
-Tim
Filed under Behind the Scenes
JoeFest 2026 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 3 of 3
Catch up on Part One/Thursday and Friday or Part Two/Saturday.
SUNDAY—–
*** Reminder: “Mark” (no last name) is host and producer of Talking Joe, a weekly podcast that I co-host. He, plus family member Peter and fellow fan Simon, flew to JoeFest from England. These are generally the only people to whom I refer by first name only. ***
*** Click all photos to enlarge. ***
Realizing I hadn’t been outside in over 24 hours, and wanting a little variety in my food after so many meals at D’Agostino’s, I walked to New Moon Cafe on the main drag. It was hot and humid and I was immediately sweating, so I embraced it by sitting outside. My breakfast sandwich and fruit smoothie were great, and for some reason I also got a muffin — too much food! I had been hungry enough to set out for breakfast alone, but was texting with pals Peter and Simon (who also ate at Blue Moon, but 20 minutes after) and Mark (who was maybe going to skip, or maybe Peter and Simon would bring him food.)
Continue readingFiled under Convention Reviews
JoeFest 2026 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 2 of 3
Click here to read Part One/Thursday and Friday.
SATURDAY—–
JoeFest wouldn’t open to attendees until 9am (early bird) or 10am (general admission), and sometimes I have enough positive anxiety during a convention or festival that I wake up early. That meant there was time to check email, type notes on the previous day, and get breakfast. Doug Dellow, who I’d seen playing the G.I. Joe Deck-Building Game the night before, and I arrived at D’Agustino’s at the same time, fearing a long line. Indeed there was one, but I spotted some friends at a big table with open spots. They’d just ordered, so us crashing them was actually helping us and the hostess.
Continue readingFiled under Convention Reviews
JoeFest 2026 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 1 of 3
INTRO—–
This is my fourth year at JoeFest, the largest G.I. Joe convention. There is a variety of shows. Some are small, like a one-day swap meet. One particular show is small, Assembly Required, one and a half days, with a tiny attendance (300?), but the panels and guests and excitement of a much larger show. There’s a medium or medium-small show, the DFW G.I. Joe and Action Figure Show, two and a half days, with a larger attendance (2,000?), with the best guest list in G.I. Joe fandom (comics creators and now two years in a row with seven-plus former Hasbro folks). It has panels and a guest list disproportionately big for a show of its size. And there’s JoeFest, three days, the biggest of them all, with an attendance of perhaps 13,000 people (that’s a guess based on previous years) and a con floor that several ARs and DFWs could fit inside. [EDIT: Not just the biggest Joe con in the States, it’s the biggest in the world, I am reminded.] This 9-second video shows you 90% of JoeFest:
Continue readingFiled under Convention Reviews
Anatomy of a Larry Hama Signing
This has been in the works for a month, a year, or a decade, depending on how you count.
Continue readingFiled under Hub Comics
A Real American Book! 2025 Year in Review
Welcome to my annual report of what I did all year. My 2025 book-writing year ran mid-February ’25 to mid January ’26. Only half of this is specific to my G.I. Joe history book. First up, the non-book things:
Continue readingFiled under Book Behind the Scenes, Writing Process
Assembly Required 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 3 of 3
[Part One] [Part Two]
In our last exciting episode, Tim moderated a panel, bought a few toys, took a bunch of photos, and solved all six Assault on Cobra Island puzzles! What’s inside the locked metal safe? Read on to find out and click on any photo to enlarge.
Filed under Convention Reviews
Assembly Required 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 2 of 3
In our last exciting episode [PART ONE], Tim surprisingly made it to Des Moines without incident! He saw friends, played games, ate food, and more! [Or skip to PART THREE!]
Click any photo to enlarge.
Continue readingFiled under Convention Reviews
Assembly Required 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 1 of 3
Click any photo to enlarge.
INTRO—–
I’ll assume you’re familiar with Assembly Required from my 2022, 2023, and 2024 con reviews. If not, it’s run by Codename: Iowa, which is about six people, it’s a great convention, and it’s very small. Last year’s attendance was I believe 300. To use a boxing analogy, it’s greatly punching above its weight.
[Skip ahead to PART TWO or PART THREE]
Continue readingFiled under Convention Reviews
