BATTLE AT THE COMIC EXPO

Get ready for Klingon-speaking Cosplayers, cutthroat convention politics, and the unlikeliest heroes ever known inside the epic dark comedy Battle at the Comic Expo by Richard Andreoli.

In Battle at the Comic Expo, an obsessed fan with a twisted sense of reality abducts the most arrogant man working in comics today along with his arch-rival — the head of comic con security. Now these two unlikely allies must find a way to save themselves and stop her before she inadvertently kills them and destroys the largest comic book convention in the United States.

Ron Lionel is the hottest creator working in comic books today. His comic series, The Enduring, sells out every month and is set to become a major motion picture. Ron has no problem using his status to get what he wants, whether that be special treatment from his publisher or seducing fangirls into bed. Joe Cotter, on the other hand, gave up his dreams of being a writer years ago, and now lives for a steady paycheck. Joe’s sense of right and wrong was born from years of reading comics, fantasy novels, and growing up in fandom, and as the security chief for America’s Finest Comic Book Expo he’s as strong-willed as any hero with a power ring. Enter Velma, an obsessed fan with a twisted sense of reality and some disturbing questions about The Enduring. When her righteous plan to gather answers backfires, the two men are accidentally abducted and left in a seedy motel room. Now these two unlikely allies must work together to save themselves and the convention before Velma’s mania takes over and destroys them all. From drug-sniffing celebrities and uptight volunteers to long-forgotten tunnels under the streets of downtown San Diego, one fact remains clear: The truth is never simple, it’s sometimes darker than expected, and is often hidden just beneath the surface.

Author Richard Andreoli tells GED Magazine, “On the most basic level, I want the book to entertain. We all have a lot of stress in our daily lives, and that’s compounded whenever you tune into the news because it feels like everyone is fighting with one another. So, for me, I think it’s important that we take a break now and then and let ourselves become lost in a fun adventure.”  Andreoli continues, “However, I also believe in heroes. I believe that there are many times in our lives where we’re called upon to do the right thing. These aren’t usually major events, they’re the kind of small, simple acts, that can unknowingly better someone’s day and cause a ripple effect that positively impacts others.”

Richard Andreoli is a writer living in Los Angeles. He’s written about educational programs at LA County Jail, crafted bitchy dialogue for nighttime soap operas, and launched numerous pop culture websites and online properties. Before all that, he worked for San Diego Comic-Con.  Battle at the Comic Expo is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fin retailers, as well as on iBooks.