R.L. Stine To Appear At Undiscovered Realm Comic Con

Those who live in the New York area or plan to be around there later this month might be interested to know author R.L. Stine will be appearing at this year’s Undiscovered Realm Comic Con for one day only. Stine does not make public appearances very often, so if you’ve always wanted to get your ratty copy of Night of the Living Dummy signed, this could be your one chance. You know who Stine is, right? Don’t give me the “I’m too young” excuse…yes, he was most popular in the 90s but his works have a presence in the media to this day. “Fear Street: Prom Queen” just debuted on Netflix and Disney+ recently put out a new Goosebumps TV series. Since creating Fear Street in the late 80s and Goosebumps in the early 90s, the latter has sold over 400 million copies, making it the second best-selling book series of all time. Fear Street hasn’t quite clocked those numbers despite existing longer, but a lifetime total of over 80 million copies is nothing to scoff at either. Both series have also generated a ton of merch over the decades, though there was a pause in the late 90s due […]
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I’m absolutely going. R.L. Stine shaped my childhood, and I don’t say that lightly. I used to borrow Goosebumps books from my school library every week, even reread some of them because they were that good. I still have my original copies of Say Cheese and Die and The Haunted Mask. They’re worn and yellowed now, but I’ve kept them like treasures. The chance to meet Stine in person, even if it’s just for a few seconds, means more to me than meeting any movie star. He made reading fun for a lot of kids like me who didn’t like books before. I already bought the experience ticket — yeah, it’s extra, but I don’t mind. I’ll be there early with my books in hand, probably grinning like I’m 10 years old again.

I only got into R.L. Stine after watching the Fear Street movies on Netflix. Then I started reading the original books and was surprised how different and serious they are. He doesn’t write down to teens. I like that. I’m not really a horror fan, but his stories make me curious. The idea that he’s doing a panel with Tim Jacobus too? That’s cool. I draw, so Jacobus’ old Goosebumps covers are a big inspiration for me. If I can make it out there, I want to go to hear them speak. Even if I can’t afford the photo part, I still want to sit in that panel and listen.

This might sound silly, but I read Goosebumps now with my daughter. We’ve made it a routine: one chapter every night. She’s eight, and she already has favorites — she loves Slappy. I told her about R.L. Stine coming to New York, and she wants to meet him so badly. I think I’m going to make it a surprise trip for her. Maybe I’ll bring my own Monster Blood copy too, for old time’s sake. Honestly, I admire Stine more now as a parent. His books are scary enough to excite kids but never too much. That balance is rare. I hope we get to shake his hand and say thank you.

I’ve seen people lose their minds over actors at cons, but for me, writers are the real celebrities. R.L. Stine appearing? That’s huge. I’ve met comic artists and voice actors, but this is someone whose stories actually shaped a generation. It’s also rare — Stine doesn’t do many events, and I missed him last time he was in the city. Not missing this one. I bought the R.L. Stine experience ticket already. I don’t even care if it’s only a short window. Two autographs and a panel is more than enough. I’ve got a pristine Ghost Beach and a weird Spanish edition of The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight I want him to sign. Can’t wait.

I used to mix up R.L. Stine and Stephen King when I was a kid. My brother had Goosebumps books but I never read them until college. I read a few during quarantine and got really into Fear Street more than Goosebumps. It was more mature but still fast to read. I didn’t know he was still writing until I saw the new Goosebumps show on Disney+. He’s one of those authors you think retired long ago, but nope — still working. I might go to the con just to attend the panel. No autograph needed, just curious to hear him talk.

I grew up with Goosebumps and now I’m a horror podcaster. R.L. Stine is a big deal in my world. Some people think his stuff is just for kids, but honestly, he laid the groundwork for a lot of horror storytelling we see today. The twists, the setups, the morality — it’s all there in a beginner form. I’ve always respected his ability to scare just enough without pushing too far. I’m hoping to attend the panel and maybe ask a question if there’s time. Probably something about his writing process and whether he outlines his books or just writes and sees where it goes.

Cons stress me out, but I might go just for this. I never had a lot of friends growing up, but I had Goosebumps. I used to copy the Tim Jacobus covers over and over until I could draw them from memory. The colors, the weirdness — it helped me learn how to be expressive in my own art. I’m really tempted to go just to see Jacobus and R.L. Stine together. I wish I could afford the photo ticket, but even being in that room would mean something. I’m glad they’re giving time for fans to actually meet them and not just do a quick wave and leave.

Stine’s books still sell. That’s the truth. I run a small second-hand bookstore and Goosebumps and Fear Street are always on the “please ask” list from both kids and parents. They cross generations. We have a shelf just for his work. When I saw this event announced, I felt proud. He stayed relevant for decades without changing his core style too much. That’s rare. I probably won’t go to the con myself, but I’ve told a few young customers about it already. Maybe they’ll bring back signed books and show me.

I think R.L. Stine’s brand is one of the strongest in publishing. He’s done books, TV shows, movies, toys, even video games. And he keeps going. It’s not easy to maintain that kind of legacy with children’s media. I work in branding, so this appearance caught my eye. It’s smart to pair him with Tim Jacobus too — visual and text together. If I get the time off, I’ll attend just for the learning experience. I want to see how he talks about his past work and how he adapts for new audiences.