Jim Hanley’s Universe, the long-time New York City comic shop, celebrated the newest issue of Captain Action, featuring President Obama and Vice President Biden and the debut of the new Captain Action coffee table book with a release party at the store on Friday, August 28, 2009.

Writers Paul Kupperberg and Vito Delsante were joined by Lady Action to help give away free comics and showcase all the Captain Action merchandise, including Graphitti Shirts, the 14” statue and even custom-made Captain Action hats.

TwoMorrow’s newest release, Captain Action: The Original Super Hero Action Figure was also on sale, and generated positive reviews and enthusiasm from both comic fans and toy collectors. Written by Michael Eury, this full-color hardcover is a  collectors’ dream come true, outlining everything about Captain Action and even a few new 40-year-old secrets [see our review in the Off The Presses section].

Moonstone’s Captain Action #5 features three stories; a modern story, the first Action Boy solo-story, and another tale from the popular Captain Action Classified series of 1960 adventures.

“We try and bring a little P.T. Barnum into it,” noted Captain Action Enterprises’ Ed Catto. “We find that retailers want more than just a comic on a sitting on their shelf. We bring them the creators, our Lady Action model and some cool freebies. With some luck, you cut through the clutter and they remember your comic the next month.”

“We’re at the point now where we get fans saying “I saw you before at this place or that place”, noted Joe Ahearn, also of Captain Action Enterprises. “The momentum is building and the feedback is very positive!”

The team also noted that Vice President Biden’s Office also noticed the latest issue, and reached out to them.  Obama, Biden and Deputy Secretary of Defense Brian McKeon are all featured in this issue.

Lady Action, the corporate spokes model who’s proven to be such a hit with fans, also showcased her upcoming one-shot. It will be available in December and features two covers. The first is a stunning cover by Paul Gulacy, and the second a photo cover featuring the popular model.

“Captain Action was one of my greatest 1960s comic book memories, those six issues by Shooter, Wood and Kane from DC. That series is one of a handful of comics I bought off the newsstand and have owned ever since. I had a CA action figure and some of the costumes, but for me, Captain Action was always the comic book,” said writer Paul Kupperberg. “Now, forty-plus years later, I get to write the Captain Action comic book! I’ve written a lot of iconic characters, from Superman to the Simpsons, and Captain Action is right up there, in my heart, with the rest of the big guys.”

Other NYC-based creators stopped by the party as well. Popular writer Stuart Moore compared notes with the Captain Action scribes, and artist Chris Cross also signed copies of his brilliant work in the latest issues of Final Crisis: Dance.