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:
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A Real American Book! | Behind the scenes of Tim Finn's G.I. Joe book
January 21, 2026 · 2:40 PM
A Real American Book! 2025 Year in Review
Filed under Book Behind the Scenes, Writing Process
Tagged as Animation Mavericks, Atomic Abe, Boom! Studios, UPA, Variety, Year in Review
December 2, 2025 · 9:36 AM
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
Tagged as Assembly Required, Codename Iowa, des moines, GI Joe con, toy convention
November 25, 2025 · 3:59 PM
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 reading →Filed under Convention Reviews
Tagged as Assembly Required, Codename Iowa, GI Joe con
November 21, 2025 · 4:05 PM
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 reading →Filed under Convention Reviews
Tagged as Assembly Required, Codename Iowa, toy convention
October 23, 2025 · 12:36 PM
New York Comic Con 2025 – The A Real American Book! Report / Part 2 of 2: COLD SLITHER
In our last exciting episode, Tim sweated not getting into New York Comic Con 2025, talked with artist friends, and announced his ten-years-in-the-making comic book from BOOM! Studios, The Center Holds, written by Larry Hama and drawn by Mark Bright! Then he and writer/producer Nick Nadel got lunch with Janice Chiang off-site, and returned to the Javitz Center for the second half of the day!
Continue reading →Filed under Convention Reviews
Tagged as BOOM Studios, Cold Slither, Dreadnok band, Gramercy Theatre, Larry Hama, Mark Bright, MD Bright, Michael Kelly, New York Comic Con, NYCC, The Center Holds
October 17, 2025 · 10:49 AM
The New York Comic Con 2025 – The A Real American Book! Report / Part 1 of 2
*** BIG NEWS I’VE WAITING TEN YEARS TO ANNOUNCE! ***
I don’t want to bury the lede here, since my con reports are long. My comic book is being published by BOOM! and it’s written and drawn by Larry Hama and Mark Bright!
And yes, that is a big surprise for you, dear reader.
Filed under Convention Reviews
Tagged as BOOM Studios, Larry Hama, Mark Bright, MD Bright, Michael Kelly, New York Comic Con, NYCC, The Center Holds
October 9, 2025 · 4:04 PM
Remembering Ron Friedman
A few introductory thoughts…
Ron Friedman has died. It’s sad, because he wrote some important teleplays and screenplays that mean a lot to a generation of kids. But that sadness is lessened because he was 93. I know lots of people who didn’t make it that far! Congrats on a long life, Ron.
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September 22, 2025 · 1:51 PM
Photoshoot #19
At the DFW G.I. Joe and Action Figure Show in late June I bumped into Derryl DePriest, toy collector, book author, and former Hasbro VP. I joked that he should drive north to finally see my store many, many hours from where he lives. Turns out he was heading my way two months hence!
Continue reading →Filed under Book Behind the Scenes, Photography
Tagged as Derryl DePriest, G.I. Joe toy photography, Hub Comics
July 23, 2025 · 6:44 PM
The DFW G.I. Joe & Action Figure Show 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 3 of 3
SUNDAY—–
In our last episode, Tim attended panels, talked with TV people, dined with them, and fell asleep before midnight!
Woke up at 6 again. Partly the time zone, partly a positive anxiety, I didn’t mind. More time to get stuff done! I packed, and then drew Claymore in Michael Charles Hill’s sketchbook. Kickily’s opening piece was action and facing right, so I thought mine would be quiet and facing left.
Continue reading →Filed under Convention Reviews
Tagged as DFW GI Joe Club, DFW GI Joe show, GI Joe Convention
July 21, 2025 · 1:43 PM
The DFW G.I. Joe & Action Figure Show 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 2 of 3
In our last exciting episode, Tim flew to Texas, missed lunch, talked with friends, and got helpful book advice!
SATURDAY—–
Click all photos to enlarge.
Continue reading →Filed under Convention Reviews
Tagged as DFW GI Joe Club, DFW GI Joe show, GI Joe Convention, Gregg Berger, toy convention, Zack Hoffman
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Recent Posts
- A Real American Book! 2025 Year in Review
- Assembly Required 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 3 of 3
- Assembly Required 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 2 of 3
- Assembly Required 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 1 of 3
- New York Comic Con 2025 – The A Real American Book! Report / Part 2 of 2: COLD SLITHER
- The New York Comic Con 2025 – The A Real American Book! Report / Part 1 of 2
- Remembering Ron Friedman
- Photoshoot #19
- The DFW G.I. Joe & Action Figure Show 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 3 of 3
- The DFW G.I. Joe & Action Figure Show 2025 – the A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 2 of 3
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