CRANIACS AT NYCC 2025: Hot Trading Card Brand Makes New York Comic Con Splash

The sought-after trading card property, CRANIACS — created by former Topps VP Ira Friedman and beloved Garbage Pail Kids lead artist Joe Simko — are thrilled to announce they will be at this year’s New York Comic Con with a variety of treats and experiences from unique scavenger hunts, to comic shop signings, to early copies of Issue #1 of the brand-new CRANIACS comics (published later in October from Titan Comics).

Here’s a sneak preview of what’s happening:

Trading Card Scavenger Hunt:

Starting on Thursday October 9 and continuing through Sunday October 12, a card

giveaway will be hosted by four partners, each distributing a specific CRANIACS card – available only at their booths. When combined, the four cards will reveal a cool CRANIACS puzzle. The cards are free—while supplies last – at the following locations:

NYCC Show Store (ReedPop) – Booth #4103 (check out the Simko signed CRANIACS blacklight screen print – limited to 250)
Toy Tokyo – Booth #1170 (don’t miss the vinyl figure preview of fan favorite Craniac “Hal”)
Pop Insider Magazine – Booth #1829 (pick up a raffle ticket to win an autographed CRANIACS skateboard deck)
Pin Club – Booth #1323 (5 pin-tacular designs will be introduced – collect all 5 Craniacs!)

CRANIACS Comics from Titan Comics:

Global publisher Titan Comics has assembled a phenomenal team to collaborate on this unique series: Joe Simko (pencils, inks), Sholly Fisch (story/script), Valentina Bianconi (coloring), Dave Lentz (lettering). The publisher will release a limited quantity of CRANIACS Issue #1 at the Con – one week prior to the Oct. 15, 2025 national shelf date. A graphic novel collection of all four issues will be available Spring 2026. (See comics preview.)

In-Store Event (off site):

Forbidden Planet/NYC will celebrate the comic launch with a store signing with the brand creators. The event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 10 from 4:30pm-6pm at Forbidden Planet’s Greenwich Village location – 832 Broadway, NYC. (Pre-orders for signed CRANIACS Issue #1 are available here.)

On the Show Floor

Copies of Issue #1 will be on hand for purchase from ComiXposure – Booth #3935. Artist Joe Simko is scheduled to sign books on Sat. Oct. 11 starting at 12:30pm.

About the Creators:

CRANIACS is the brainchild of Ira Friedman and Joe Simko. Prior to forming his IP incubator, Ira Friedman Enterprises, Ira spent over thirty years as a VP at Topps, specializing in publishing, product development and licensing. For the past seventeen years (and counting), Joe created literally hundreds of Garbage Pail Kids and Wacky Packages paintings. His extensive body of work also includes notable album covers, punk rock posters, book covers and Cereal Killers, an original line of parody trading cards.

About Titan Comics:

Titan Comics, a Titan Publishing Group company (which includes Titan Books, Titan Magazines, and Titan Merchandise), is the comic book arm of the Titan Entertainment Group, and its sister company is the pop culture retail chain, Forbidden Planet. Titan Comics offers comics and graphic novels from the world’s most renowned properties, alongside creator-owned comic books from new and established talent, as well as classic graphic novels remastered for a brand-new audience.

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!