'Seinfeld' writer releases comic books exclusively in Central Pa.
Stores selling Sitcomics
Camp Hill:
One Good Woman, 1845 Market St.
Carlisle:
Courthouse Commons Espresso Bar, 1 S. Hanover St.
Chambersburg:
Comics World, 807 Chambersburg Mall
Dillsburg:
Square Bean Coffee, 1 S. Baltimore St.
Elizabethtown:
Sequential Arts Too, 1 S. Market St. #104
Enola:
Al's Pizza & Subs, 409 N. Enola Road
Ephrata:
Comics and Paperbacks Plus, 114 W. Main St.
Gettysburg:
The Ugly Mug Cafe, 168 Carlisle St.
Hanover:
Comix Universe, 130 Eisenhower Drive
Harrisburg:
Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. Third St.
Lancaster:
Mean Cup, 398 Harrisburg Ave. #200
Comic Store East, 28 McGovern Ave., Station Square
4th Wall Comics, 1224 Millersville Pike
McConnellsburg:
Tickle Your Fancy Tea Shop, 110 Lincoln Way West
Mechanicsburg:
Comix Connection, 6200 Carlisle Pike
Palmyra:
Comics and Paperbacks Plus, 201 E. Main St. #1
Reading:
1 Up Collectibles, 514 Penn Ave.
Golden Eagle Comics, Fairgrounds Square Mall, 3050 N. Fifth Street Highway C11
State College:
Webster's Bookstore Cafe, 133 E. Beaver Ave.
York:
Comic Store West, 2111 Industrial Highway
Planet X Comics, 2085 Springwood Road
Comix Connection, 1800 Loucks Road
Carlisle native Darin Henry has written scripts for popular TV sitcom characters including Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer from "Seinfeld."
He's laughed and cracked jokes with Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, pitched ideas that were used in the show and even had a "Seinfeld" character named after himself.
His resume over the last 23 years includes writing for shows, such as "Muppets Tonight," "Futurama," "The War at Home" and "The Ellen Show," and today, he's the co-executive producer and writer for the Disney Channel show "K.C. Under Cover" in California.
Now, Henry wants to add superheroes and vampires to that list.
On July 13, the Cumberland Valley High School graduate (class of '88) returned home to Central Pennsylvania to release his first two comic books — "The Blue Baron" and "Super 'Suckers" — under his new comic book and entertainment company, Sitcomics.
"Not all the things I want to do are things Network TV are buying," he said. "A comedy about superheroes is not popular right now."
But it could work in the comic book world, he said.
Sticking to what he knows best — TV and comedy — Henry started Sitcomics as a way to blend his 20 years of experience writing sitcoms and his lifelong love of comics.
"This is a realization of a dream I had when I was 9-year-old Darin living in Carlisle," he said. "What I'm doing with this is making it like TV you read," he said.
His nearly 60-page format includes inserting commercial breaks for fake products like an animal dating service and Shhh fragrance for men. At the end of the book, he even includes a trailer for the "next episode."
His television theme also extends to the ratings on the front cover. If a book is rated 8 p.m., it means the story is suitable for children who are allowed to watch TV after 8 p.m., and if it's rated 9 p.m., it's suitable for those old enough to watch TV after 9.
"The Blue Baron," an 8 p.m. rated title, is a swap comedy similar to "Freaky Friday" about a 300-year-old superhero who switches bodies with a 13-year-old. The books features art by Ron Frenz, known for his work on "The Amazing Spider-Man," "Spider-Girl" and "Thor," and Sal Buscema, known for "The Incredible Hulk," "The Avengers" and "Captain America."
The 9 p.m. rated "Super 'Suckers" tells the story of two college students who are turned into vampires by their two-timing boyfriend who is also a vampire. Artist Jeff Shultz, known for "Betty & Veronica," and colorist "Superman" colorist Glenn Whitmore both provided the visuals.
Both books are available (while supplies last) at more than 20 shops in Central Pennsylvania, including Comic Store West, Planet X Comics and Comix Connection in York.
"The Blue Baron" is one of five superhero titles Henry will release in the next two years, he said. He also plans to release the next edition of "Super 'Suckers" by the end of this year.
Henry said he wants to test the market in Pennsylvania before he plans a wide release of Sitcomics. And since his hometown is where he got his start, Central Pennsylvania seemed like a natural place to do it.
"Coming full circle is a satisfying feeling," he said, adding that he wouldn't be a Hollywood screenwriter if it weren't for the jobs he held in Central Pennsylvania.
The connections he made while working at WITF in Harrisburg directly led to his first Hollywood job working on "Seinfeld" at age 22.
After three years of typing up David's and Seinfeld's scripts as a production assistant, Henry got a full-time writing job with "Muppets Tonight," which launched his writing career. He later returned to "Seinfeld" to pitch ideas and write scripts for the last two seasons.
Remember the episode, "The Slicer," when Elaine's next door neighbor leaves town and his alarm goes off at 3 a.m. every morning? That was all Henry.
Working with Jerry and Larry was like being in comedy grad school, Henry said.
"We laughed all the time, and making Larry and Jerry laugh was one of the best feelings because they are funny people and a great audience," he said. "I've done that as a job now for 20 years and I can't imagine a better fit for me or a better career for anyone."
Henry said he took a chance 23 years ago when he left Pennsylvania with the dream of launching a Hollywood career, and now he's taking a chance again by releasing Sitcomics.
"I'm really hoping the people in the area I grew up in will take a chance too and give these comic books a shot because I think if they do, they'll really enjoy them."