When you think of the comic book characters who’ve shaped modern pop culture, chances are you’ve encountered the work of Joe Kelly, even if you didn’t realize it. Deadpool’s irreverent humor, Superman’s moral backbone, and the Emmy-winning animated juggernaut Ben 10 all bear his fingerprints. And this September, the Freeport native is coming back to where it all started.
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., the Freeport Memorial Library will host an evening with Kelly, who grew up in the village before launching into a career that’s made him one of the most influential comic and animation writers of the past three decades. The event is free and open to the public, though an RSVP is required through the library’s website.
A Hometown Hero in Comics: Joe Kelly
Kelly’s career reads like a highlight reel of late-20th and early-21st century comics. At Marvel, his groundbreaking run on Deadpool in the late 1990s helped redefine the merc with a mouth and won over fans so strongly that a letter-writing campaign saved the series from cancellation. Over at DC, his 2001 issue of Action Comics, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?” became an instant classic, pitting Superman against a ruthless new team of anti-heroes and sparking debates that still resonate today.
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But comics were only the beginning. Kelly co-founded Man of Action Entertainment, the creative collective behind Ben 10, Generator Rex, and the Disney-Marvel Oscar-winning film Big Hero 6. His creator-owned graphic novel I Kill Giants won the International Manga Award, made “Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens” lists, and was adapted into a feature film. Most recently, he’s been contributing to Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man while teaching writing at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
A Conversation with Darren Paltrowitz
Moderating the evening will be Darren Paltrowitz, a fellow Long Island native whose media career has taken him from authoring books on pro wrestling and David Lee Roth to creating and hosting the Paltrocast—a podcast-turned-TV show now airing on more than 150 stations nationwide. His knack for blending pop-culture insights with thoughtful conversation has made him a familiar voice to fans across the country.
Paltrowitz has been curating a growing series of author events at the Freeport Memorial Library, turning the institution into a hub for cultural programming that goes far beyond books. His pairing with Kelly promises to balance insider comic industry talk with the kind of questions local fans have always wanted to ask.
The Library as a Stage
The Freeport Memorial Library, long a cornerstone of the community, has been expanding its programming to bring nationally recognized figures back home. For Freeport residents, it’s a chance to see one of their own in the spotlight. For Kelly, it’s a full-circle moment: telling stories where his own began.
Why It Matters
The night isn’t just about one writer’s career, it’s about connecting the dots between local roots and global impact. How does a kid from Freeport end up shaping superheroes on the biggest stages? What lessons can creators of all ages take from his path? And what stories is Kelly still eager to tell?
Joe Kelly Event Details
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What: An evening with Joe Kelly, comic book writer and co-creator of Ben 10
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Where: Freeport Memorial Library, Freeport, NY
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When: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 | 7:00–8:30 p.m.
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Cost: Free (RSVP required: Freeport Library RSVP)
Photo: All images ©Disney. Editorial use only.
