Anthony Letizia

Anthony Letizia has been many things through the years, including an accountant, journalist, and playwright. From June 2014 to May 2019, he served on the board – as well as treasurer – of the ToonSeum, a nonprofit museum of the cartoon and comic arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While there, Letizia curated two exhibits, “To Boldly Go: The Graphic Art of Star Trek” (October 2016 to January 2017) and “Popology: An Exhibit of Pop Culture and Comics” (September 2017 to November 2017), as well as co-curated “Wonder Woman: Visions” (November 2017 to February 2018).

After a decades-long hiatus, Anthony Letizia completed his M.A. in History at Duquesne University in December 2024. He has used his history background to make a number of presentations in recent years on the ways that popular culture intersects with the real world. The list includes: “Superheroes Battle Pollution on the First Earth Day” poster presentation as part of the Comics Arts Conference at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024; “DC Comics and August 1986” at the Popular Culture Association Conference in Chicago in March 2024; and “Green Arrow as Social Justice Warrior” as part of the Comics Arts Conference at WonderCon in Anaheim in March 2023. He also organized/moderated a panel at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle in August 2022 entitled “A Green Arrow History of Seattle” and made a brief “Marvel Comics History of the 1960s” presentation at the virtual Popular Culture Association conference in April 2022.

Although still an accountant by day, at night Anthony Letizia is a strong proponent and true believer in the power of Geek Culture. He can be reached at anthony@geekfrontiers.com.

 

Mr. Xtreme: Real Life Superhero

The 2011 documentary Superheroes spotlights Mr. Xtreme, who patrols the streets of San Diego, as part of the film’s exploration of the Real Life Superhero Movement within the United States.

Superman Is An Immigrant

In 2013, the Harry Potter Alliance teamed with Define American to use the release of the Superman film Man of Steel to highlight immigration issues and undocumented Americans.

Hometown Heroes: Steve Ditko

The comic book artist and co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange was recognized in his childhood hometown of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 2021with a summer-long celebration.

The Hidden Life of Trolls

Trolls from Scandinavian mythology invaded the Phipps Conservatory and Botanic Gardens in Pittsburgh during the summer of 2021 for a special exhibit featuring the mystical creatures.

Pop Warriors

Artist Lizbeth Eva Rossof created inflatable statues of her Xi’an-American Warriors, pop culture icons similar to China’s Terra Cotta Warriors, for a 2021 exhibit at the University of Wyoming.

Iron Man: Convention of Fear

During a brief trip to California in 1975, Iron Man became the first Marvel superhero to attend San Diego Comic-Con but the visit is cut short when three actual supervillains show up as well.

Green Arrow: Reunion Tour

In a 1992, the DC Comics superhero protects the last member of the Electric Unicorns, a Seattle band from the 1970s that rivaled the Beatles and whose other members had been murdered.

Green Arrow: Home is the Hunter

In 1991, the bow-and-arrow carrying superhero must thwart a terrorist attack on Seattle’s Space Needle while partner Black Canary is one of several hostages trapped inside the local landmark.

Devolution: When Sasquatch Attack

Author Max Brooks explores the tragic events in a small, isolated community when a volcanic eruption displaces a family of Sasquatch, resulting in a kill-or-be-killed struggle for survival.

Joe Letteri: From Pittsburgh to Middle-earth

The Aliquippa native helped destroy a Klingon moon and brought dinosaurs to life in Jurassic Park before joining Weta Digital and working on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

1964 New York Comicon

The first comic book convention featured the one-and-only con appearance by legendary artist Steve Ditko and set the stage for similar events across the country, including in San Diego.

Harry: A History of Pottermania

Melissa Anelli of the Leaky Cauldron had a front-row seat during the formation of Harry Potter fandom in the early 2000s and tells the story of its evolution in her book Harry, A History.