Is Regina Carpinelli the Next Stan Lee?

Ask me who she is today, and I’d tell you that she’s Stan Lee’s protégé.

I can hear the outcry now. “But she doesn’t have the history in comics that Stan does! She wasn’t responsible for creating [insert litany of comic book characters here]!” I know, she doesn’t have the years under her belt that our dear old Uncle Stan does, but after taking a look back at the past few months, I’ve noticed a very curious trend in her dealings with Stan Lee.

First, there was Stan’s Comikaze Expo appearance and the massive amounts of publicity he put into the convention’s first year. Then there are the business meetings and trips that Stan Lee and Regina Carpinelli have been having lately. Now, this is nothing new for Stan. As a major player in the comic book industry (and some might say THE major player), he meets with some pretty big names in the industry and makes the convention rounds pretty regularly. However, he does seem to have taken a keen interest in taking Comikaze’s creator under his wing as she was seen making the rounds with him at Wizard World New Orleans last month. Carpinelli has referred to the convention as the “best business trip of all time” on Facebook, and I have a pretty good idea why.

Now, while the following is being put firmly in the rumor column, I have it on good authority that we’ll be seeing something official about this news in the next week or so. As Comikaze Expo gears up for its sophomore outing this September, I noticed that it’s now being called “Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo” on its website. Word has it that both Stan and Elvira contributed greatly to Comikaze from a business standpoint, and if Stan becomes a part owner in its second year, he could well get top billing at the convention from here on out. And who knows? This could just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Carpinelli’s business dealings with the living legend.

One thing’s for sure, Regina Carpinelli is one to watch this year! And keep watching Comic Booked for more on this rising star’s future and that of Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo!