In July 1992, Welcome to Dead House, the first book in the original Goosebumps series, was published. The cover, featuring a dilapidated house with a glowing red interior, would go on to become one of 60 iconic illustrations created for the series by Tim Jacobus.
He recalls the days of traveling to book stores and signing copies for eager children; some shyly pressed against the arms of a parent, others loudly declaring their favorite character. These days, he not only meets a new generation of Goosebumps fans but is reacquainted with old ones.
“[Events at book stores] were all very nice, but you - the fan - were 10 years old,” he said. “When we talked, we didn’t really talk to each other… Now everybody’s grown up. I get some real heartfelt stories of what it was like to be 10 back then and how the Goosebumps books played a part of their life. The fact that it’s 2025 and we’re still talking about this, it’s amazing. It’s really amazing.”
He refers to himself as a latecomer to the comic convention circuit, first getting a taste of it at the New Jersey horror convention Chiller Theatre Expo. He was invited by horror punk band The Undead as they promoted their EP, Having An Undead Summer, with cover art designed by Jacobus. The Undead mentioned that they had room for him at their booth and suggested he tag along to sign copies of the album and his art. He agreed to attend and told his girlfriend as he was leaving the house, “If only people I know come up to the table, I’m never doing this again.”
He believed that being an illustrator was not the target audience for comic conventions, but was pleasantly surprised at the turnout. Despite the booth being in an area that could have hindered his appearance, he got to learn and revel in the subcultures that gather to celebrate one another. He has been attending conventions across the country ever since.
In the quiet moments of these weekends, Jacobus may take the opportunity to peruse the aisles in search for unique treasures to gift his loved ones. He also enjoys watching convention goers interact with their heroes.
“I like when I see people go out of their way to be extra cool to the fans,” he said. “Where I can tell they are turning up all the dials to make sure that person gets everything they want.”
For those who have yet to experience the wonder of a comic convention, especially amongst his friend group, Jacobus relates it to a Grateful Dead concert. For the longest time, he never attended a show because it wasn’t the type of music he listened to. Once he attended one, he understood that it is more than the music. Conventions may not be something they are necessarily interested in, or their idea of it doesn’t seem worthwhile, but the experience can be life-changing.
It may seem as if only yesterday, or maybe a lifetime ago, that the Goosebumps series were changing children’s literature. Their covers led its illustrator to a fascinating career, and Tim Jacobus now gets the one-on-one time to take joy in meeting those who made it all possible.