At San Diego Comic-Con 2025, we caught up with A.J. LoCascio, best known as the voice of fan-favorite Gambit in X-Men ‘97. While the Disney+ revival of the beloved animated series has fans buzzing, LoCascio was also at SDCC to celebrate another passion project, his children’s book, Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween, hitting shelves August 12.

“Long before acting, I would write constantly… that was my escape before I realized acting was even a thing,” LoCascio shared.

A lifelong lover of spooky, whimsical stories, he spent six years bringing Spoops to life.

“It’s a really difficult industry to break into,” he admitted, “but I love kids’ books. They’re such a comforting thing.”

Spoops follows a little girl who isn’t allowed to celebrate Halloween. That is, until the spirits of Halloween grant her wish for one magical night.

“It’s my way of doing a Halloween special in a Cat in the Hat-style rhyming book form, an homage to all the things I’m obsessed with,” LoCascio said.

Inspired by classics like Matilda, Peter Pan, and Coraline, the story delivers cozy, nostalgic Halloween vibes with a modern twist. With his unmistakable charm in X-Men ‘97 and now a debut author credit, LoCascio is giving fans something to enjoy long after SDCC.

Whether you’re a Gambit fan, a Halloween enthusiast, or just love a good rhyming adventure, Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween is set to be a must-read this spooky season. You can order the book online now or look for it at your local retailer.

Meanwhile, check back to THS for more out of SDCC (and the best in spooky season media).

Keep Reading:

‘Sketch’: Tony Hale & Kalon Cox Talk About New Comedy And Colorful Monsters [SDCC Interview]