The Story Behind My First Con Sketch - Batman : TAS (2005)
Artist: Bruce Timm (All)
3 Comments - 1,416 Views - 2 Likes
Additional Images:
Back
Bruce Timm 2 Sept 2017
Poison Ivy print
Artwork Details
|
DescriptionIn the fall of 2004, I had moved to San Jose, California after graduate school at Arizona State and my buddy got me back into reading comics after a two-year lapse on my part. I was reading DC and Marvel, but comics were not a priority in my life; so when my pal asked me to go with him to WonderCon in San Francisco in early 2005, I hesitated, but went along anyway because I had never been to a comic-con before. The trip for me would be a thing of curiosity.WonderCon was a huge show. I remember a booth with multiple copies of Amazing Fantasy #15 selling for about $5K in raw. Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes stood behind their booth signing any merch you bought from them. I was a fan of Jay & Silent Bob in the 90s, but, you know, yawn. (Although in today’s con experience, you’d have to buy an $80 ticket in advance for an autograph). I attended a panel promoting Batman Begins where Christian Bale made a surprise appearance. The sentiment on that casting went something like, “Patrick Bateman is going to be Batman!” When Bale announced to the audience that “Bruce Wayne was the mask and that Batman was the real identity,” we all lost our shit and hooted ‘n' hollered because we knew were going to the movie we long deserved. But we were already given the Batman we deserved in 1992 and the creator was sitting quietly in Artist’s Alley. Artist’s Alley was huge. None of the names had me star struck though. I was too cool for that. Then I saw Bruce Timm’s name. I jumped in a line of about three or four people. I saw that fans were handing him sketchbooks and he was doodling in them. When it was my turn, I lost it. I was a blubbering mess. I bleh-blah’d something about how much the show meant to me, that it changed my life when I was 14 searching for my own identity, and how “Heart of Ice” was a masterpiece. I was hoping that Bruce would ask me, “How so?” but instead he nodded his head and said, “Thank you.” We were two years away from smart phones; In the meantime, I carried a small spiral Mead Memo notebook to jot down driving directions and the names and numbers of people I met. At least I had the wherewithal to remember I was carrying the notebook in my pocket, take it out, and ask for a sketch on the inside front cover. Bruce Timm uncapped his Sharpie and drew a TAS-style Batman in a few strokes. Bruce said nothing else and I walked away with my first con sketch ever feeling like a 14-year old boy again. 3" x 5" Marker 3 Sept 2017 update: After 12 years, I met Bruce Timm again at the 2nd Annual San Francisco Comic Con on September 2, 2017. The gushing was at a minimal. Photo attached. I also had Bruce sign a small print of a Poison Ivy commission that Diane Pershing, who voiced Poison Ivy on BTAS had already signed for my daughter at the Santa Clara Library Comic Con on September 24, 2016. Social/Sharing |
About the Owner
|
 |
Contact the OwnerUse can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
|
Comments on this Artwork
You must be logged in to make comments.
kent mansley 
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 9/8/2020
That's a great sketch and a great story! Thanks for sharing!
Steve N. Comic/Fantasy Art
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 6/30/2021
Perfect story. Bruce came through.
Kevin Koch
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 11/22/2024
Great story! Like you, I've gone in and out of caring much about comics, but when I see something iconic or meaningful to me it pulls me right back in.
Latest Updates
All |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
Auctions ADVERTISEMENT
Auctions
| Peach Momoko - Woman with Wings Illustration Origi |
Auctions
 |
JOHN ROMITA AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #71 COVER (SOLD FOR $220K!) |
Auctions
 |
Jack Kirby - Journey into Mystery #86, Page 11 - The 4th appearance of Thor! |
Hakes Auctions
 |
STAR WARS WEEKLY #8 COMIC BOOK COVER ORIGINAL ART BY GIL KANE. |
Subscribe to the YouTube Channel.. FREE!
Albert Moy
3 Accepting Commissions
Commission an Artist
For Sale Updates
Classified Updates |
|
Will Gabri-El9/6/2025 12:52:00 PM |
|
COMIX ART9/6/2025 11:30:00 AM |
|
Federico Bettini9/6/2025 11:20:00 AM |
|
P A9/6/2025 11:02:00 AM |
|
DISNEY COMIC ART A9/6/2025 10:23:00 AM |
|
david hitchcock9/6/2025 10:06:00 AM |
|
Dealer Updates |
|
Will's Comic Art Page9/6/2025 12:52:00 PM |
|
Essential Sequential9/6/2025 12:15:00 PM |
|
Kinetic Collectibles9/6/2025 12:15:00 PM |
|
Achetez de l'Art9/6/2025 12:15:00 PM |
|
Illustration Art Gallery9/6/2025 12:15:00 PM |
|
Galerie Daniel Maghen9/6/2025 12:15:00 PM |
|
|
Become a Premium CAF Gallery Owner & you'll be supporting CAF and also gain access to many services and features not available to standard members.
|