3 Fingers was an underrated gem. Love seeing this. 

Glad you got this one, bud. 

I'm jealous 

Stunning example of Nico's work. Well timed too. 

Mike's art is a treasure. Congrats on getting the closing page from his first issue. 

I don't like horror. But I like this. Nice get buddy.

Perfection. No one in the industry can touch Matteo's tones right now. 

Beautiful framing and panel design, and Tim's decisions on the "camera" angles let the imagination put us in Rick's place as he watches the transformation. 

What an absolute gem of a DPS, as well as a great reminder of how talented McGuinness is. Everything about Gobby's posture to his manic energy makes this one sing, yet it's important to acknowledge the little things like the broken window and smoke trail that come together to tell the whole story.

I've certainly never been known for brevity. lol 

(So, apparently there's a character limit on how long a CAF description can be, as my writeup got cut off. Here's the rest of what I had to say about this one for those interested.)

And that’s where I always assumed the story would end. A remarkable gift I cherish from my idol turned friend. But then, almost twenty years later, Richard Starkings came knocking.

One of Tim’s best friends, Richard was deeply involved in the creation of the Absolute edition. With Tim gone, he was determined to bring the project to life in a way that celebrated Tim and this masterwork in the most deserving way. 

Out of the blue, he messaged me on July 1, 2022 with a scan of this piece after the initial layer of ink wash. He had in it his files and was wondering if I could send him a scan of the finished piece. I said of course and asked him why he needed it, and he said they were in early conversations for an Absolute edition. 

Finally! I’d been begging DC to give my favorite comic of all time the Absolute treatment, and with Richard involved I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. So, I sent him the scan and told him I’d happily provide him anything else he needed from my collection. 

Over the next few days I scanned hi-res TIFs of every For All Seasons page I owned. I also reached out to friends and fellow collectors to get scans of pages I don’t own so Richard could bring as much material as possible to DC to get the green light… which they did. 

A few months later Richard sent me prelim colors of the cover by Jose Villarubia, and a year later a comp copy of the Absolute For All Seasons arrived on my doorstep. To say it was thrilling to have it in my hands, with the piece Tim did for me as the cover, would be a massive understatement. But the biggest thrill came when I cracked her open and found my name at the top of the special thanks area. 

I embarked on my love affair with Tim’s art when I pulled a copy of The Long Halloween #1 off the shelf as a 17 year old. However, dating all the way back to my earliest childhood, Superman has always been my hero. I grew up on Christopher Reeve and watching George Reeves reruns with my dad, and I’m told one of my first words was “Ooperman”. My son is named Clark. 

Looking back, having my favorite artist craft my absolute (pun intended) favorite Superman story for me to consume at the age of nineteen was a perfectly-timed gift. At its core, For All Seasons is a coming-of-age story and, while I’m still trying to figure out the world and my place in it, I was just stepping out into the larger world as I watched Clark do the same on the page. 

As I looked ahead to adulthood, and the many trials and tribulations to come, what better example for navigating this thing we call life could there be than Jeph and Tim’s touching and heartfelt examination of how those trials can be difficult, even for a Superman. As we learn over the course of the story, our adventures will be filled with soaring moments, setbacks and self-doubt. At times, it will feel as if the entire weight of the world rests on our shoulders. But, no matter what happens, no matter your place in this world, the way forward is to persevere and try to do what’s right, even when doing what’s right is hard. 

It’s easier said than done. No doubt about it. But as we prepare for a new iteration of Superman to hit the big screen this summer, we’re fittingly reminded to “Look up”. Not at Superman, but TO him. 

That’s what I see every time I look up into the clouds of this cover. A shining example of who I want to be. A husband, father and human being who does the right thing for no other reason than it’s the right thing to do. 

I’m not there yet, and probably never will be. But, as Jeph and Tim teach us in these pages, it’s not about perfection. It’s about trying our best, because that’s all any of us can do. 

Thanks, Superman. Thanks, Jeph. And thank you, Tim. I love and miss you every day, buddy. I’m eternally grateful my tries are informed by our friendship and the example of kindness that you, and this sketch, have always given me. 

Sixteen year old me is in love right now. Remember reading Taskmaster unable to mimic Deadpool's random moves like it was yesterday. Congrats. 

Not sure how I didn't see this one until now, but love that you commissioned Jared for this. It's a splendid addition to your Kodi pages and a real smile inducer. 

Ken, I found my way to Jesse's work through Instagram too. That was back in 2018. I had no idea he was even a comic artist. I just dug the ideas he was putting down on paper. Glad to see more people discovering him and getting great commissions from him like yours. 

While Tim and Eduardo share a strong sense of positive and negative space, their styles are very different. That said, that top panel of Gordon gives me Tim vibes while still being distinctly Risso. Splendid page for a collector with splendid taste in art... although your taste in friends may be questionable...

A strong write up to go along with a strong page, Sonu. Excellent choice to go with a page featuring the famous .22 pistol, and the storytelling is as spectacular as you point out. I also really like Eduardo's Robin. His youth shines and Risso's choice to avoid heavy inking on him allows him to stand out from his brooding partner. 

Risso is the master of black and white and his work with Azzarello proves he can do dark and gritty. But he brought a deft touch to this story and elevated Dini's story to something special. Love this page and the Looney Tunes feel of it. 

Wow! This one is so perfectly, Jesse. LOVE how he built it on a nine panel grid, but in a way ONLY Jesse would think of. 

And I was there when he drew it! Hard to believe that was almost 20 years ago. 

Matt, definitely not a riff on Alicia once you read the story. 

There's a reason you and I found our way to Tim and have been friends for so long.  ;o)

Memorable moment from a fantastic debut issue by Whedon and Cassaday. 

Cassaday's brilliant storytelling always shines through, and you see that with the choices he makes to heighten the impact of the third panel. 

Cyclops unleashing the full, destructive power of his optic blast under Cassaday's deft hand was a sight to behold. Brilliant spread all around. 

Just reread Astonishing and Emma's tears here was a moving moment. 

Absolutely brilliant final page and a very memorable moment from the run. 

This one is to be appreciated all days... but especially a day like today. His talent will be missed. 

I don't think Carlos Meglia was properly appreciated in his time. Gone too soon, sadly, for others to catch on. Congrats on this one.

I remember back in middle school when my art teacher taught us about the color wheel and contrasting colors. Ever since, orange and blue has been my favorite combo and they're used to stunning effect here. 

LOL

Too funny. Lol. 

The only thing I can say about this one is... DAMN!!!

Everything about this one is a thing of beauty. But the silhouettes framed against that greenish hue... perfection!

EVERYTHING you could want a Kelley Jones Batman to be.

This is all kinds of awesome. 

Wow is that gorgeous!

Thank you SO much for posting this hidden gem! The whole thing is Tim Sale perfection, from the use of his preferred three panels to a page to the inkwash and his penchant for placing charaters in the corners of panels. Plus it's a dynamite callback to the opening of the series in issue 1.

Really appreciate seeing this on his birthday. I know many collectors like to keep their pieces tucked away, and I understand that. But now that my friend is gone, I hope others take your lead and share more of this man's brilliance with the world.

Wow. Did not expect to see Fabio work his magic on these deep cut characters from Jack of Fables, but I love it!

Happy I could help get this in your hands. Although you left my favorite part of this story out of your writeup... the word for word text exchange that led to said help.

SONU: Do you know anyone going to KCCC? Hmmmmm
JARED: Yeah. Me.
SONU: No you aren't.
JARED: Yes. I really am. Got my Risso commission arranged and everything.
SONU: No you aren't.

You should know by now I never kid when Risso is involved. LOL

Another dynamite write up, Sonu. Your love for not only the art, but the thought, care and effort Jeph and Tim invested in the deeper meaning behind the color book titles, is a wonderful tribute to them. 

People’s feelings about the color books are fascinating to hear. Many say Yellow is their favorite, which is understandable. Thanks to the full on wash, you’d be hard pressed to argue it’s not Tim’s most impressive art for an entire series. 

However, many also say Blue is their favorite. Which is also understandable, as people’s love for Gwen found a welcome outlet in Jeph and Tim’s fond revisiting of their relationship. 

But, for my money, Gray will always be my favorite. The contrast of the ink-washed Hulk with the stark black and white backgrounds was breathtaking. Especially the scenes set outdoors. 

More importantly, however, is the tale itself. While all of the color projects were tinged with loss and reflection, your comments about self-love are particularly fitting. While Matt and Peter struggle with it as well, Bruce’s knowledge that the beast is part of him elevates the plight of the waking nightmare he lives in. 

All that said, for me, it’s the ending that clinches Gray as my favorite. Yellow and Blue had alternately (and fittingly) upbeat and sad endings. But Gray’s ending was revelatory. The idea that Betty’s love for Hulk came from her conflicted love for the monster that was her father blew me away when I read it, and continues to do so on each reread. 

And Tim agreed. Many were the times we talked about the color books, and he was unequivocal in his assertion Hulk was their best project, and possibly Jeph’s finest writing. 

Very happy you added this splendid piece to your collection. Now go get yourself a Yellow page. I won’t get in the way this time. LOL.

"...how deep Gotham's underbelly really is."

Great line in a great write up, but I expect nothing less from you. You certainly changed the way I look at crafting my write ups and I'm eternally grateful for that.

A write up like this deepens my appreciation for the artist, the collector and the hobby. I know it can be time consuming, but I wish more people would invest the effort. Maybe they just need to try it once to realize  putting pen to paper can deepen their own appreciation too.

As to this piece in particular, I'm so happy you have it. And not just because that means I can see it in person. Lol. An absolutely pitch perfect representation of Tim's Batman, and also one of the few vertical examples in Tim's oeuvre. He used them to great storytelling effect, as your thoughtful words highlight.

What's more, the caption box you love is a stunningly poignant bit of wordplay reminding us that, while Tim was a master storyteller, his pairing with Jeph, and their shared fondness for small, emotional moments, elevated their work to a level few creative teams will ever reach. 

I remember this like it was yesterday. Always a blast to revisit your childhood. Congrats!

Gorgeous doesn't begin to describe this one. Filipe is such a talent. Congrats!

Love how you continue to grow your Tim collection, Jan. 

This is GREAT! Wish I were the proud owner of this beauty.

I'm interes... oh wait, this one's for me. Oh, well. Never you fear, Yale. It won't be my last. lol

Love Lucas' work. Would love to have a page from Tag and Bink. 

As someone who's had the good fortune of commissioning a Star Wars piece from Jesse, I salute your choice. This is absolutely phenomenal!

I should have left this one in my portfolio. 

This one has it all. One of the best Batman swinging through the city images of all-time.