And as fun as the first part of my summer day, that wasn’t what I was most excited about. Later that afternoon, I was going to meet Batman.

It was 1989 and, as far as I was concerned, everything about my life was about the Caped Crusader. Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, an adolescent crush on Kim Basinger and a whole lot of Hollywood hype collided to make me sleep and breath everything Batman. If Ralston shipped gimmick cereal to Canada, I probably would’ve eaten Batman too.

It wasn’t the dark and twisted version of Batman I was going to meet that day. Rather it was Adam West, star of the campy 1960s TV version. He was appearing at the annual Edmonton fair. At the time, Adam West wasn’t the Batman, but he was the closest I was going to get. Having put on the cape and cowl, I respected West’s place in history.

Shortly after lunch, we headed out to the massive West Edmonton Mall parking lot.

“These are tornado clouds,” my stepmom said pointing to the sky.

I looked up and was in awe of the charcoal cotton candy headed our way. I’d learned everything I needed to know about tornadoes growing up on The Wizard of Oz. My stomach suddenly felt like a flying monkey was headed down the runway.

Before I had a chance to look away or plug my ears, she continued, “I spent many years in Missouri. Those are definitely tornado clouds.”

There was probably some chatting going on about the morning on the short ride back to my stepsister’s house. I wasn’t listening. I was staring at the sky. At one point I swore I could have seen an old lady flying through the distant sky on her bike.

Either my ticket was punched for a second vacation in a land called Oz or I was going to die. Either way my life was ruined because my meeting with Batman was in jeopardy. And as much as I worshiped the Dark Knight at the time, he was no Superman. He didn’t have the power to blow clouds away. Especially the KAPOW! version of Batman.

I’d never been so scared in my life.

That level of fear lasted all of two hours. The dark clouds and tornado warnings gave way to a full-blown twister. My dad and stepmom tried to reassure me that it was on the other side of the city, blowing through an empty field of prairie wheat.

That didn’t matter. As far as I was concerned, I was going to die–either from the tornado itself or my missed meeting. While the 2,000-kilometer road trip had been officially about seeing more of Canada and visiting family, deep down I was a selfish 10-year-old kid. Every five minutes sitting in the back seat meant I was that much closer.

Now, even with Adam West on the other side of town, he couldn’t have been further away. Not being able to spend 30 seconds with Batman would have to wait.

********************

I showed up in for the 2012 Fan Expo Vancouver early. Having never been to a comic con, I didn’t know what to expect. Throw in a ferry boat ride and public transit in a city that wasn’t my own, I wanted to be safe and not miss out on anything.

By the time I arrived at the Vancouver Convention Center, the crowds were already swarming. Avengers, Jedi and all sorts of anime creatures I wasn’t familiar with were converging on the edge of the Pacific for two days of comics, cosplay, art and pop culture.

And Adam West. The Adam West. Batman. The man I’d waited 22 years, nine months and seven days to meet. But who’s counting?

********************

For the first couple of hours, I walk. I’m at the Expo by myself so there’s no real rush other than any scheduled events I hoped to take in. That worked for me, especially considering how overwhelming things are.

Everyone who entered the main hall was greeted by two stories of T-shirts. Literally. The rest of the front part was mainly comic and toy dealers. It has been a while since I was series about comic books, but it was still impressive to see so many classic books in one place.

Sadly, there wasn’t much in the way of trading cards. I spotted a couple of dealers with some sets that were priced a little too ambitiously for my tastes and budget. I ended up finding one comic dealer who had a couple of boxes set to the side of his table with some mid-90s Marvel inserts that interested me. But largely, the non-sport side of the Fan Expo Vancouver was the biggest disappointment. Although I can’t say I was shocked. I was just suffering from some selfish wishful thinking.

Going from the front of the hall to the back was like wading through mud. The crowds swelled early and everywhere was should to shoulder (or shoulder to shoulder pad for every Thor I bumped into).

The centerpiece of the middle of the hall was the 1960s Batmobile. One of the most iconic vehicles ever, if not the most, it was as beautiful as I remembered seeing it on TV.  Five minutes in the driver’s seat cost $20. Although tempting, I opted for the free shots outside the car. After all, that was Batman’s car. I’m not a cape and cowl kind of guy and I definitely don’t have a multi-millionaire alter ego.

Next to the Batmobile, it’s like a casting call for the long-rumored Ghostbusters 3. The Ghostbusters of British Columbia were rocking the ghettoblaster with the classic Ray Parker Jr. theme, taking pictures with enthusiastic nostalgia seekers. Life-sized models of Slimer and Gozer’s Terror Dog, complete with glowing eyes, added polish to the backdrop.

Right beside them were the 501st Legion and their army of Stormtroopers and other Star Wars characters. Another photo op and tons of happy fans. I was actually happy my young son wasn’t with me though as the 501st’s Anakin was a little too dark side. My son is already having a hard enough time coming to grips with the fact that little orphan Annie is Darth Vader.

The back corner of the hall was reserved for comic artists. It was nice to see such a variety of work and different pieces in progress. Unfortunately, the tables were so tight that even with a couple of people at each table meant things were crowded to the point of discomfort. If there was anything I’d like to see made bigger next year, it would be simply making the Artist Alley aisles wider. I’m not the only one who likes to see art come to life.

On the other side of the main hall was the celebrity guest area. Several actors were set up for most of the weekend, signing autographs and meeting with fans. The lineup was solid considering this was the first year for the Fan Expo Vancouver.

Lou Ferrigno, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Kevin Sorbo, Kristin Bauer, Alan Ruck and Nicholas Brendon were some of the highlights. I opted to get a signed photo from Jeremy Bulloch, best known for playing Boba Fett. He was extremely gracious and took his time with every fan he interacted with.

I had him signed a photo for my son who has come up to me several times since to tell me, “Look, Dad, Boba Fett thinks I’m cool,” pointing to the personalized inscription that says, “To Ethan – You’re cool!” The day I gave it to him, my son even took the picture to bed, giving it a place alongside his teddy bears and knitted blankets.

As much as I enjoyed meeting the man under the mask of one of Hollywood’s greatest bounty hunters, the biggest excitement was two tables over. That’s where Adam West was signing.

********************

Ready for a break and wanting a good seat, I arrive 25 minutes early. Tight scheduling meant that Nicholas Brendon as still at the podium. It turns out Xander is just as funny in person as he was on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I felt a little bad for him during the audience Q and A. Every comment and question directed at him was Buffy related. He’s like a modern, slightly less familiar, version of the Fonz from Happy Days, forever typecast in a single iconic role.

Thankfully, he’s either come to grips with it and even embraced it. That didn’t make the fact that some audience members spoke to him as though Xander and the Scooby Gang were real people and not characters on a television show.

With just a couple of minutes until the next panel, the one I had been waiting for since the final show schedule was first announced, was set to begin, a show organizer took to the stage. He cut Brendon off and that was that.

A few people moved but most stayed. There was already overflow standing in the back. Being on your own had its benefits. I slid into a third-row seat, one of the few that opened up.

After a short delay, the guests finally arrived. First out came Burt Ward, forever known as Batman. Should Brendon want to talk to anyone about being typecast, Ward would definitely be someone to chat with over coffee. Despite all the wonderful charitable work Ward now does rescuing dogs, he’s always going to be remembered as Robin, the youthful sidekick to Adam West’s Batman.

After a brief introduction, West was out next. As the panel host rambled on, I couldn’t help but stare at his ultra-white dental work.

For the next 60 minutes, the Dynamic Duo had the crowd glued. Other than a couple of short detours, the discussion stuck largely to the behind-the-scenes goings-ons during the filming of the 1960s classic.

West has one of those voices that could leave almost anyone mesmerized reading the side of a cereal box. However, the stories the two shared will forever have me watch Batman reruns a little closer.

The topics varied, however a lot kept coming back to battling with the censors and some of the ridiculous situations they found themselves in. From pills that supposedly suppressed the parts covered by Robin’s tights to hidden Russian swear words that made it into the final cuts that aired, it sounded like filming was more of an adventure than the ones portrayed in the show.

After more than 20 years of waiting, I’d finally had my encounter with Batman.

********************

I’m finally over not having an official meeting with Adam West. After more than 20 years of waiting, it came down to an autograph fee.

It hit me during the panel discussion that West understands his fame. He knows his place in pop culture history. And now, in the golden years of his life, he’s cashing in.

Honestly, I can’t blame the guy. He makes more with a couple pen strokes than I do in a few hours of work. That’s power. An even greater testament to West’s fame was the fact that his lineup was the longest of everyone’s all weekend. The autograph fee didn’t deter hundreds from getting a brief moment with Batman.

I simply chose not to. From what I observed, and it was from some distance as hanging out around both tables for West and Ward was discouraged. Volunteers held up homemade signs saying no pictures were allowed, not even candids. This was very different from the rest of the signers. While personal photo-ops came with a cost, random “in-action” shots were fine. Everywhere except with West and Ward. It seemed out-of-place in the festive environment. But I guess it’s understandable if it meant that a couple of people “posed” in the foreground with the one-time Batman and Robin in the background and a lost photo-op sale.

Still, it felt all-business when the rest of the event was about fun and celebrating comics, science fiction, pop culture and anything else attendees felt like dressing up for. And it’s that feeling that ultimately led to my reconciling with the missed meeting in 1989.

I did have a chance to see Adam West. Instead of being close enough to tell if Batman had good breath, I was 50 feet away instead. Both before and after the panel, I paced West’s line in the main hall. I was internally debating whether to come face-to-face with someone I spent an entire 2,000 kilometer road trip dreaming of shaking hands with. Finally, I had the chance.

And I walked away. Without regrets.

Now, my memories of Adam West won’t be the meeting I never had in 1989. Instead, it will be how he and his eternal sidekick had a crowd of hundreds listening to his every word. I will remember Adam West as a master storyteller. I will remember Adam West for his impersonation of Liberace trying to act tough on the Batman TV set. Like a true super hero, I will remember Adam West for his alter egos–the character he played on TV and the one he is in public.

This hour was truly something that money couldn’t buy. And after seeing the factory line herded through at his table, I realized money wasn’t going to buy a better moment. That’s when my decision became clear, although the fact that the ATM was across the street may have subconsciously played a role as well.

********************

The inaugural Fan Expo Vancouver can’t be seen as anything but a major success. Even with a somewhat smaller lineup of stars when compared to a similar show put on in Calgary the following weekend, the thousands of attendees proved there’s a captive and enthusiastic crowd. All of the dealers I chatted with were pleased, even shocked at the number of people. I don’t think there’s any doubt that the Fan Expo Vancouver will be back in 2013, likely bigger than the last. I guess it’s time for me to start planning my outfit.

Leaf is back with a new installment of Pop Century. The company announced some of the celebrity autographs collectors can expect today. 2012 Leaf Pop Century includes (more celebrities will be announced later):

• Jennifer Lopez
• Lindsay Lohan
• Adam West
• Donald Trump
• Ichiro Suzuki
• Pam Anderson
• Britney Spears
• Kate Beckinsale
• Billy Dee Williams
• Burt Reynolds
• Gina Gershon
• Patrick Stewart
• Sarah Palin
• Harrison Ford
• Bristol Palin
• Charlie Sheen
• Rupert Grint
• Tommy Lee

In addition, the company promises to include a multi-signature card with signatures from all seven children from The Sound of Music and another multi-signature card with the cast of Pawn Stars. Each box of 2012 Leaf Pop Century will include 5 cards with cases containing 12 boxes. Look for 2012 Leaf Pop Century in late June.

The Non-Sport Update Card Talk Forum has some very creative people who have created their own custom cards. In the April/May 2011 issue of Non-Sport Update magazine, Ryan Cracknell discusses custom cards with Stephane Cote aka “archifou” on the NSU Card Talk boards. Stephane had posted some of his custom cards on the forums and has actually moved on to designing sets for Rittenhouse Archives, including Star Trek: The Remastered Original Series. Make sure you read the magazine to read how Stephane went from creating custom cards for his own enjoyment to working on official card sets. You can also check out some of Stephane’s custom card designs over on NSU Card Talk.

Some of Stephane Cote's custom Batman cards

Another one of Stephane Cote's custom Batman cards

Another Card Talk member who is creating his own cards is Chris Cline. Chris has been creating his own cards to obtain autographs through the mail from some of his favorite movies and television shows. I recently asked Chris a few questions about his growing custom card collection.

How long have you been doing this?

I started making my own cards in January. I saw some of the work done by a couple of others on the site [Card Talk] and thought I would give it a try. I really started doing it because I thought it was a shame that I could not buy cards from sets I really wanted, like Chuck,  or get new cards to fill in sets like LOST and Supernatural. I stared playing with it a little bit and found that it was easier than I thought so I started not just making them on the computer, but went ahead and started getting them printed.  [Editors Note: This is actually a copyright violation but most copyright holders will look the other way if you just make one print for your own enjoyment and don't start mass producing cards for properties you don't have the license for. And should you think about selling them, you'll be in for a heap of trouble...you've been warned!]  Once I had them printed up I started to send them off to get signed by the actors and have gotten quite a few back so far.

Some of the custom Once Upon a Time cards that Chris Cline created

More of Chris's custom Once Upon a Time cards

Some of the signed Disney cards that Chris Cline has received back

Do you know how many different cards you’ve created so far?

I have about 578 cards done now and cover lots of different movies and shows.  I have made cards for most of the living Disney voice actors and am trying to get them all signed now.  I recently did a few cards for some guys on an autograph site I belong to.  I made some cards for The West Wing and some bands that they needed for their collections.  I have really enjoyed doing this and have thought about taking a Photoshop class so I could use a little better program and make the cards even better but I am happy with what I have a the moment.

Some of the signed Chuck cards that Chris Cline has received back

Non-Sport Update would like to thank Chris for his time.  To find out more about creating custom cards, head on over to Card Talk and check out the “Show Off Your Custom Cards topic.

The Avengers

The Incredible Hulk (Topps, 1979). This set is based on the television series starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. Like the other Topps products of this era, this set was made up of 88 cards and 22 stickers. You can find wax boxes (24 packs) for $100 – $150 and the set (with stickers) for $30 – $50.

The Incredible Hulk (Comic Images, 1991). This is a 90 card set focusing on the Hulk comic books, there are no insert cards for this set. You can find the set for around $10. Boxes can be found for $20 – $40.

The Incredible Hulk (Topps, 2003). 24 packs per box. 72 base card set. 10 Gamma Ray Foil Cards (1:6 packs), 5 Crystal Clear Cards (1:12 packs) and 4 Custom Cover Sketch Cards (Johh Czop, Don Perlin, John Romita Sr, Marie Severin) (1:346 overall). Base sets can be found for $10 – $15. Chase sets $25 – $35 each, and boxes $35 – $50. Of the two Hulk sets released in 2003, this is the more popular one. The popularity is driven in party by the custom cover sketch cards, despite the fact that the odds for getting a sketch in the box are slim (approximately 1:14 boxes).

The Hulk Film and Comic Cards (Upper Deck, 2003). 24 packs per box. 81 card base set, 45 Famous Hulk Covers (1 per pack), 10 Illustrated Film Scenes (1:6 packs) and 1: 1 Cut Signature Cards of Jack Kirby, and a dual signature card of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. You can find boxes for $10 – $20 per box. The base card set sells in the $10 – $15 range, while the Famous covers set is $45 – $75, and the Illustrated Film Scenes set is $20 – $40. This set was not a huge success with collectors as many preferred the set from Topps and putting a set together with all the inserts (except the cut signatures) required opening at least 3 boxes of cards.

The Incredible Hulk Movie Preview Set (Rittenhouse Archives, 2008). This is a 6-card set released by Rittenhouse Archives, only 999 of them were made. Due to the high price tag, many retailers didn’t order this set so it’s actually a hard-to-find set. There are no costume or autograph cards, it’s just 6 basic cards. If you can find it, expect to pay $10 – $25 for it.

The Incredible Hulk Movie Expansion Trading Cards (Rittenhouse Archives, 2008). This set consisted of 6 costume cards and 2 autograph cards. Rittenhouse Archives only made 375 of them. This set was very popular among collectors and retailers, as a three set purchase guaranteed you’d get signatures of Edward Norton and Lou Ferrigno (the original Hulk from the television series) for around $200 – $250. This is a much cheaper alternative to opening a case of cards for $600 and not getting an autograph card that you were hoping for. Dealers/collectors who purchased three of the expansion sets were rewarded with autograph cards of Edward Norton as the Hulk and Lou Ferrigno as the voice of the Hulk. Only 125 of these two autograph cards were produced. You can find these two cards for around $300 each or $500 – $600 for the pair.

There are a couple other Mavel characters celebrating big birthday’s this year, keep checking the Non-Sport Update blog to find out who they are.

• The Walking Dead (Cryptozoic Entertainment)
• Game of Thrones Season One trading cards (Rittenhouse Archives)
• Fringe Seasons 1 & 2 (Cryptozoic Entertainment)
• NCIS Premiere Edition (Rittenhouse Archives)

Head on over to the current issue page on our main site to purchase a single issue or subscription. You’ll also find Non-Sport Update in select Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million stores as well as in comic and card shops.

We previously reported Breygent Marketing was sponsoring table fees for nine of the artist appearing at Pop Art Con next month (June 10; Hilton Garden Inn, Ft. Washington, PA). We are delighted to now report Breygent Marketing is sponsoring the table fees for all of the artists (save the two artists sponsored by Cryptozoic Entertainment and one by SideKick). That’s 16 artists in total which Breygent Marketing will be generously paying table fees for! Those artists include: Kate Bradley, Edward Cherniga, Rusty Gilligan, Robert Hack, Meghan Hetrick, Laura Inglis, Brian Kong, Jim Kyle, Jerry Ma, Bill McKay, Joseph Miller, Veronica O’Connell, Rhiannon Owens, Sean Pence, David Quiles, Scott Rorie.

“Our sponsors are really supporting the artists” said Roxanne Toser, Non-Sport Update Publisher. “We hope collectors will come to Pop Art Con and show their own support and appreciation for the artist’s work.”

Visit the Pop Art Con website for information about the show, Breygent Marketing, and bio’s for all of the exhibiting artists. Also, don’t forget that space is still available for the dinner taking place on Saturday night before the show. Come eat with many of the artists — it’s sure to be a blast. The sign-up page can be found here.

We’re now shipping the Jun/Jul ’12 issue of Non-Sport Update featuring NCIS on the cover to coincide with the premiere NCIS series from Rittenhouse Archives. Inside the issue, we have details on Rittenhouse’s new premium pack series which covers the first 72 episodes of the very popular television series. Other stories spotlight Breygent’s Warlord of Mars; Famous Fabrics’ Music, Music, Music; Rittenhouse Archives’ The Amazing Spider-Man; Cult Stuff’s Pulp Detectives; and more. We also have an interview with Scott Gaeta of Cryptozoic Entertainment and shed some light on licensing in Non-Sport University.

We have a stellar line-up of exclusive promo cards inside the issue as well. Look for details on those tomorrow…or head on over to the current issue on our main site to see them and purchase a single issue or subscription. You’ll also find Non-Sport Update in select Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million stores as well as in comic and card shops.

On a somewhat related note, we received an unusual email several days ago from Bench Warmer. The email says “Get paid $500 to show your Bench Warmer collection on cable TV.” It goes on to say:

Do you have a room dedicated to your Bench Warmer Collection? Do you keep adding to the collection despite your significant other’s objections? Do you feel you are constantly defending your hobby? A major cable network is casting for men and women who are hardcore collectors. We want to submit OUR LARGEST BENCH WARMER COLLECTOR – IS IT YOU?

The company is asking mega-fans to contact them with their story. One hitch…the end of the email informs readers that you must live near Los Angeles to be eligible and that travel expenses will not be awarded.

We hope this will turn into a trend and we’ll not only see a mega Bench Warmer collector on television (hey, we’ve already seen Bench Warmer president Brian Wallos on Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker) but we’ll also see more non-sports at the movies and on TV.

Joe Signing at the San Diego Comic-Con in July of 1992

Were you given a list of characters you could/could not draw or were you given free reign?

I was definitely provided a list. It’s fun going through the different sets year by year because it’s really easy to see which characters were at the height of their popularity when a particular set was produced. The classic characters (Spider-Man, the Hulk, etc.) are always included but the secondary characters change with every new release.

Were there cards rejected or that you had to change based on editorial feedback?

There were a couple of alterations made at the sketch stage with a couple of cards. I added more mole men to the Mole Man card, and I changed the trajectory of the Thor figure to have him flying more at the viewer than across the card as originally envisioned. The schedule was so tight, however (a little over 3 months for 104 paintings) that I only handed sketches in for the first 25 cards. The balance were sent in as finished paintings. The only change to the remaining 74 cards was the statuette on the Wonder Man card. It was changed from an Academy Award to a statue of him to avoid trademark issues.  The only card I abandoned and started over was Sabertooth because I just wasn’t happy with the original design.

What is the size of the actual art that the cards were created from?

The cards were painted very small (6″ x 8.5″) because the deadline was so intense and they were going to be printed at a very small size. Had I known they would have later been reproduced on a larger scale I would have painted them at least the size of a printed comic. As it was, there were bets in the office on whether or not I’d get the set in on time. My name doesn’t appear on any of the initial advertising because the idea of farming out the last dozen or so cards was briefly entertained, though I expressed my displeasure with that idea in no uncertain terms. Obviously, I finished the set.

Do you own any of the originals?

Unfortunately, no. I sold them as a collection to a dealer before the cards were even released. No one had any idea what those cards would become so the money I was offered seemed more than fair at the time. In hindsight, however……….

Namorita, one of Joe's favorite card

Do you have a favorite card?

Answer: Hard to pick a favorite, but I’m partial to the Black Cat, The Hulk and the Namorita card, which is an homage to one of my all time favorite comic covers, Dolphin in Showcase #79, drawn by Jay Scott Pike. That’s the one card I’d like to have back.

Non-Sport Update thanks Joe very much for his time. For more information on Joe’s upcoming projects and show appearances, be sure to visit his website at joejusko.com.

1992 Mavel Masterpieces Page After Page Adverstisement

1992 Marvel Masterpieces Golden Apple Advertisement

1992 Marvel Masterpieces Tour Sticker

Non-Sport Update Oct-Dec 1992 cover featuring Joe's Marvel Masterpieces Wolverine painting

SkyBox International advertisement from Non-Sport Update Oct-Dec 1992 issue

Before the recent Philly Non-Sports Card Show, NSU friend Bob Hulsart (i.e. “Batman”) found himself in a unusual collecting quandary. After posting an image of the brilliant Sean Pence sketch card he had pulled from his box of Star Wars Galaxy 7 on NSU Card Talk, he was contacted by another collector to inquire if he would sell the card. Pence has been recently drawing his sketch cards as four-card panels and the other collector had three of the four pieces from this particular “Slave Leia” Princess Leia block.

The collector was offering generous money so Bob decided to sell. A fan of The Big Bang Theory, Bob noticed a rare Big Bang Theory redemption card could be had for exactly the same chunk of change. So he snapped it up. The oversized Big Bang Theory card contains wardrobe material from all five major Big Bang Theory cast members. Only 25 exist. We previously wrote about these limited-editon cards in March.

Bob was able to make arrangements with Cryptozoic Entertainment to redeem his card at the Philly Non-Sports Card Show. Since so few collectors will own this card, we thought we’d show you the letter that accompanies a limited edition card from Cryptozoic. See the letter below (with a couple of items removed for security’s sake) along with a couple of photos of Bob redeeming his card from a Cryptozoic representative (photos by NSU’s Cliff Tooker).