Yes, I Had A Moment With Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher

October 21, 1956 - December 27, 2016

Years and years and years ago at San Diego Comic-Con I was walking about the main floor and, lo and behold, there is Carrie Fisher at a booth cheerfully greeting and autographing items for fans.

I dropped any plans I had and immediately got in line to meet her.

As a life long Star Wars fan having seen the original film in Hollywood its opening day, Fisher has always been a crush of mine. Through all the Star Wars films, her cameo in The Blues Brothers, co-starring in When Harry Met Sally and more. This was one of the first opportunities I'd ever had to meet her face to face. So I marched to the back of a lengthy line of people to chat her up. I discovered the wait time was in excess of an hour but that didn't matter to me: This was Carrie Fisher! Princess Leia Organa herself! I was every bit the excited fanboy as I anxiously did my time in line.

As the line snaked along, she looked up on occasion at the crowds around her. During one such peek, I caught her eye. Or at least it appeared I had. She did a double take when she saw me and I knew in that instant there was no doubt we had made eye contact! I felt my stomach do a flip and I steeled myself to appear aloof yet interested as she looked my way. And then it was back to the business of the fans before her.

But for the next 45 minutes, she continuously gazed at me, sometimes craning her neck to see where I was. The across-the-room confidence I figured I'd better start showing might have done the trick, I thought. But with her obvious stares towards me every few minutes, I began to get nervous. And soon it got a little uncomfortable.

Why was she looking at me so intently I wondered? Was there someone behind me she noticed and I simply misread her interest? I checked at one point and turned when she looked once again but, when I swung back around, there was no doubt she was looking directly at me.

I had to get to the bottom of this. The next time we made eye contact I pointed at myself and mouthed "Me?" to her. I saw her smile and nod imperceptibly. I remember I began perspiring right then and there.

Minute by minute I moved nearer and nearer to where she was sitting, shaking folks hands and smiling and talking. As I got even closer I noticed the looks she was giving me became less and less frequent. Something was up, something unknown to me. This silent awareness was going to my head and I was mere minutes from finding out what it was all about.

She looked over at me one final time - I was a dozen or so people from her - and she concentrated on everyone before me. No more looks came my way. But you could see it in her demeanor; there was some kind of electricity in the air between the two of us and I was caught up in it, trying to control my excitement. For all I knew she was focusing on doing the same.

I gave the guy in front of me space to make his acquaintance with her before it was my turn. I was patient, unassuming and pressuring myself with an overall calm, hoping my elation wasn't showing.

Then, the guy moved away and I sauntered up to Carrie.

She kept her head down as I approached, waiting until I was directly in front of her. I saw her snap the cover of a Sharpie back onto the pen she had in her lap then slowly look up at me, a huge grin on her face, her eyes wide.

She looked at me for a moment, smiling ear to ear. Then she spoke: "Bruce! What are you doing here ... ??!?"

Naturally, I stumbled at her question. I smiled back at her and confessed: "Uhm ... I'm sorry, I'm not Bruce ..."

"You're not?!?" she blurted, somewhat taken aback.

I recognized the opportunity and jumped on it. "Would you like me to be?" I offered.

She was obviously embarrassed. She blushed, laughed and apologized. "All this time, seeing you standing in line, I thought you were an old acquaintance of mine I haven't seen in years. You look exactly like him. I'm sorry I was staring at you all this time ..."

"Not a problem ... and no apology necessary," I said. "Your looks were somewhat disarming but in a rather agreeable and exciting way."

I told her my name and talked to her a few minutes. Not long afterward she pulled out a color glossy of herself as Princess Leia in slave garb. "Well, I have to sign this 'with love' to you for my embarrassing behavior," she told me.

I didn't argue.

Thank you for the wonderful memory, Carrie. Rest in peace.

T-Shirt Collection: Dan Bois

A couple years ago, during San Diego Comic-Con in 2013, I picked up this pretty spiffy T-shirt from my good friend and artist Dan Bois who has been showing and selling at The Con for more years then I'm certain he'd care to admit. (Maybe not.)

It's one of my prized T-shirts with nifty graphics perpetrated by Dan himself. And printed in unique positions you don't often see on a shirt: on the sleeve and on the lower torso. Yes ... that makes it a bit difficult to photograph while you're wearing it ... but I took the challenge for what it's worth.

You can find his stuff for purchase here and frequent his (not all that up to date) blog here. (Hey ... the man's busy selling his wares and drawing -- he doesn't have time to keep his blog updated.)

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Ray Bradbury

Ray Douglas Bradbury

1920 - 2012 

Over the years, I used to have breakfast with Ray at The Marriott in San Diego during Comic-Con. He will be missed.

Ray is credited with saying these things: 

"And what, you ask, does writing teach us? First and foremost, it reminds us that we are alive and that it is gift and a privilege, not a right... So while our art cannot, as we wish it could, save us from wars, privation, envy, greed, old age, or death, it can revitalize us amidst it all." 

"There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them."

"I have three rules to live by. One, get your work done. If that doesn't work, shut up and drink your gin. And when all else fails, run like hell!"

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Here Comes Comic-Con, Again

It's almost that time of year again.

The annual trek down south to beautiful, mild San Diego and the festival of all things relevant to the world: Comic-Con.

I expect lots of what is displayed below ... and a whole lot more.

I've noted items from last year as well as a spiffy scenario of previous monkey business ..... and I've no doubt more is forthcoming.

T-minus 9 days and counting.

.................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Here Comes Comic-Con .....

If you know me, you know I love summer in San Diego. That's when Comic-Con comes to town, right around the end of July.

I'm already getting all googley over it and it's still 3+ months distant.

Comic-Con is all about the panels and the people and the events and the surprises and the learning and the costumes and the knowledge and the excitement. I have contacts there I've done business with. I have friends there I bump into. I have acquaintances there I see only during Comic-Con. I look forward to each and every aspect of the event, crowds be damned.

But it's the interaction with everyone - goobers and industry people alike - that turns my crank and gets the blood flowing. It's a kick to see a favorite waiting in the wings or someone you didn't expect to be there right in your vicinity as you turn around. One of the biggest thrills for me of a Comic-Con past was a sit down discussion I had with Mark Mothersbaugh of the band DEVO. He was sitting all by his lonesome at a signing table with no one around him. No one knew who he was. I got the privilege of monopolizing an hour of his time - of which he was thrilled to oblige - and converse non-stop about music and art and people in general. What a treat.

Yep. It's the interaction that really makes the event for me.

Here's a sample from last year. I hope you enjoy.

-----------------------------

A buddy of mine and I were headed for the upper levels of the San Diego Convention Center one afternoon and decided to take the elevator rather than the escalators filled with every kind of freak and weirdo imaginable.

As the elevator *dinged* and the doors parted, a hulking, ominous figure gave us reason to pause before entering.

It was none other than the Dark Lord Of The Sith Darth Vader himself. (Well ... someone dressed as Darth Vader. If it really was Darth Vader, he wouldn't've put up with the shenanigans and monkey business we foisted upon him.)

My buddy and I: We see an opportunity, we pounce on it.

Darth was certainly foreboding. Dressed completely in black (well ... DUH), he was all of seven feet tall, oozed darkness and inspired nothing less than tail tucked 'tween leggedness. He was breathing just as in the films, too, with that sucking/hissing sound. Labored breath was the only thing you heard in that elevator and, I must admit, it was effective. We both walked in. I raised my hand in greeting.

"Annie! What's happenin' dude ... ?!?" I asked gleefully. As we turned around to face the door, my buddy jabbed me in the ribs with his elbow and said under his breath (but loud enough for "Darth" to hear): "Are you an idiot?!? Call him Lord Vader, you dipstick!"

I was doubled over in pain by my friend's jab, but I managed to turn painfully and apologize. "Sorry about that, An .... I mean, Lord Vader. No harm, no foul ... s'aight?"

He just breathed at me and didn't say a word.

I turned, looked at my friend and shrugged. The elevator doors closed and we began rising.

Three seconds into the ride, the elevator came to a stop. A mere five feet off the ground.

"What the ... ???" I mumbled. I turned to Darth: "I said I was sorry! Come on! Get this thing moving, Bub. I have a panel to attend."

Darth stood there looking down at me and sucked air.

I looked at my friend. "Guess it's not him that stopped the elevator after all, eh? I mean, if it was, he could get it goin' again. Either that or we'd be dead already from insulting 'His Lordship'."

My friend turned around and faced Darth. "Hey, do us a Sithy kinda trick, will you, Darth? Make a coin disappear or detach your thumb or sumpin' ...."

Darth hissed in and out, but said not a word.

"Kinda stuffy in here, ain't it?" I muttered in my friend's ear, but within earshot of Darth. "Hey ... you feel anything? Feels kinda dark ... heavy. I wonder if a storm's comin' in."

My friend looked out the glass windows of the elevator to see if anyone noticed it was stuck and exclaimed: "I have a great idea! I'm hankerin' for a burrito. You wanna burrito? Darth: You in? A burrito'd go down good right about now. We could head over to that busy Mexican joint at the Gaslamp, you know the one with the waiting list? With Lord Vader in tow, I betcha we'd get a seat in no time! I'll even buy!"

I was on board. "Zounds! Great thought!" I turned back to Darth. "Whaddya say, Your Worship? You down with Mexican? That and a limed up Tecate trips my trigger!"

Darth sighed. And sucked wind.

"Doesn't like Mexican, I guess," I whispered to my friend.

"You can't blame him," he replied. "It must be hell trying to get outta them clothes when the burrito kicks in, if you know what I mean."

I nodded in understanding. We let the lunch date drop.

"Hey, Darth," I queried: "Can't you do anything about this stuck elevator? Mind meld with it or laser blast it or sumpin'?"

I received yet another elbow in the rib for that one. "Goofus! Mind melding is a Star Trek thing, not Star Wars! When are you going to get your stuff straight? Way to piss Darth off. I'm sure his Lordship doesn't appreciate that, y'know ..."

"Sorry, Darth," I mumbled. "But seriously - can't you do anything about the elevator?"

More heavy breathing.

Suddenly, someone saw us and realized we were stuck. And stuck with Darth inside, no less. People started pointing. I took the cue and began choking myself as if Darth were using The Force to strangle me. My friend started screaming at the people for help, pointing at me and pointing at Vader. We were drawing a crowd.

Suddenly, the elevator jolted and we began descending.

We continued our act as the doors opened. We tumbled out the door, I collapsed in a heap on the ground, my friend bending over me to comfort my "attack" from Vader.

"Don't go in there!" he yelled. "Vader's trying to kill us! Someone get help! Security!"

Darth Vader walked out of the elevator and stepped over us with all the swagger of the villain he was .....

..... and was immediately accosted by a bunch of fanboys waiting with cameras.

....................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

A Few Comic-Con Moments .....

So .... I've been trying to get this going for days now - a synopsis of my 2008 Comic-Con experience .... and I've come up blank. Blankety-blank, matter'n fact.

There's so much to convey, it's mind-boggling. And probably would be painfully boring to most that will read this. Suffice to say the entire event was fun-filled, frantic, overwhelming, exhausting .... yet completely satisfying.

So, what I'll do in my overwhelming-enormitousnous will be to simply jot a few notes, post a few photos and blather a bit of commentary. Otherwise, I will be blogging for a week. And if'n I do that, it'll be inconsiderate.

But I do have to highlight a specific moment that made The Con special for me. Bear with me - I will point it out detailingly and glaringly.

The Con began with a Wednesday night Preview Night and went on through Sunday.

My buddy I went with - who I go with every year - turned to me Saturday afternoon and made the first move:

"Whatter you gonna do?"

"I dunno. Whatter you gonna do?" I asked.

"I dunno," was the response.

"You done?" I queried.

"Yup" came the reply.

He and I do this every year. It's an ESP thing.

There comes a point where we've seen all we need to see, gotten all we've needed to got, met everybody we've come to meet and that's all there is to it ..... even if there is another day or so left. (In recent memory, I can't remember having stuck around for the final Sunday of The Con .....)

So ... it was off to Dick's Last Resort for the conclusion of a spifficated, long weekend to quaff a few beers. (But that's another story .....)

But, how 'bout a few photogs 'n' stuff?

Of course, there were amazing busts and creations that were drooled over. Below are a few I gawked at, covetously .....

Asajj Ventress and Count Dooku from Star Wars .....



A spiffy rendition of a Storm Trooper .....



Ursula from The Little Mermaid
(Available early next year. S'on my list of "things to get" .....)

There were, of course, numerous Tom Foolery costumed characters to be seen and bumped into .....

Some were so realistic looking,
it was as if you were transported right back into the '60's .....



Others, not so much.
(Proof that "Elvis Is Everywhere". He's even in Storm Troopers .....)



And I have no idea who these guys were,
but they'd been wandering 'round for days.
So I had to get a picture with'em .....

Then, there was frolickry and monkey business to commit:

Sketches from redheads to snag .....



Icons to get photos with .....



Daring-do costumed (and rackified!) super-heroines to be conquered by .....



Security personel to lend a restful back to .....



Luchadores to be chided .....
(Yes, that's my buddy in the red mask .... asshat)



And, naturally, celebrities to snap pictures of .....
(Zachary Levi from Chuck and Zachary Quinto, Sylar from Heroes ...
Zack Q. plays Spock in the upcoming Star Trek film, by the by .....)



Of course, there were a few comics to acquire .....
(This'un ("Hot Mexican Love Comics") was "hot off the press" ...
... as you can tell from the oven mitt being worn)



"Hotels" to be slept in .....
(Yes ... the first night we stayed in a room of a house
with nothing but a light and a floor to sleep on ... literally ...
... and it wasn't a terrible sleep at all.
The bathroom, however, was un-walk-in-able .....)



As well as ravenous zombies wandering the streets to be eaten by .....
(I'm on the ground, barely in the picture,
with entrails being spilt on the sidewalk.
Damned zombies ..... always hungry, always attacking)

Good times all around.

Now, the defining highlight of The Con for me:

The gentlemen in the photo above are Jim Warren (left) and Verne Langdon (right). (I've no clue who the guffawing bonehead is in the middle.) I was passing by and noticed Jim, the publisher of Famous Monsters Of Filmland, an old monster magazine I frequented in my youth. I had to meet him, tell a quick story and get his autograph.

While in line, a security chick came by handing out one dollar bills. She explained they were from Jim Warren. He was concerned by all the fans waiting in line. He knew the wait was taking some time (there were a few asshats that wanted everything under the sun signed by Mr. Warren) and he wanted to show his appreciation.

As I finally got up to the front of the line, I didn't notice who Verne Langdon was right away. I'd never seen him previously. Verne was the creator of all the spiffy rubber monster masks that graced the "Captain Company" ads in Famous Monsters. What a thrill! I remembered reading Famous Monsters as a lad and being envious of those Dracula and Frankenstein monster adornments, but didn't have the funds to afford them.

Welp ..... up I went to meet Verne firstly. He was gracious and warm and a big bear of a guy, genuinely thrilled to be there. I told him my tale and he took time to listen considerately. I asked if I could get a photo with he and Jim once I was done talking with the both of them. "It's expected!" he cried.

I moved on to Jim Warren. I extended my hand warmly and told him: "Mr. Warren, I have two things to tell you ....."

He got up out of his seat, leaned over the table toward me, put both his hands on my shoulders grandfatherly-like, looked deeply into my eyes and asked kiddingly with a smile: "Are these going to be long stories?" I cracked up and assured him they were not.

I told him Famous Monsters was a forbidden read by my mother those long years ago, but I snuck them in my room after clandestinely purchasing them at my local 7/11. And I read them voraciously, I told him. I remembered his name on every issue and wondered who this guy was that published this wonderful magazine. So it was a thrill to meet him.

I went on to tell him I've been to many conventions and not once, not one single time, had I ever had anyone supply ME with money to get an autograph. It was always the other way around.

"So ... what's the deal with handing out free money?" I asked.

He regaled me:

"Let me tell you something: All those artists and celebrities that charge outrageous amounts of money to give out their autographs have forgotten who it was that made them famous in the first place. I'm thrilled to have you come up and grace me with a request for a John Hancock or a picture. You, sir, are MY fan ... and that's why I give out money to you."

Un. Freakin'. Heard. Of. I was thrilled to hear this from him. I thanked him mightily for his time and consideration, shook his hand warmly and told him I wasn't leaving without a photo of he and Verne and I if it was all right. He insisted.

Around the table I went. I told Verne to keep seated (he was severely handicapped and it was difficult for him to stand) but he wouldn't hear of it. I helped him up and, while doing so, Jim stood on the chair he was sitting in to let everyone know who was boss. I turned to put my arm 'round him once I'd assisted Verne upright and doubled over in laughter at Jim's theatrics.

The result is the photo you see above.

It was a defining moment for me. Noteworthy and special as all get out. Jim even signed that dollar bill for me.

There's tons more to tell, but that's enough. A "Part Two" might be in order later.

Naturally, 2009 is anxiously being anticipated .....

......................................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Down To San Diego .....

It's that time again ......

Time for Rupe's annual visit to San Diego for Comic-Con, a Mecca of wonder and people and joy and costumes and back slappin' and jokery and stuff that just needs seein' to be believed .....

When The Con is mentioned, many roll their eyes. Words like "geek" and "Nerdfest" and "dork" and "freakin' no-deodorant-wearin' weirdos" pop up frequently and with conviction.

And it's true: There are those that attend.

Rupe isn't one of'em. Or so he likes to think.

But that's okay. Rupe gets lost in all the hubbub and excitement the four and a half days afford. 125,000+ people last year, an Entertainment Weekly feature article (out this week!) and a sold out 2008 convention of comic book loving fans says something, I don't care what you're readin' otherwise.

It's not all about the comics. It's about the blood drive. It's about the stars and premieres and sneak peeks of the coming year. It's about our governor The Arnold popping out from behind a curtain unexpectedly when no one is expecting it to promote the new Terminator flick. It's about getting that autograph to complete your collection. It's about jaw dropping artwork at an art show. It's about heading to Perry's for a big breakfast to get you through the day and Dick's Last Resort in the Gaslamp District to cut loose at night. And so much more .....

Last year was probably the ultimate Con year for Rupe. Rupe finally got to meet one of his top-list heroes. A kindly gentleman by the name of Mike Ploog.

(... flashback ...)

Rupe was iller than ill and bedridden one elementary school day. In comes Mom with a motherly look of concern on her face and a handful of comic books to help get young Rupe through his illness.

A "How do you feel?", a warm kiss on the forehead and Rupe was left with his pile of kiddie books to flip through.

Now .... Rupe had never before read a comic book. And the wonder that unfolded before him as he began opening pages was otherworldy. Who was this Conan The Barbarian? Cool! Bugs Bunny, in panel form! The Batman! The Hulk sure was formidable!

But it was The Man-Thing that caught Rupe's young attention.

There were several Marvel Man-Thing books to peruse and, as they began to be digested, the artwork of one Mike Ploog was what really caught Rupe's eye. The lines and curves and unique style were impressive to Rupe and Mr. Ploog's artwork would not only influence but be a delight to Rupe for the remainder of days.

(... flash forward to last year's Comic-Con ...)

Going over the on-line schedule of the upcoming fest, Rupe noticed gleefully there would be several panels featuring Mike Ploog at the 2007 Comic-Con - one devoted exclusively to him.

Long story short, the panel was spectacular. Rupe sat rapt in attention. Rupe learned tons about this long-sought-after artist and film storyboardist, more than out of any book Rupe's read on the man.

Afterward, Rupe got the opportunity for a one-on-one with Mike Ploog - a 45 minute chat that culminated in a prized sketch and a commitment to commission a black and white ink piece from him.

The final, ultimate thrill was the photo below Rupe took with Mike Ploog.

See that giddy grin on Rupe's face? That's the kid in him - glowing, ecstatic and thrilled beyond happiness .....


(... today ...)

Onward to The Con! One big, goofy, awe-filled long weekend of bliss and camaraderie and old friends and escape from the everyday.

*... now ..... where in the world did Rupe put his geek hat ... ?!?!?*

........................................................ Ruprecht ( STOP )