It’s the middle of August, the year,
2012. Personally, I had relaxed my convention attendance. I was going to attend
a Supernatural one with my daughter. But , I had slowed down. There
was going to be a Dallas Comic Con Fan Days show coming up that October. That I
had not planned at all to attend. Then I received a message that I did not
expect at all. “Hey Riley, got a surprise for you. Ralph Bakshi is coming to
the October show”. HOLY (expletive) I thought. “Are you serious?” Yep, he said.
I have been a fan of Ralph Bakshi since I was four years old. Even though I
didn’t really know what I was watching back then.
When I was four years old in 1980,
it was in the middle of the night. My Dad was watching a movie with his brother
in the living room. I was asleep in the bedroom. But I was awoken by the light
of the television and the laughter coming from the living room. Because I was
supposed to have been asleep, I crept down the hallway and peered around the corner.
They were watching this cartoon cat doing things I had never seen on a cartoon
before. I shouldn’t have, but I watched it unknowingly to them for a good solid
thirty minutes. That cat’s name was Fritz. Yep the cat created by Robert Crumb
brought to the screen by Ralph Bakshi. In reality, I should not have been
watching it. Lol. But it is what it is.
Also unbeknownst to me, I was a fan
of Ralph’s from other work prior to that. I remember some of my favorite
cartoons when I was a tyke was Deputy Dawg, Heckle & Jeckle, & The
Mighty Heroes to name a few. All which Ralph worked on. Then I discovered Heavy
Traffic, and American Pop, and Coonskin. Then it was Wizards. Wizards became
such a favorite of mine that I have the two Wizards Avatar and Blackwolf tattooed
on my leg. Way back when, long before I even fathomed the idea of meeting him,
I had written to Ralph asking him for his autograph. He had signed a couple for
me as well as do a sketch for me. Just that, had floored me.
So, when I had found out that he
was going to be in my hometown, the answer was obvious, I had to meet him. In
true Riley (yes, I’m speaking in third person) fashion, I had to be first in
line to meet him. So even though I had bought what was the top ticket at the
time, that guaranteed me being in the show before any other lower ticket
holder, I still had to be first in line. When I go there, if memory serves me
right there was a couple people that had beat me to the front to get in. But
when the doors finally opened, I was like a horse at the Kentucky derby to his
table. I rush to his table to find that Ralph hadn’t make it down yet. His son
Eddie was there getting everything set up. I had spoken with Eddie prior to the
show and so I spent a few minutes catching up with him. Eddie had told me that
hopefully his Dad would be down soon. But I could get back at the front of the
line when he comes down.
So, I left the line and walked
around the room for a while. I felt like buzzard circling around all the while
keeping a solid eye on Ralph’s table. Well after about an hour I look over and
see people have started lining up. Sh#t, I thought. So, I head over there and
get in line. After about five minutes Eddie sees me and tells me that Ralph is
on his way down and I can come up ahead of everyone else. There was only about
five people ahead of me, so I said no it’s ok. I didn’t want to be that guy.
Even though I was told it was ok. Now this is where something hilarious
happens.
As I’m waiting in line, here comes
Ralph walking around the corner to his table. To the left of his table sits
Stan Lee. In true Ralph Bakshi fashion, he starts yelling at Stan. “Hey Stan, I
actually give a shit about my fans” “I’m not ripping them off like you are
charging them to sign”. I laughed my @$$ off. After a few minutes I made it to the front.
Eddie kneels to talk to his Dad. He told him, “This is Riley. He’s the one that
has the Wizards tattoos I showed you.” He reached out to shake my hand and
questioned me why. He didn’t get why I would get the tattoos of his characters.
He even liked the convention badge that I made honoring him. It was of
Coonskin. Well Ralph had signed all my stuff that I had brought. I even bought
a cell of Fritz from Wizards which he signed as well. With knowing of my love
of Wizards, he even drew a quick sketch of Fritz from Wizards in my sketchbook.
I also shared with him that we shared a common friend. The lovely Tina Romanus.
So he took my sketchbook and sketch a quick little “Hi Tina” in it for her and
let me take a photo of him holding it. I could not have asked for a better day.
They say never meet your heroes. That
you will always be disappointed. Well, I had met one of mine that day and
disappointed was not a word I would use. Floored, thrilled, delighted, but most
of all a dream come true. The entire experience could not have gone better. A
day that I will always remember. Also, if you’re so inclined, I filmed Ralph’s
Q&A that day. It’s a little shaky in spots. But it’s awesome none the less.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8B1Ex_1T6k&t=1377s
Thank you for taking the time. Be
safe everyone.
Riley
