We’ve been emptying out my parents’ home, and while it is both daunting and exhausting, we’re finding quite a few lost treasures.

I smiled when I realized my dad kept his copy of an article I wrote for an issue of The Panel, the monthly newsletter for the Comic Book Club of Ithaca. That’s the group, led by folks like Bill Turner and Carmela Turner, that puts on ITHACON, the nation’s second longest running comic convention. I had the honor of helping with that way back then as well in the here-and-now. This particular article was all about how, way back in 1985, I met Batman. I was finishing up college. Here’s the article just as it appeared all those years ago.

Shaking Hands with Batman

(Originally published in The Panel, The Comic Book Club of Ithaca’s Newsletter in 1985)

It was something I had wanted to do for almost 20 years. I had dreams about doing it. I had written stories about doing it. Oh, I knew the risks involved with doing it. First, it was nearly impossible. Secondly, the probability of extreme disappointment was high. Mostly, no one would take me seriously. But last Saturday, I shook hands with my hero. I met Batman.

It wasn’t in Gotham City. I was in Buffalo to surprise my girlfriend Kathe with a visit. Fortunately, that same weekend there was a big Auto-rama car show starring none other than Adam West, television’s Batman. Well, Kathe and I thought it might be fun to visit the Caped Crusader. Who says I’m not a fun date?

We hopped on a bus to beautiful downtown Buffalo and, undaunted by the expensive admission price, we entered the main showroom of the auto show. I have never been fond of cars, perhaps one of my nicknames—Crash—will give you a clue why, but I was impressed by these gorgeous cars. Shiny chrome pipes glistened everywhere. Kathe oohed and aahhed, and I wished I had a nice car to drive us around in. What caught my eye was a long, sleek black car at one end.

It was the Batmobile. Or was it? It wasn’t hard for the trained Bat-eye to see that this was an imitation. I understand that they used several cars for the show, but I doubt if this was any one of them. Red pinstripes had become gaudy fluorescent orange racing stripes. The Bat-symbols weren’t in the right places, and the hubcaps were all wrong. No way was I going to spend three dollars to have my picture taken in a phony Batmobile.

We waited in line with the rest of the mob for Batman. He was late, as stars always seem to be. I didn’t mind, but I think that Kathe felt uncomfortable waiting with all those children and their parents. Our line was longer than I any I had ever seen for Santa. In front was a small, raised stage with a table where Batman would soon sit and sign autographs.

Suddenly, and exuberant announcer came out and introduced Adam West. I cheered as my peers for Bruce Springsteen. Batman had a little trouble with curtain, but there he was. My hero stood right in front of me.

In this old Bat-costume, he looked remarkably good. Even with his slight paunch, I’m sure he could still take on the Joker or the Penguin. His warm smile was undiminished by age. The costume didn’t look exactly like the one used in the series, but it was very close. I don’t think that any of us minded that one of his Bat-ears kept flopping over. As he briefly spoke to the crowd, his familiar voice and mannerisms brought back a flood of memories. It was good to see my old chum again.

He really didn’t know how to act. West told a story about how he had fashioned the costume to strike fear into the hearts of criminals, but then joked about how his first costumes of an otter and a bear didn’t instill much fear. He even said that his “mommy” had made his cape. AARRGH! On the other hand, his friendliness shined through as he welcomed us and said he looked forward to meeting each and every one of us.

The line moved slowly unit it was our turn to meet Batman. A security guard asked me my name, and then introduced me to the Darknight Detective. Batman signed an autograph for me before even looking up at me and I felt a twinge of awkwardness. As I extended a hand, all the thousands of rehearsed lines evaporated from my mind. I stammered, “I’m a big fan, sir.” Kathe took our picture together, and when he saw her, he said with approval, “A man of impeccable taste.” If Batman likes your girlfriend, I guess you’re doing pretty good. Then, Kathe gave the millionaire philanthropist a kiss, and I took their picture. Cross your fingers those pictures come out well!

I still can’t believe it! Let other people meet baseball stars or Michael Jackson. I met the man! And best of all, he came through. He still looked sharp and he shook hands like he meant it. I am one of those kids whose lives were changed by that show. I had capes and cowls, utility belts and batarangs, toy figures and even a pedal Batmobile. Id’ still love to paint a bat on my first car. The show started me reading comics and out of that grew a love for books. Most of all, I grew up with a strong set of values and ideals with a hero Batman helped to reinforce. Meeting Batman wasn’t one of those “dreams come true”, but it was close.

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And now flash forward to 2025, and we just finished working on RetroFan #42, featuring “new” interviews with Adam West. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess.

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By the way, ITHACON will turn 49 this year and 50 next year. We’re planning lots of surprises and we’ll be shining the spotlight—should I have typed Batsignal?—on so many other ITHACON/Comic Book Club of Ithaca memories in the months to come. Keep your eyes peeled!