Thanks to Tom Heintjes, I just learned that Roy Crane’s comic strip Buz Sawyer debuted on November 1, 1943 … that is, 72 years ago today …

Though, as he reminds us, Buz himself didn’t make an appearance until the following day.

Why am I telling you this?

Because it’s yet another opportunity to share what an annoying kid with a sketchpad (that is … me!) collected during his early days as a comics fan.

On April 23, 1973, the same day I pestered Garry Trudeau, Curt Swan, Paul Fung, Jr., and others for sketches during the Rueben Awards banquet being held at the Waldorf Astoria, I also met Crane, who kindly drew the following, nearly 30 years after his most famous creation debuted.

Crane would die just a few years later, on July 7, 1977. But he will live forever in my portfolio … and in my memory, for taking the time to be nice to a scruffy kid, when I’m sure all he wanted to do was eat rubber chicken and party with his friends.