Future Famous Letter Column Writers

[malaprop]

I like to at least scan the names of letter writers to see if I recognize any. Here's one from Weird Fantasy #21, one Archie Goodwin. I checked Google to confirm Goodwin did indeed grow up in Tulsa. the article mentions he was a huge EC fan, and would have been 16 that year.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc164/nanapong1/img136.jpg

[68 Guns]

I used to keep a sub-collection of books with letters from people who went on to careers in comics. It's great when you are reading a book and come across a letter by Wendi Pini, or Todd McFalarne with their address from where they were living at the time.

[pasnat54]

I remember Tony Isasbella, Mark Evanier, and several others.

But I was wondering if other prolific letter writers ever did anything in comics. I'm thinking specifically of Guy H. Lillian III and Irene Vartanoff. I remember seeing their names all over the lettercols, but I don't know if they ever worked in the field.

And there was one letter I think about from time to time and wonder if this girl went into comics.

I remember because she wrote in to DC — can't remember the book either — and asked if it was possible for a girl to get into the business. She hadn't heard of any and it seemed like a closed-membership club.

Whoever answered the column replied that while there weren't many, it was certainly doable. He cited DC's own Ramona Fradon, and said that Marvel's Marie Severin was also a highly respected and talented female artist. The reason this stuck with me was because at this time, DC called Marvel "Brand I" reflecting Stan Lee's colossal ego, while Marvel called DC "Brand Ecch." (Which led to the parody book Not Brand Ecch a few years later.)

This was the first time I'd ever heard either company refer to the other in a respectful manner, and I was impressed with DC for expressing kudos to someone from the competition.

I wish I knew who the girl who wrote the letter is, and if it served as her inspiration to make a career of comic books.

[pasnat54]

Okay, I just googled both of them. Irene writes online romance comics and Guy is a lawyer/fanzine publisher.

[68 Guns]

The late T.M.Maple worked on a book published during the B&W craze, I'm not sure he did anything mainstream.

[toz1960]

In John Carter #10,May 1965 on the fan page,Walt Simonson sent in a sketch.I had the issue at one time and the sketch was pretty good.

[malaprop]

Now that I'd like to see. But I'm having trouble placing it, do you mean the Marvel series? Gold Key John Carter never got past #3. Korak maybe?

[Capitalrecoveryman]

The late T.M.Maple worked on a book published during the B&W craze, I'm not sure he did anything mainstream.

When I first saw this thread, TM Maple was the first name that popped in my mind because it seemed that guy had a lengthy letter in EVERY single funny book I read in the late 70's. Here's his wikipedia entry-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._M._Maple

[Capitalrecoveryman]

Also, one name that pops out to me is that I remember seeing letters in 60's comics by Martin Pasko.

[toz1960]

Now that I'd like to see. But I'm having trouble placing it, do you mean the Marvel series? Gold Key John Carter never got past #3. Korak maybe?

Sorry mal,my mistake,it was Magnus Robot Fighter #10.I was looking at both titles and my wires got crossed.It looked pretty good.I think Linda bought my copy a couple of years back.

[Quato]

I hear that some guy who had a letter published in Charlemagne #4 is going to go on and make web pages about comics and get quoted as a reference source for comic information online. Oh, wait... that's me.

Q

[jaeldubyoo]

Isn't this how Jim Shooter got started in the business? He sent letters and plots to DC. He eventually became the writer for Legion of Superheroes as a teenager.

[68 Guns]

I've never seen a comic with a Shooter letter in it, but he did submit Legioin scripts before being hired.