The History of Comic Book Letter Columns

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ม.ค. 2025

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  • @leorblumenthal5239
    @leorblumenthal5239 2 ปีที่แล้ว +243

    Back in 2006, when IDW Comics were launching their first Transformers books, I was inspired to send an email to the editor. To my surprise, not only did the editor reply, the letter was selected for publication. I continued to write to the editor, and he would reply occasionally. But the sight of my name below the letter was a real thrill.

    • @juniorjames7076
      @juniorjames7076 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Growing up collecting comics in the late 70s and early 1980s, reading the Letter's Column had a deep impact on me academically. The concept of critiquing a story (what makes a story good and what are the elements that made a story fail, why did the writer fail last month, how could the ART have been better as well) or critical analysis was drilled into after reading every issue. I began to fashion my book reports in elementary school (always receiving top grades) and later literary thesis papers along the same principles. The "Letter to the Editor" is basically a thesis statement in my opinion. Comic books saved my life.

    • @mikecargioli3030
      @mikecargioli3030 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Your Name in Print! That kind of spontaneous publicity! Things are going to start happening now!

  • @jdc4483
    @jdc4483 2 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    Two points: Back in the 1980s I had five letters published in various DC publications. I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to see my name in print! Also, when you reread the actual comic books in order it’s fun to read the letters pages as well because it really immerses you in the publications original time frame.

    • @macsnafu
      @macsnafu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Right. When I read letters columns of old comics, I see what the readers thought about previous issues, and then I want to go back and read those issues to see how my thoughts compare to the published readers.

  • @johnmccain1460
    @johnmccain1460 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I had no idea you did that great Stan impression. *nods in approval.

  • @genghisbunny
    @genghisbunny 2 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    This reminds me of when you used to feature fan art at the end of episodes. That was such a fun interaction with your fans.

    • @felixbelanger2659
      @felixbelanger2659 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      That's exactly what I was thinking as well! I'm sure it was partly inspired by that

    • @jamieyoder9199
      @jamieyoder9199 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I wish he would bring that back! Even though he doesn't have any prizes anymore. it was such a fun aspect to see what everyone sent in.

  • @rundoetx
    @rundoetx 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As an early member of the Merry Marvel Marching Society, the letters page was a "Must Read" for me. I wrote many letters and enjoyed reading what my fellow "Marchers" had to say. Thanks for covering this important part of comics history. Nuff Said.

  • @dacedebeer2697
    @dacedebeer2697 2 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    Loved the Stan Lee impersonation! Great video as always

  • @CraigMurraysVids
    @CraigMurraysVids 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    I enjoyed this. I'm from the UK. Many years ago (I think I was 16) I sent a picture I drew of Judge Dredd in a Picasso style to 2000 AD along with a letter. They published them both and I got my £10 book token. I was so proud. And the letters were on page 1. So I felt everyone who bought 2000 AD must have seen my letter and drawing.

  • @evanlehner2116
    @evanlehner2116 2 ปีที่แล้ว +93

    Hey Chris I love your Channel so much, you’ve almost single-handedly grown my love for comics into a passion with your videos cause they’re so well done

    • @SonofTheMorningStar666
      @SonofTheMorningStar666 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Same here.

    • @chriswade8949
      @chriswade8949 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Absolutely I never was a comic kid and once I got into watching comic tropes I can’t get enough of it and I’m in my 40s

    • @slash.slayer
      @slash.slayer 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Chris commonly reminds me how much I love comics

  • @sneakyking
    @sneakyking 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I will never forget the greatest transition in youtube history where a masked assailant got kicked off screen and comic trope guy landed and introduced the vid.

    • @sneakyking
      @sneakyking 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I dont know what vid it was.
      It hurts me

    • @sneakyking
      @sneakyking 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I FOUND IT
      th-cam.com/video/f84gZ35dhdE/w-d-xo.html

  • @eberp9270
    @eberp9270 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Olav Beemer, TM Maple & Uncle Elvis.
    In the 90's I would always flip to the letters page first, just to see if there were any names I recognised.
    My friend named the Letters page for Azrael (Az, You Like It) and got some original art (Kitson I think) and a note from Denny O'Neil.

  • @ettecnal
    @ettecnal 2 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    Chris, I'm hoping this can be your one and only job! I'm rooting for you. I desperately want to ditch my 9-5 job and focus on my creative projects as well. So I definitely want you to have that experience and share it with us!

  • @OomaGooma
    @OomaGooma 2 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    When I read old comicbooks I still read the letters column. I’ve never had a letter printed in a letter column. And I’ve never won a No-Prize. Your Stan Lee impersonation is top notch as always.

    • @drewtheunspoken3988
      @drewtheunspoken3988 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I've had one letter printed. I wss 15 and felt like I was on top of the world. I think it went to my head a little.

    • @OomaGooma
      @OomaGooma 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@drewtheunspoken3988 wow. That’s pretty cool. I’m sure you remember which comic issue specifically printed your letter. Which comic was it?

    • @drewtheunspoken3988
      @drewtheunspoken3988 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@OomaGooma The Terminator: The Enemy Within #1. I cringe at the letter now. I think I actually used the descriptor "corny" twice when talking about the previous Terminator series: Secondary Objectives.
      What was really cool was that after that, they sent me a review copy of John Byrne's Next Men #1.

    • @OomaGooma
      @OomaGooma 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@drewtheunspoken3988 I think that’s pretty awesome even though your letter makes you cringe. I don’t have that issue so I’ll not get to experience your letter, lol. ‘Nuff Said!!

    • @juniorjames7076
      @juniorjames7076 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I never had a letter printed, much to my anguish during my pre-teen years. I think I have been making up for lost time by getting my comments printed in The New York Times section or The New Yorker, but it will never compare to seeing my letter printed in the back of Brave and the Bold or The All-Star Squadron!!

  • @danguillou713
    @danguillou713 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    From my own experience with depression I have one advice. Be kind to yourself. You didn’t chose the head you live in.
    I love your channel and I’ll keep watching. And if you want to take more time between episodes or change the direction or try out new stuff or just keep doing what you’ve been doing… Either way, I’m here for it.
    Take care

  • @juniorjames7076
    @juniorjames7076 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Growing up collecting comics in the late 70s and early 1980s, reading the Letter's Column had a deep impact on me academically. The concept of critiquing a story (what makes a story good and what are the elements that made a story fail, why did the writer fail last month, how could the ART have been better as well) or critical analysis was drilled into after reading every issue. I began to fashion my book reports in elementary school (always receiving top grades) and later literary thesis papers along the same principles. The "Letter to the Editor" is basically a thesis statement in my opinion. Comic books saved my life.

  • @andresschiffino1262
    @andresschiffino1262 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Mad magazine's Letters and Tomatoes Dept. was always my favorite letters column.

  • @ItsOver9000Productions
    @ItsOver9000Productions 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    A few days ago Casually Comics waa was reading the letters page of Superfriends books from the 70s and saw one of her subscribers in there. It was really cool to see happen.

  • @56postoffice
    @56postoffice 2 ปีที่แล้ว +56

    Stan Lee wasn't the first to have a letters column, but his is probably the best known. *EXCELSIOR!*

  • @KTF0
    @KTF0 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I always thought of the letters column as a great time capsule, especially when reading old comics. I still read them.

  • @NovaSaber
    @NovaSaber 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The Marvel UK Transformers comic had the letters answered in-character by Transformers. Soundwave, Grimlock, Dreadwind, and Blaster each had runs as the host.

  • @sixtiviris
    @sixtiviris 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    any time I have written a comment here here, I feel like I am writing to the letter column ! I imagine getting a heart from comic tropes is like having it published! lol love this channel, love all that you do ! can't wait for the usagui joyimbo and Quantum and Woody episodes! lol

  • @seijunsejuki
    @seijunsejuki 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    When I was a little kid back in the mid 80s I wrote a letter to Archie comics, saying, among many other things, that Archie shouldn't be in a Disco band anymore because no one listened to Disco, and it wasn't right that Betty kept pining over him, when he was clearly into Veronica. I said Betty needed a new boyfriend, and I drew a picture of one named Steve and suggested they use him (I took Archie comics very seriously when I was 8 years old LOL). To my surprise they actually wrote back a personal letter, referencing details that I had written them, saying that they would seriously consider all of my suggestions, and thanking me for the suggestion of a new boyfriend for Betty. Looking back on it now as a middle-aged man I have to say it was really cool that a corporation would actually take the time to write a personal letter like that to a small child.

  • @FragItAll
    @FragItAll 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I remember T.M.Maple. Great topic.
    I almost wrote a few letters to Daredevil and such but never got more than a sentence or two down.
    Keep taking care of yourself.

  • @MrMookiejr
    @MrMookiejr 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Unsurprisingly this was another interesting episode. I used to love reading those letters columns, especially the one in Wizard Magazine where Jim McLaughlin would answer letters in a joking manner. Marvel even sent me back a letter from "Spider-Man" when I was a kid, which to me was incredible.

  • @andrewanastasovski1609
    @andrewanastasovski1609 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I used to read all the letters in the comics. I always wanted to see what other people thought about the characters.

    • @MrBronx61
      @MrBronx61 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Same here....I started collecting Marvel comics in the early 70s. Loved the letters pages - there were plenty of angry letters over Gwen Stacy's death in Amazing Spider-man #121-122

  • @zakazany1945
    @zakazany1945 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Sometimes I read the letter section in 80's and 90's comics, it's a nice time capsule and kinda funny sometimes. One that stood out for me was on a Punisher story that was so bizarre that the dude didn't knew how to answer and just talked about the schedule that was barely mentioned in the confusing ramble on the letter.

  • @jameshutchins3798
    @jameshutchins3798 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Always appreciate the puppet. Great video as always.

  • @Harpoquondrax
    @Harpoquondrax 2 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    This brings up another discussion I heard recently, about liner notes in physical albums. There was some musician who said part of what fed his obsession / desire to be a musician was reading the liner notes, seeing who produced what, who was on what instrument, even who they thanked in the thank-you's. You don't get that when you stream a song off the internet, though I suppose you could still find it if you truly desired.

    • @juniorjames7076
      @juniorjames7076 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Growing up collecting comics in the late 70s and early 1980s, reading the Letter's Column had a deep impact on me academically. The concept of critiquing a story (what makes a story good and what are the elements that made a story fail, why did the writer fail last month, how could the ART have been better as well) or critical analysis was drilled into after reading every issue. I began to fashion my book reports in elementary school (always receiving top grades) and later literary thesis papers along the same principles. The "Letter to the Editor" is basically a thesis statement in my opinion. Comic books saved my life.

    • @macsnafu
      @macsnafu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes, liner notes really added to the pleasure of the album, but it wasn't very common for rock and pop albums to have additional liner notes beyond the lyrics, song credits, and musician line-ups. But there are *some* liner notes here and there, like with Glen Frey's No Fun Aloud album, or the 1980 album Chance by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

  • @milestonowheres
    @milestonowheres 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Iv read some “ girl comics “ that I acquired from other collections when buying collections from people.
    In issues of “ Betty and Veronica “ , readers (young girls ) would write in to ask Betty and Veronica questions ..
    There were things like “ how do o get a boy to notice me ?” Or “ how do I get my mom to let me ware a short skirt to school ? “
    The part that was most strange was that the editors would answer back as Betty or Veronica with advice like “ Have you tried wearing tights under your skirt ? “
    I had never seen a comic letter page and seen letters to Peater Parker .
    No one is asking Frank Castle fo advice on concealed carry .
    I believe a good comic troupe video would be on the subject of comics directed to young girls as readers .
    I was blown away on how different the ads and articles were in comics such as “Love Story “ .
    Keep up the good work

    • @DallySkyeAnims
      @DallySkyeAnims 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sounds like one of those Ask "insert character here" roleplay threads on Tumblr back then. It does feel nice feeling like your favorite character is interacting with you sometimes.

  • @davidbjacobs3598
    @davidbjacobs3598 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I also remember coming across a letter in an early Fantastic Four where someone basically pitched what would become the Microverse. A few issues laters, Stan and Jack actualized this fan's pitch, and now it's in the movies. I think that's utterly amazing and beautiful. Imagine being that fan.

  • @hamzadawud
    @hamzadawud 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Great video, Chris! William F. Wu's letter in Iron Fist was so striking that I had to google him. Apparently, he's since become an author himself.

  • @darthstylestv
    @darthstylestv 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Being someone that is struggling from the same things as you, I very much empathize with all that you are doing and dealing with. I am a casual streamer and have made 2 ...2 VONDERFUL VEEDIOS!! on TH-cam. (Couldn't help the muppet reference, sorry). My biggest issues are the anxiety you mentioned (medicated but maybe not enough) and the difficulty it presents in maintaining the motivation and ability to shut up the voices that keep yelling at you that "you can't do it" and "you're not good enough". I am not looking for anything here, I just thought I would reach out to you and express my admiration of your dedication, as I feel I know where you are coming from. One day I hope I can get my "stuff" together, enough, to be able to keep ANY kind of schedule for ANYTHING. I have been following you with my personal account for a long time and have seen as much if the ups and downs as you have let us see, and again, must express my pride in your efforts and my thanks for your continuing contributions to the lexicon of comic book media.
    I truly enjoy your presence, your research, and hearing your opinions on what you discover.
    Keep reading comics and letting us know what is going on, with them and you.

  • @nshaw2311
    @nshaw2311 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love reading the letters columns in the old books I read. It's a fascinating way to learn (just a little) about the past.

  • @chrismellides
    @chrismellides 2 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    Thanks for the update, Chris. I think everyone deals with a bit of anxiety every now and again. I'll be sure to support you moving forward. See you next time!

    • @robertpickerill7596
      @robertpickerill7596 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I got a letter published in Incredible Hulk and two in Avengers West Coast. Still have those copies.... somewhere lol. Love your shows.

  • @joemartin5669
    @joemartin5669 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I loved the names they came up for the letter columns like THE HAMMER STRIKES!(THOR)NUCLEAR REACTIONS(FIRESTORM)POSTBOX:THE PIT(G.I.JOE)and the best name of all LETTERS BY LANTERN LIGHT(GREEN LANTERN)it was all part of the comic experience and made it fell a little like the characters themselves were able to read the mail:)

  • @darrylwiggins1156
    @darrylwiggins1156 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for this! Growing up in the 60's i always believed Stan Lee was responsible for the comment page.He did excell at it.Stan's soapbox always got me.It was like he was one of us.Thanks.

  • @psychodeviant8903
    @psychodeviant8903 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The virtual extinction of the letters page in comics over the years is one of the saddest things we've lost (right up there with the top left cover art; which incidentally was covered on this channel not too long ago).
    I miss letters pages. I miss the whole concept of sending in letters and them being printed in the backs of comics (for all the reasons mentioned in this video). Some will say that being able to tweet an opinion or thought at a creator or at the company is better and I could not disagree more.
    Letters in a letters page mattered. If you took the time to write/type up a letter, put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it, place it in your mailbox or take it to the post office, wait 2-3 months for it to (maybe) show up in a future issue, you really took your time to organize your thoughts, think about what you were saying, how you were saying it, was it worth saying, etc. Letters were (usually) thoughtful and well thought out and organized.
    Nowadays it's all just shouting into a void. There's thousands of people tweeting, half of it with terrible spelling and grammar, non-sensical, the ravings of idiots, and there's no filter to decide if something was worth printing or not. Is there a unique, poignant, thoughtful opinion buried somewhere in all the white noise on the internet? Sure, but can anyone possibly hope to find it?

  • @andrewjefferson5097
    @andrewjefferson5097 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I had a letter printed once. It was to the Image comic No Mercy about a fatal bus crash stranded teenagers in another country. I told the story about the time I went to another country, broke my arm and then got indirectly involved in a fatal boat crash. It was one of the only letters published in that book too cause the creators said it was too much work to continue the column with everything else they had to do for the book

  • @robsondanielwolf8991
    @robsondanielwolf8991 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    One piece has to this day the SBS session in the manga releases where the author answer the readers and even expand certain points of the history that wasn't explored as well. It's very cool to see when something that Oda says in the SBS end up translated to the actual narrative and this makes the fans engage and create theorys from everything that Oda says In the answers.

  • @Johurph86
    @Johurph86 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It was fun showing my kids my name on the credit scroll! They think I'm famous :D Thanks, Chris!

  • @andrewhoffman8427
    @andrewhoffman8427 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I still recall the excitement of seeing my first letter that was printed, in the late '80s revival of Doom Patrol. Even though it had been edited down to a short blurb of what its content had been, it was pretty darn cool. And I hope you continue to get stronger! Good luck on the going full time thing. I enjoy your talks, my friend.

  • @enriqueprieto2922
    @enriqueprieto2922 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Recently I've been reading 60's Marvel Comics and one of my favorite Letters Columns comes from The Avengers. Specially following the re-introduction of Captain America and the departure of Thor, Hulk, Iron-Man, Giant-Man and the Wasp from the team's line up. Reading people's reaction to Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye joining the Avengers and how they hated/loved them is so fascinating.

  • @jameshamill4709
    @jameshamill4709 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Fun Fact! Forrest Ackerman was instrumental in helping Ray Bradbury get his first stories published as well as introducing young Bradbury to Ray Harryhausen, the stop-motion animator!

  • @zufalllx
    @zufalllx 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Man, you always pick the best topics I never knew I wanted to know about!

  • @thecolinwalton
    @thecolinwalton 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Glad you mentioned how good the Savage Dragon letters column is

  • @KRPeart
    @KRPeart 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I know the current Fantastic Four run by Dan Slott has a letter column. One of the reasons why I like it so much!

  • @vancelambert4680
    @vancelambert4680 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The way you manage to channel both Stan's accent and cadence so well is pretty remarkable

  • @genkaiba15
    @genkaiba15 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I feel like the "Oh, hi!" skits are your version of this. Instead of a few more moments of video, we love seeing you come up with fun scenerios to open your videos. Thank you for bringing it back. Exellent video, top to bottom. Great topic. Well done.

  • @Nono-hk3is
    @Nono-hk3is 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    3:57 "I will continue to read your mag, but I will not enjoy it as much as previously"
    You tell'em, William!!

  • @Feamara
    @Feamara 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    My favorite random letter column I've ever found was in the back of one of my Dad's Batman comics from a couple months after Jason Todd was killed. Almost the entire letters section is taken up by people arguing about Jason Todd's death and the the drama of the phone poll.

  • @Thebabybadass101
    @Thebabybadass101 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I’ll never forget going back to read invincible and finding you in the letter column, years after I have subbed I retroactively find you popping up throughout the industry and I just think it’s so cool and shows your dedication to the medium.

  • @FCSchaefer
    @FCSchaefer 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I've had the high honor of having letters of mine published by DC Comics (in the forgotten classic Major Bummer) and Marvel when I wrote to Amazing Spider-Man excoriating them for the way they bungled the ending of the Clone Saga. And it was a real high to see my name in a comic book along side those great talents I so admired.

  • @scotmooney6543
    @scotmooney6543 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I always read my comics cover to cover, letter cols and editorials included. I often wonder whatever happened to guys like Charles Sperling, Lon Wolf and TM Maple after the internet took over. Thanks for the Letter Hack spotlight and your always thoughtful essays on the many aspects of comics new and old.

    • @jcjc4164
      @jcjc4164 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Also Uncle Elvis and Melissa Page were prolific letter writers. A comic doesn't feel complete without the letter column, the editorial page from the group editor and finally the company hype page about the intercompany softball game and complaining how bad Superman IV was.

  • @grahamhume5953
    @grahamhume5953 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I really enjoyed this show and I was glad that T.M. Maple got a mention. I always enjoyed reading his letters. Sadly, he died in 1994 of a heart attack, aged 38. He wrote over 3,000 letters to various comic book publishers. Until Chris stops posting Comictropes videos, Make Mine Marvel.

    • @thomasdempsey721
      @thomasdempsey721 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Absolute agreement! TM's comments were always a feature---usually spot-on critiques!

    • @blackphoenix77
      @blackphoenix77 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Damn, that sucks; I remember seeing tons of his letters back in the day.

    • @Brickolas_Brickleby
      @Brickolas_Brickleby ปีที่แล้ว

      I remember TM Maple. A shame to hear he died so young.

  • @smbcollector
    @smbcollector 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This was a great idea for a video topic! Two comic series that had some really entertaining letter columns were Ambush Bug and its sequel Son of Ambush Bug! Every time I reread those books I make sure to read the letter columns again, too.

  • @NerdonFilm
    @NerdonFilm 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Loving the more consistent upload schedule. Always look forward to your videos, dude.

  • @juniravegaming8564
    @juniravegaming8564 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Marvel suprised me by having a few letters published in the X-men Blue run back in 2018; it was one of the few refreshing things that kept me reading.

  • @rjb1216
    @rjb1216 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nothing like reading a fresh new comic from page 1 thru the letter pages. I miss those days. T M Maple was a famous letter page regular I used to love their stuff. When he died dc actually had a small tribute for him in the letter pages.

  • @Shinmsl
    @Shinmsl 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That was an unusual subject I didn't expect it to be so interesting.Made me remember a lot of things that Stan Lee used to say that he thought the feedback with the fans was vital to creating a community, a social network of those days. And the larger personality and celebrity he became after the Marvel films started in the early 2000s , is a direct consequence of those times. I imagine people who didn't even know him as the creator of the characters were surprise that this older gentleman was so lively and so vigorous about engaging with the fans and appearing in every movie he could to promote Marvel, even if he didn't actually work at Marvel for over than decade.

  • @jonathanrobinson8926
    @jonathanrobinson8926 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I have always been particularly fond of reading the Silver Age letters column in "Adventure Comics". It was particularly interactive, and frequently took suggestions from readers that you would see in the "Bizzarro World" stories.

  • @SirMrHowell
    @SirMrHowell 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Much love from the east coast, Comic Tropes sir! Glad you made this episode and as always, take care of yourself 😃

  • @sarah07290
    @sarah07290 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Haha, look at the two of us, both suffering from depression and anxiety. We have more in common than I expected. We're all rooting for you, man. Love your videos.

  • @ftenacious
    @ftenacious 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    …and then straight to the Maps app to check out the apartment George R R Martin grew up in.
    Thanks as always. Glad to hear you’re doing well with a trajectory toward “even better”.

  • @noedelroj6843
    @noedelroj6843 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Chris this channel is awesome, your passion with all the themes keeps me interested and intrigued every time

  • @Yoshimitsu4prez
    @Yoshimitsu4prez 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Glad to see the classic intro after missing it last time 😂

  • @greenglow8304
    @greenglow8304 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great show today. Had a letter printed in marvel team up 116. And it was an ego trip as i showed my friends. Lots of fun! On a different note, i write and draw my own stuff strange coincidence, hmm.

  • @Dougeb7
    @Dougeb7 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I never wrote letters, but I always read the letters pages in my comics. Often a reader would point out a problem or subtle subtextual tidbit that I had missed. Great fun! Love your Stan Lee impersonation, btw. Spot on!

  • @silver-hairedbronzeagebabe2524
    @silver-hairedbronzeagebabe2524 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great video! For me, the letter columns are such a vital part of the comic book as a total experience -- the art, the story, the ads, the tactile feel of the old paper. I also really enjoy reading the silver and bronze age letters now as a record of what was going on socially and culturally during those decades.

  • @williambritt2787
    @williambritt2787 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I would be so excited to see my letter in the back of the comic book I wrote to.

  • @tubespore
    @tubespore 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love the puppet at start. This has to be one of the best topics choices for a comix utube I ve ever seen; good stuff.

  • @noquieropuerco
    @noquieropuerco 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    "Chris Piers (that guy again?)" gave me my big chuckle for the day. Also, quite interesting to see that you were indeed the guy who came up with the Walking Dead letters page name. As always, a very awesome episode!

  • @TheMelMan
    @TheMelMan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Another great topic I didn't know I wanted to explore. This channel is one of my favorites!

  • @RighteousBrother
    @RighteousBrother 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The best comics letter column I can remember has to be Swamp Thing during Alam Moore's run.

  • @AshleenWoods
    @AshleenWoods 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for the update! Love this channel, and it's been fantastic to see it grow. I hope it continues to do so! Keep it up, we love your vids!

  • @AngusJo
    @AngusJo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Really nice Stan Lee imitation. Very interesting and educational video, as always. Love your content, keep it up.

  • @ProuvaireJean
    @ProuvaireJean 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It's been decades, but I still remember the poem a fan wrote in response to Jean Grey's death in X-Men #137, which was printed in the letter column several issues later. It began: "Children of the atom, harken to my song. Of love and hate, life incarnate, of this sister’s fate gone wrong."

  • @treetheoak8313
    @treetheoak8313 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Very happy to hear that your patreon campaign was a success! Take care of yourself and don't worry about the patreon aspect. You do polls, ask questions and interact and thank us regularly on the site.

  • @matthewhood7844
    @matthewhood7844 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You mentioned Wendy Pini having a letter published in a comic. I had written a letter to Elfquest and was surprised and excited to see it printed and responded to. I always look forward to your videos. Keep up the great work and keep taking care of yourself.

  • @jsa141
    @jsa141 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This was just fantastic. A real trip down memory lane.

  • @phillipjohnson8903
    @phillipjohnson8903 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I always gain a new appreciation for something I'd taken for granted in comics. I'm going to read through letter columns more often now.

  • @victorcabanelas
    @victorcabanelas 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I LOVE letter columns!!
    And yeah, seeing your name printed on something you read and like's just amazing.
    Keep up the great work!

  • @herobot1
    @herobot1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Best intro ever. Love your channel Chris.

  • @DanielMonteiroNit
    @DanielMonteiroNit 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hey Chris - you got me reading comics again, after 20 years. I had forgotten how fun it was 😅 thank you!

  • @danelsen1278
    @danelsen1278 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ive only ever had one letter printed in a letters page and it was ALL THANKS TO COMIC TROPES!!!! Let me explain….
    I always wanted to write a letter to one of my favorite comics but by the time I finally got the courage to do it, no one really accepted snail mail letters anymore, just email. And, being pretty old school and not being on any major social media sites since MySpace, I decided my opportunity had passed. I wanted my favorite creator to get a hand written and sketched letter from me, not an email. Fast forward to last year when you interviewed one of my favorite cartoonists Jim Mahfood on your channel. I left a comment below the video thanking you Chris, and praising Jim’s work. Well… that “comment” turned up as a “letter”, published in the letter column of Grrl Scouts: Stone Ghost!! (Issue 4 I believe). Not exactly how I planned to have a letter to a creator published, but it was pretty dang cool!!

  • @pauldigscomics7810
    @pauldigscomics7810 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great episode Chris. I remember seeing Olav Beemer's name constantly in the letters columns of New Warriors every month. I'll never forget that name lol.

  • @ShockWithoutFear
    @ShockWithoutFear 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Each week you have make a fantastic new video and I honestly really appreciate it. I hope we can help support you as much as possible because you truly do deserve it fo all the work you've done and continue to do!
    Thank you!

  • @droopymcc
    @droopymcc 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It is a thrill to get a letter published. Saga #28 published my letter and even included a plug for my novel, The Predicates of Fate. Thanks, BKV!

  • @vnv125
    @vnv125 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Just read x-men 117 from around 1977. The whole letter page was just one letter…. from Peter Sanderson. The guy became a comic historian. DC comics even paid him to read every DC comic starting around 1935.

  • @treetheoak8313
    @treetheoak8313 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    They are such interesting time capsules. I read a few about shadow hawk from the 90s and it's just so interesting to see people criticizing and supporting this old relatively obscure comic.

  • @jamesgildersleeve
    @jamesgildersleeve 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hello, Chris. This was another fun and informative episode. Your channel, Jared Osborn's, and the Cartoonist Kayfabe channel are always sources of entertainment and information for me, and all help me with my own struggles with depression. Thank you!

  • @kevingiven3463
    @kevingiven3463 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    One comic I loved as a kid was "E-Man" from Charlton Comics. The interesting thing about that letter column is that it was called "E-Mail" long before that term became associated with sending letters via computer.

  • @averaen3890
    @averaen3890 ปีที่แล้ว

    Reading the letters in old comics is such a great window into how people thought about comics in the past. I too hope they never go away.

  • @MarkLipka
    @MarkLipka 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    🤘🏼 *WAY more interesting than I anticipated! Great episode!* 🤘🏼

  • @carlitogilchrist1939
    @carlitogilchrist1939 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love this channel my man! Keep doing your thing! I’ve learned so much from this channel.

  • @alternateaccount3898
    @alternateaccount3898 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Honestly I think it would be really fun for you to start a letters column at the end of your videos, it would be a good way to engage and keep the tradition alive!

  • @duanekogut757
    @duanekogut757 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    That spinning rack of comics you have behind you is dope. In my neighborhood as a kid we had an old school style deli/grocer, and they still had the spinning rack of comics. This was the early 2000s and every time we went there my dad would remark that he missed the spinning rack of that months mags; like this was the last place on earth that had one. I miss it and it's awesome that you have your very own

  • @FarticusSnottington
    @FarticusSnottington 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    this is the most high effort comic book channel i've found on youtube. thank you so much for this

  • @CollaredCougar
    @CollaredCougar 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I remember the Captain America letter columns during the Vietnam war. The discussion was more about the war and what it means to be a patriot. Rarely were the comics being discussed. So Stan put a block in the letter pages stating that they were proud of the intelligent conversations in their letter pages, but he really wanted to know what people thought about the stories they were telling.

    • @juniorjames7076
      @juniorjames7076 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Growing up reading comics in the early 80s, I began to see a difference between letters that had well organized thoughts, and the ones that were a jumble of words all over the place. This effected how I began to write my thoughts in term papers in school for English or History.

  • @cdadamly
    @cdadamly 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love the ending. Our reward is your content.

  • @El_Keck
    @El_Keck 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hey, just finished the video, great stuff, and the way that you condense a ginormous topic like this into a 22 minute time is crazy (Won't say impossible because you have proven it). Letter columns are some of the funniest and interesting things from the old books, and can give you a great view of the stuff people cared about at the time.
    Ome of my favourite fan interactions was the "Greatest DC Contest", which was a Superman story about bizarros invading earth, simple stuff, but the joke is that in the story the letter D and C only appeared once, and the people who found them first would get an official Curt Swan autographed Superman artwork (Obviously they messed up and wrote two more Ds by accident, but it was the sixties and the classic boo boos were everywhere).
    So yeah, it's nice to see you Chris, keep up the good work cause every new episode is better than the previous one. Se ya next time.

  • @blackphoenix77
    @blackphoenix77 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    It's a shame that modern comic books have mostly phased out letters columns: message boards and such just aren't the same. I actually got a few letters published in a couple issues of What If (and Wizard Magazine), by the way. P.S. every episode you post is a gift; thank you.