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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2017 1:11:30 GMT -5
Which comics had the best letters pages?
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,874
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Post by shaxper on Mar 14, 2017 5:58:53 GMT -5
The letter page was one of my favorite parts of Sergio Aragones' Groo. I'm generally not a fan of Mark Evanier's style of self-effacing humor, but it really worked there, the fans writing in were equally funny, and Evanier would reveal all these little secrets hidden in the previous stories as well. Probably the only letter column I actually looked forward to reading.
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Post by Icctrombone on Mar 14, 2017 6:41:05 GMT -5
I was binge reading Savage Dragon 1-40 and the letter pages were fight filled between Erik Larsen and Peter David. Entertaining stuff.
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Post by urrutiap on Mar 14, 2017 9:59:31 GMT -5
I think any X Men comic during the mid late 1990s had and still have the best letters page from fans.
Even Amazing Spider Man had some really nice fan letters that filled the whole page or two.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Mar 14, 2017 10:09:31 GMT -5
I've never been a fan of letters pages. So those that stick out tend to be ones that move beyond fannish squeals and gripes. I recall Sandman's being decent.
Brubaker's books have had good letters pages. Though the supplementary material blows it away and makes the books even more worth buying.
Overall, I don't get the nostalgia for letters pages.
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Post by Randle-El on Mar 14, 2017 10:24:07 GMT -5
I thought Mike Grell's Green Arrow series had a good letters page. The series itself was aimed at "mature" readers, and was more of a grown-up take on superheroes than was typical at the time. I recall there being a quite a bit of thoughtful debate about the issues presented in book, rather than just commentary on the artwork, plot, and characterizations.
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Mar 14, 2017 11:21:45 GMT -5
I thought Mike Grell's Green Arrow series had a good letters page. The series itself was aimed at "mature" readers, and was more of a grow-up take on superheroes than was typical at the time. I recall there being a quite a bit of thoughtful debate about the issues presented in book, rather than just commentary on the artwork, plot, and characterizations. I was about to say the same thing. Grell's Green Arrow lettercolumn was one I always looked forward to reading. Sgt. Fury sometimes had some pretty interesting debates in the lettercolumn. Sometimes more interesting than the actual stories! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2017 12:14:29 GMT -5
I always like the JLA Mail Page when I was a kid and it's fun to read those letters during the early days of the Justice League.  |
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 14, 2017 12:34:30 GMT -5
The Green Arow letters page was a carryover from Jon Sable. Mike Gold always made them lively and interesting. More than a few debates raged in there, especially after Grell posted a feature about a hunting trip to Africa. People who were fine with death and violence in the book were not happy about shooting an animal. The letters were argued and passionate; but, not insulting or in a troll mentality. That's the difference between an e-mail and a letter: you had to put thought into something you'd type up (or write out) and mail into the publisher, rather than just hit send.
Grendel had a tremendous letters page, with philosophical debate and other things popping up. Same with the Question, though to a lesser degree.
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Post by brutalis on Mar 14, 2017 13:01:00 GMT -5
The Cerebus letter pages were always quite the interesting read. Sim always seemed to have more than enough letter writers so he could have filled a full monthly comic sized issue with.
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Post by String on Mar 14, 2017 13:30:26 GMT -5
Grendel had a tremendous letters page, with philosophical debate and other things popping up. Same with the Question, though to a lesser degree. Mage the Hero Defined mini had a great letters page too, with Wagner answering (and in some cases, teasing) fans' responses and thoughts on the philosophy and themes in the book. I also remember a discussion on appearances at conventions and the expectations (sometimes unfair) that fans put upon their favorite creators. I don't recall many letters pages, just writers. TM Maple was everywhere in the 80s. Though at one point, Marvel's letters pages carried a little box where an innocent question would asked of that book's creative teams and they gave (sometimes) serious and funny answers. The only thing I recall from DC is Bob Rozakis' column, Ask DC, on that faux Daily Planet news page. That whole concept was always fun and inventive. Currently, I would say Lazarus has one of the best letter pages on the racks today. With topics ranging from politics to the frontiers of science to the medium itself, it's thoughtful and respectful in tone and always interesting. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2017 13:41:09 GMT -5
I remember TM Maple well. He must've had thousands of letters published.
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Post by urrutiap on Mar 14, 2017 14:04:06 GMT -5
Was there ever at least two pages full of fan letters or just the usual whole one page fir any comic book during the 1980s or 1990s?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2017 14:10:42 GMT -5
My favorite letters pages were in Ms. Tree. They usually had two pages of letters, if not more. I just checked one issue of that title and it had four pages of letters. If I recall correctly, they tried to print every letter, but occasionally they couldn't.
In addition to discussions on the Ms.Tree comics, there was lots of discussion on other hard boiled detective stuff in print or on TV, etc.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2017 14:24:25 GMT -5
Did anyone here have a letter printed?
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