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You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Here’s another letter from Kurt Busiek, creator of Astro City. This letter was printed in Machine Man #13 (cover date: February 1980). I completely agree with his analysis of the original Kirby-version of Machine Man. Kirby had our hero, Aaron Stack, developing all kinds of abilities to get out of whatever jam he was in. Way too powerful and certainly needed his abilities reduced in order to make him more “relatable”.

On Ebay: Machine Man | Kurt Busiek
On AtomicAvenue: Machine Man

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Kurt Busiek wrote one of the coolest, most continuity-heavy epics ever: Avengers Forever. Here he is praising Marvel’s new (at the time) series. This letter was printed in Shogun Warriors #6 (cover date: July 1979).

On Ebay: Shogun Warriors | Kurt Busiek
On AtomicAvenue: Shogun Warriors

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Fred Hembeck’s parody work has been featured in comics for around three decades now. At the age of 23, he got a letter published in Skull the Slayer #3 (cover date – January 1976), praising the creative team for its work on the book. Unfortunately for the title, in just a few issues it underwent more creative team changes than a book should endure in years, and it was quickly canceled at issue #8. However, the premise was indeed an interesting one but, be warned! If you’re going to read this series, it was canceled on a cliffhanger ending.

On Ebay: Skull the Slayer | Fred Hembeck
On AtomicAvenue: Skull the Slayer | Hembeck

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

If you don’t know who Todd McFarlane is … then you probably aren’t into comics. He revolutionized Spider-Man’s look in the late 1980s, launched a mega-selling Spider-Man #1, created Spawn and launched a popular toy manufacturer. He got a letter published in Superman#366 (cover date – December 1981), at the age of 20.

On Ebay: Superman | Todd McFarlane
On AtomicAvenue: Superman

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Popeye the Sailor debuted in E.C. Segar’s Thimble Theatre on December 19, 1919. 62 years later, he got a letter published in Superman#366 (cover date – December 1981). Seems strange, doesn’t it? A cartoon/comic strip character getting a letter published? Well … yeah! So, what’s the story behind it all? I’m glad you asked.

You see, in 1973, comics writer Cary Bates created Captain Strong, DC’s version of Popeye, essentially allowing DC’s heroes to interact with Popeye the Sailor … or a reasonable facsimile, at least. And, what Popeye is referring to, in this letter, is his (Captain Strong’s) team-up with the “Man of Steel” in Superman #361.

On Ebay: Superman | Popeye
On AtomicAvenue: Superman

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Michael T. Gilbert is best known for his reimagined hero (and now the more prominent version), Doc Stearn … Mr. Monster! But, before that he was an indy comic creator known for his creation, the Wraith (a parody of Will Eisner’s the Spirit). It was at this time in his life that he got a letter published in Cerebus the Aardvark #5 (cover date – August 1978). He also included a sketch pairing the Wraith with Cerebus.

On Ebay: Cerebus | Michael T. Gilbert
On AtomicAvenue: Cerebus

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Ty Templeton is a comic writer/artist who’s worked on nearly everything! His credits include Batman, Superman, Howard the Duck, Justice League, She-Hulk, the Simpsons, Star Trek and much, much more (including his creator-owned, cult classic Stig’s Inferno). He got a letter printed in Wasteland #7 (cover date – June 1988), praising its ingenuity. And, in issue #11, he got to illustrate one of the Wasteland stories.

On Ebay: Wasteland | Ty Templeton
On AtomicAvenue: Wasteland

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Markalan Joplin is best known for writing Robotech: the Macross Saga. He got a letter printed in Eternals #13 (cover date – July 1977), differentiating “Jack Kirby, the artist” from “Jack Kirby, the writer”.

On Ebay: Eternals | Markalan Joplin
On AtomicAvenue: Eternals

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Dennis Mallonee is one of the main driving forces behind Heroic Publishing. He’s written for almost all of their titles including the Champions, Eternity Smith and Flare. Years before his professional comics career began, he got a letter printed in Eternals #12 (cover date – June 1977), addressing the issues created by combining the Eternals into the Marvel Universe. (He’s totally right, by the way)

On Ebay: Eternals | Dennis Mallonnee
On AtomicAvenue: Eternals

You may not be surprised to learn that most people in the comic business grew up reading comic books. However, you might be interested in knowing what they were reading. Here’s a look at “Famous Fanmail”!

Mike W. Barr‘s comic writing credits are quite varied but, I remember him best for his run on the Ultraverse’s Mantra. He got a letter printed in Eternals #11 (cover date – May 1977).

On Ebay: Eternals | Mike Barr
On AtomicAvenue: Eternals