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Your host, beloved Smith
by beloved Smith
This is a sharing column this week. practically a preview of a much bigger one to come. I’m going to provide you a bit introduction, however the bulk of this column is sharing letters that were sent to me by Comic book experts before I ended up being a expert writer as well as comic book advertising Vice President.
In the extremely early 1980s I lastly took my own guidance as well as began my full throttle attempt to get into the company of comic books, not only as a writer, however on the advertising side as well. Please remember, in the early ’80s there was no internet, no fax machines, no emails, no social media, long distance phone calls were at a high cost, as well as the cost of airplane tickets was close to a month’s income at my day job. Needless to say, the U.S. Mail ended up being my go-to source for communication in my quest to bust into the business.
Please note, I understood not one expert in comics. No editors, writers, artists; no one, nobody! I resided in a little town in West Virginia. The chips were stacked against me. This was not going to be an simple task. My plan was simple, every Friday when I purchased comic books, back then new comic day was Friday, I would checked out the issue(s) then sit down as well as write/type (with carbon paper) a Letter Of comment to the editor. Back then, each comic book had a “Letters Page” where visitors would compose in as well as provide their thoughts to the editors about the comic books, before chat rooms, forums, as well as all that tech stuff. (That is now quite much obsolete in tech.)
If I purchased 6 comic books, I composed 6 letters. I sent them out through U.S. Mail the next day. I continued this pattern for numerous years. In fact, up until I made it into comics as a writer as well as advertising VP in 1987, I had over 200 letters printed in different comic books by practically every publisher, big as well as small. I signed my full name, Stephen Scott beloved Smith, to set myself aside from everybody else that was composing letters. As time went on, I likewise sent in pitches, did contests, tried for No Prizes with Marvel… I tried everything. Not much was off limits to my quest to bust into comics.
Again, this is just a short introduction to a 31 year profession into comic books. What I wished to do is share just a few of the numerous letters that I had got in those early years. If nothing else, a possibility for you to checked out thoughts of extremely nice, expert creators to a crazed comic book visitor like—well—ME!
I hope you delight in these letters as well as please understand that a person day, I may publish all of the letters that I have in my collection, since you understand what—I kept them all!
Please enjoy!
Beau’s interview concerns for Carol Kalish
Beau’s interview concerns for Carol Kalish
Carol Kalish’s responses
Carol Kalish’s responses
This is a “By Mail” interview I did with Carol Kalish, direct Market pioneer for marvel Comics in the sales as well as advertising department. I very first satisfied Carol right here in Huntington, West Virginia, when fellow West Virginian as well as friend, Steve Saffel, (soon after this he was working for Carol at marvel Comics) brought her in for a convention he was running at Marshall University. Carol was always a fantastic as well as useful person to me, before as well as after I got into the advertising side of comic books. She was a ground breaker as well as a trendsetter in so numerous ways. She is missed, as well as each time I checked out this letter I am reminded of that. Carol as well as I utilized to always speak of exactly how The Sub-Mariner was our preferred marvel Character. She really liked comic books.
Beau’s very first rejection letter
This is my very first rejection letter. It was from Jim Shooter at marvel Comics. I squandered no time back then; I submitted my stories to the top. This story was about the child of Molten guy who was a classmate of Peter Parker in school, as well as had a variation of Molten Man’s powers. He came after revenge on Spider-Man since he felt Spider-Man ruined his household life as well as that of his father’s. The son’s name was “The Grill”. The story title was “Fry as well as die To The excitement Of The Grill.” Shooter’s reply was short as well as sweet, however I always appreciated he composed me back as well as that he was truthful in his own words.
A Christmas card from the Simonsons
A letter from Walter Simonson
Here is the inside of a Christmas Card I got from Walter Simonson as well as Louise, in addition to a hand written reply from my letter praising him for the supporting character Roger Willis in Thor. The character reminded me of my dad, as well as as you can see, a bit of Walt’s father as well. Walt was always so kindto me as I was attempting to break into the company with his advice, his generosity as well as his tips. He was sharing a studio with Howard Chaykin at the time, as well as when I would call, Howard would bust my chops in a snarky, however witty, way; never with a imply streak, however with wit as well as fun. It was a fantastic time to be around comic books.
A letter from Tom DeFalco
This letter from Tom DeFalco was a genuine thrill. It was my first, “I’ve got noticed” response. I had compiled as well as did an short article for the comic book magazine remarkable Heroes (Fantagraphics-My very first paid composing work) on comic book letter writers (Letterhacks) that turned into comic book professionals. It was an comprehensive listing as well as short article (Illustrated my Don Rosa of Donald Duck fame). As you can see by this letter, marvel Comics was considering doing something similar with letterhacks turned marvel Pros. nothing came of this, however I was stoked to see that Jim Shooter believed sufficient about my short article to turn it over to Tom DeFalco as well as comply with up. By the way, Tom as well as I ended up being long time buddies for over 30 years after this. (Even though as an editor, he never hired me.
A letter from Terry Austin
Here is a letter from noted inker/artist as well as very good guy, Terry Austin. He was not only kind sufficient to response my questions, he sent me different drawings, as well as likewise passed my name on to this editors as a possible writer they may wanna look at. Terry was always fantastic to me, as well as he has the very best handwriting I’ve seen. Penmanship counts!
A letter from Mike Carlin
This letter is from then editor, Mike Carlin at marvel Comics. In his letter column he had put up a concern with a humorous twist, I sent in my answer, with a humorous twist, as well as this was his response when I got it wrong. Mike is a funny man as well as his letters always had a sense of fun to them.
A letter from Chuck Dixon
Here is a historical moment letter from one of my finest buddies (as far as he knows) in comics, Chuck Dixon. It announces that he got the gig to compose savage Sword Of Conan with Gary Kwapisz as well as Ernie Chan. Not only would Chuck ended up being one of my finest buddies as well as co-writers, however so would artist, Gary Kwapisz. This letter is one of my treasured ones. Chuck, like Tim Truman, Walt Simonson, Mike Baron, Joe Kubert, as well as Ernie Colon, made time, when they didn’t have to, to instruct me exactly how to harness my raw skill into the craft of composing comic books. I owe these men so much.
A letter from Mike Baron
Another letter from Baron
A Mike Baron script page
Here is a letter from novelist, comic book genius, as well as madman, Mike Baron. Mike was so instrumental in mentor me exactly how to be a writer in comic books, long before my very first paycheck. He always took time to discuss as well as show exactly how as well as what to finish with character, dialogue, pacing as well as exactly how to offer with editors. This letter likewise came with a tons of his legal pad, hand drawn as well as written scripts for Nexus as well as The Badger. Those scripts were a big part of me learing exactly how to compose comic books as well as work with an artist.
A letter from Steve Rude
Speaking of Nexus…this is a note from Nexus artist as well as co-creator, Steve Rude. I understood that Steve was a big area Ghost fan, as I was. I was working for an audio/video chain at the time as well as I purchased the total collection of area Ghost on VHS taps as well as sent them to Steve as a gift. much to my surprise, in return, I got an 11×17 inch, penciled, inked as well as colored drawing of area Ghost that stays framed on my wall to this day. I was knocked out when it arrived. Again, the generosity of comic books is the typical bond that ties so numerous of us from different walks together.
These are just a few of the numerous handwritten memories of my life as well as like of comic books. just wished to share them with you, my buddies in comics.
Your letter composing amigo,
Beau Smith
The flying Fist Ranch
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