I just had to get me a copy of Superman # 135 to check out if it was true. And it was! If you haven’t been following, I wrote in a blog several months ago that I read about a strange response to a request made in this issue. There were plenty of copies available on eBay, but I didn’t want to spend $40 or more to satisfy my curiosity. Finally, someone put up a copy for sale by auction with a reasonable starting bid. I got it for the minimum (no one bid against me – the risk one takes when offering an item using eBay’s auction option) and was very pleased with its condition. I immediately opened it up and searched for the “Metropolis Mailbag” page and came upon the statement I was seeking. It was the ninth and last of the “Dear Editor” questions. As I’m typing this, I’m not sure the scan I made (and hope to include in this blog) will be clear enough for you to read, so here it is:
“Dear Editor
Insomuch as your office can’t supply back-numbers of your various SUPERMAN magazines, would it be possible for you to print my address so that readers who have old issues can swap or sell them to me? – Jack Darrell, Chicago, Ill.
(Sorry, but old issues of used magazines are known disease carriers, so we can’t encourage such swapping. – Ed.)”
DC Comics did not provide credit in the comics at that time for the artists and writers, but they were required to provide ownership, management, and circulation to conform with Title 39, United States Code, Section 233. This appeared in the bottom third of what would have been the 10th page, and it named Mort Weisinger as Editor. Yes, it was that Mort, who has been credit for giving more scientific reasons for Big Blue’s powers and exploits who came up with this response!
Well, Mort, I’ve been swapping, buying, and selling used magazines for nigh on 45 years now and the only disease I’ve caught is the desire to get more of ’em! But with this darn COVID situation, it ain’t been easy. My inventory is really depleted and my sales have been down. I did have a very interesting sale recently though.
A prior customer purchased a couple more issues from me and I remembered him because he had the same name as one of our more respected artists and writers. He had a question and during my response I asked if he happened to be THE (I’m not giving his name here) of comic book fame. He responded that yes, indeed, he was THE XXXXXXX in question. I wrote back that I was appreciative of his and his wife’s work in helping to keep shops like ours open after all these years and reminded him that he did a signing at our Talleyville shop in the early 90’s. A really nice guy. As I said, I’m not going to tell you who it was, but this husband and wife team have worked together on DC Comics’ probably most popular female character.
Naturally, I googled Jimmy (Oops) to see what all he’s been up to and on the google page was a very current statement/observation/spoof that cracked me up. To paraphrase it - If only there been fewer thermometers, those people bussed into a recent super spreader and left stranded outside in the freezing weather after the candidate left, wouldn’t have been as cold!! It is what it is. I’ve heard that logic before somewhere!
Again, STAY SAFE, practice COVID protocols, wear a mask, socially distance yourselves, and VOTE!!
Paul
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