Mail Call For 1.17.26

For some reason, I found myself thinking about an issue of MAD that I read to destruction as a kid.

I looked it up online and ended up buying it (SUPER CHEAP!).

I just remember poring over this one a lot as a comic-loving kid, as it poked fun at some of the comic books and strips I knew and quite a few that I didn’t.

I think I was reminded of it because of someone new taking over Nancy and for some reason it made me think of this:

While I was looking up that special, I saw another one that loomed large in my memory, and so I also bought that one (SUPER CHEAP!).

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The reason this one stood out was the map mentioned on the cover. I remember that map being how I learned of the existence of Metropolis, IL, which inspired me to write a letter to The Answer Man at DC Comics to ask where Metropolis (in the comics) is located.

My question never saw print – I believe the feature had been retired by that time – but I did get a letter back, on DC Comics stationery, thanking me for my question* and providing an answer in the form of a total cop out: “It’s wherever you imagine it to be.”

Boo!

Still, it was worth it for that cool DC Comics stationery, which I treasured until I didn’t and lost somewhere along the line.

*They also returned the 60 cents I had included for them to send me a copy of the comic in which my answer was printed.

Just like I was disappointed by that answer, I was disappointed by this copy of the MAD special, as the map is not included in this copy.

Boo!

The disappointment continues with the final purchase, inspired by a conversation on Bluesky about She-Hulk.

The conversation about this issue revolved around the issue’s inclusion of a portfolio of the work of artist Kevin Nowlan which features a pin-up of She-Hulk that inspired John Byrne to write this issue of Fantastic Four.

I mentioned that I do still have this issue of FF – that’s not my copy pictured above, it’s the cover image available in CLZ – but that I did not (yet) have that issue of Marvel Fanfare.

I said that latter part after doing a very quick check of CLZ (my comic book database), but, well, I should have checked more thoroughly, as I did actually have a copy of it.

In fact, upon looking at the copy that arrived today, I remembered that I bought the copy I already have based on a similar conversation about the She-Hulk pin-up I’d had before.

*Sigh*

Anyway, here’s the pin-up in question.

I guess there’s something to be said for consistency?

In any case, even as I strive to be a bit more careful in the future, there are bound to be at least a few items arriving at my doorstep in the days to come, so check back soon for another Mail Call.

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