Letterhack

Letterhack describes a fan who is regularly published in comic book letter columns.

Many letterhacks became well-known throughout the industry by virtue of their letters. Writer Mark Engblom describes the phenomenon this way: Chosen by the title's editor (or, in some cases, the writer), a few lucky fans would get the opportunity to share their opinion with not only the creators, but a captive audience of fellow fans as well. In fact, some of the most prolific fans had letters printed almost every month in a variety of titles, becoming minor celebrities in their own right. The 1994 Squiddy Awards featured a "Favorite Letterhack" category! Some of the most prolific "LOCers" or "letterhacks" include:


 * Jerry Bails — the "father of comics fandom"
 * Olav Beemer
 * Len Biehl
 * Malcolm Bourne
 * Augie De Blieck Jr. — claims to have published over 400 letters
 * Dale L. Coe
 * Joe Frank
 * Paul Gambaccini
 * Shirley A. Gorman
 * Elizabeth Holden
 * Jana C. Hollingsworth
 * Kashif "Blue Panther" Husain


 * Guy H. Lillian III — omnipresent 1960s letterhack
 * Marc Lucas
 * T.M. Maple (aka Jim Burke) — published over 3,000 letters
 * Joey Marchese
 * Rich Morrissey
 * "Uncle Elvis" Orten
 * Kent A. Phenis
 * Peter Sanderson
 * Bill Schelly — comic book historian
 * Al Schroeder III
 * Charles J. Sperling
 * Irene Vartanoff — omnipresent 1960s letterhack who ended up working behind the scenes for Marvel in the 1970s and 1980s
 * Delmo Walters Jr.

Some letterhacks gained entrée into an actual career in comics because of their letter-writing expertise. For instance, Bob Rozakis parlayed his frequent published letters to DC comics during the late 1960s and early 1970s into a job as DC's "Answer Man" and eventually a solid career as a DC writer. Kurt Busiek, Mary Jo Duffy, Mike Friedrich, Mark Gruenwald, Fred Hembeck, Tony Isabella, Paul Levitz, Ralph Macchio, Dean Mullaney, Martin Pasko, Diana Schutz, Beau Smith, Roy Thomas, and Kim Thompson are just a few of the many comic book professionals who got their starts as young letterhacks.