As most readers of a certain age will know, when SMASH! comic first appeared in 1966, it wasn't long before it started to reprint MARVEL COMICS strips within its pages. Soon there were five POWER PAPERS by the same publishers (ODHAMS PRESS) catering to the needs of nascent Marvelites everywhere. When IPC MAGAZINES revamped Smash! in 1969, there were no Marvel stories to be seen, the last remaining ones (THOR and FF) having concluded in the previous week's 'old style' issue.
In new Smash! #9, the above editorial piece appeared, penned by GIL PAGE, 'masquerading' under the identity of teenage office boy 'MIKE'. Of course, this ruse was merely to give readers someone nearer their own age to relate to, not (you'll be glad to hear) for the reasons that some grown-ups pose as teenagers on the Internet today. Apparently, the comic had received quite a few protests from disgruntled readers lamenting the absence of the Marvel heroes. This I can believe, as I too was disappointed to see them disappear from the comic's pages.
However, I'm far from convinced by Mike's claim that they had received a great many more letters from readers saying they were glad to see the back of the BULLPEN characters. After all, if that was really the case, there'd be no need to mention it, would there? It seems to me, reading between the lines, that IPC were quite disconcerted by the outcry caused by evicting the Marvel strips from the pages of Smash!, and were seeking to persuade readers that the body of opinion was in favour of their removal. Reads more like an attempt to persuade readers not to jump ship though, doesn't it?
Anyone got any thoughts on the matter?
