THE BAXENDALE LETTERS - PART ONE...

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Sometime back in 1977, I sent a letter to cartoonist LEO BAXENDALE, care of GERALD DUCKWORTH, to let him know how much I'd enjoyed his first WILLY The KID book.  It's likely that I already had the second book when I received an unexpected reply (above) to my letter from the great man himself.  I was slightly astonished  that he'd taken the time and trouble to respond to one lone Scottish fan, but appreciated the fact that he had.  Not that I think I was singled out for special attention - no doubt it was his custom to reply to fans as I think reader feedback was important to him.

I've had a few letters from Bax over the years, which I've still got.  Not that we were pen pals or anything, or that he considered me anything other than a fan and customer of several of his books, but back when I was assistant editor of The ILLUSTRATED COMIC JOURNAL, I had occasion to contact him a few times and he always took the time to courteously respond.  There's nothing 'confidential' about them, so I may post more of them in the future as no doubt they're bound to be of interest to other Leo Baxendale fans.

So keep your peepers peeled for pending posts of pertinent epistles.  And if you've ever received a letter from the legendary Leo (or met him, even), tell your fellow Criv-ites all about it in the captivating comments section.  Go on, get typing.  (Sadly, despite Leo's hopes, the third Willy book was the last one to see print so I assume sales weren't as expected.)