Real Frantic Ones, Titanic True Believers, and Quite 'Nuff Sayers, Oh My!

Enough! I have sat idle too long! I have watched the MMMS turn into disorganized chaos. (And that's the worst kind!) As a solution, I suggest we have some officers. By buying his first Marvel mag, a fan is automatically entitled to the rank of RFO (Real Frantic One). His first published letter elevates him to QNS (quite 'Nuff Sayer). A no-prize raises him to TB (true Believer). Each additional no-prize raises one level: From JHC (Junior Howling Commando) to AAT (Associate Assistant Thing) and finally to the penultimate, the utmost status a fan can attain: MM (Marvelite Maximus)!
Naturally, the artists all have the rank of DDD (Definitely Dizzy Doodlers), the editorial assistants are IPR (Illiterate Proof Readers), art associates are VOD (Victims of Doodlers), the letterers are IWP (Indefatigable Word Placers), and Stan himself is at the summit - MEO (Marvel's Earthbound Odin). Each person would use his title at the start of his name - as I've done."

(Signed-)
RFO Mark Evanier
[July 1967]

Although the Bullpen's response was positive, this letter published in the November 1967 Bullpen Page shows not everyone in Marveldom agreed with young Evanier's idea:

"Dear Stan,
Let's get something straight. You are not MEO (Marvel's Earthbound Odin); your artists are not DDD's (Definitely Dizzy Doodlers); and your letterers are letterers, not IWP's (Indefatigable Word Placers) and so on. Get the message? If you follow up the idea of having to get letters printed, and of winning no-prizes in order to gain Ultimate Status, you'll get more bone-head letters than you know what to do with.
When a fan sends a letter, it's to verify or correct what you've done. If it gets printed, fine! If it wins a no-prize, fine! But if people write just to get their letters printed or to win no-prizes, the letters pages will start losing dignity. Finally, I though all loyal Marvelites had achieved ultimate status in the eyes of the Bullpen long ago. Do we have to add an atmosphere of cheap, commercial competitiveness to the Marvel comics group?"

Robert Lax

Despite Rancorous Rob's objections, Marvel adopted Evanier's proposal and introduced the first rank in the next month's Bullpen Page. Real Frantic One was followed by Quite 'Nuff Sayer, Titanic True Believer, Keeper of the Flame, Permanent Marvelite Maximus, and Fearless Front Facer, cementing Marvel's rep as a company that cared and listened to its fans.
Mark Evanier went on to considerable success in both comics and television and Robert Lax was never heard from again... unless he was this Robert Lax. Regardless, his snarky spirit lives on in the cranky comments of killjoys and flame-artists all over the internet.

From the letters page of Fantastic Four, Vol. 1, No. 78 [September 1968]

Starring Reed Richards! Ben Grimm! Johnny Storm! Sue Storm! And Spider-Man!

Only another few months till Marvel makes the network! Starting in September, the FF and Spidey will be presented border-to-border and coast-to-coast by the American Broadcasting Company! Our fascinatin' foursome will be produced by Hanna-Barbera, while your favorite web-slinger will be filmed at the Universal City studios of Grantray-Lawrence - with both half-hour shows being in full animation and glowing color!

-Bullpen Bulletin, August 1967

Click on the images above to browse YouTube playlists of episodes of Fantastic Four and Spider-Man.

Making their debut on September 9, 1967, the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man cartoon series carried on the tradition of faithful adaptations and great voice work begun by 1966's Marvel Superheroes cartoon, but with improved animation courtesy of such talents as the late Alex Toth and Ralph Bakshi.

Although the Fantastic Four series ran for only twenty episodes, Spider-Man continued for three seasons, in time becoming just as much, if not more, of a cultural touchstone as the comic series that inspired it. For more great Spider-Man info, check out Wallopin' Websnappers, a fun Flash-based site narrated by Spidey himself, Paul Soles (Who also provided vox for Hermie the Misfit Elf!) which takes a look at the actors who lent their voices to the cartoon's cast of characters, and WFMU's Beware the Blog's article on the show's timeless music and its production history.

December 1967

"All of Marveldom assembled sends best wishes to Jolly Jack and Roz Kirby on their 25th wedding anniversary!
We're beginnin' to suspect that these two have a good thing going!"

From Fantastic Four, Vol. 1, No. 69

November 1967

"We're gonna recommend that you take a peek at - of all things - the latest ish of Millie The Model! We've changed the mag around completely - new type of artwork and stories - and honest to Aunt May, it's really kinda funny.
Even if Millie isn't your own cup of tea, we have a hunch your sister or gal friend (wouldja believe your cousin?) might just get a boot out of it!"

From Fantastic Four, Vol. 1, No. 68

October 1967

"Many Keepers of the Faith have demanded that we take a more definite stand on current problems such as Viet Nam, civil rights, and the increase in crime, to name a few.
We've a hunch that most Marvel madmen pretty well know where we stand on such matters - and we've long believed that our first duty is to entertain, rather than editorialize."

From Fantastic Four, Vol. 1, No. 67

September 1967

"If it isn't a sell-out, everyone we know (including the REAL Brand Echhs) will be saying 'We told you so!' And you KNOW how we hate to fall on our faces! (Especially when Irving Forbush is looking!)"

From Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1, No. 52

August 1967

"Don't be a wreck - buy BRAND ECHH! BRAND ECHH! BRAND ECHH! BRAND ECHH! BRAND ECHH! Oh, and before we forget - the name of the mag is BRAND ECHH!"

From Fantastic Four, Vol. 1, No. 65

July 1967

"Dear Bullpen: Enough! I have sat idle too long! I have watched the MMMS turn into disorganized chaos. (And that's the worst kind!) As a solution, I suggest we have some officers. By buying his first Marvel mag, a fan is automatically entitled to the rank of RFO (Real Frantic One). His first published letter elevates him to QNS... Stan himself is at the summit - MEO (Marvel's Earthbound Odin). Each person would use his title at the start of his name - as I've done."
-RFO Mark Evanier

From Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1, No. 50

June 1967

"Now then, in the process of providing odd-beat entertainment, if we can also do our bit to advance the cause of intellectualism, humanitarianism, and mutual understanding... and to toss a little swingin' satire at you in the process... that won't break our collective heart one tiny bit! That's it, pussycat! Thanks for listenin'!"

From Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1, No. 49

May 1967

"We've gotten a kick out of the funnin' and feudin' with Brand Echh, thinking of it as a good-natured rivalry which you could enjoy sharing with us. However, if we're ruffled any feelings, we're truly sorry. We're really not mad at anybody, except the hambone who said don't write all our own stories!"

From Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1, No. 48

April 1967

"There is hardly a pro pencil-pusher in the field today who hasn't been influenced by Jolly Jack's memorable masterpieces - or by the constantly shattering impact of his creativity.
Don't be embarrassed, Jack - this is just Stan's cornball way of telling you that it's been a ball all these years, pal - and the best is still ahead!"

From Fantastic Four, Vol. 1, No. 61

March 1967

"The big talk around the Bullpen these days concerns Marvel-ous Marie Severin, who's just taken over the illustrating chores on the Doc Strange strip...
And to anticipate your question, the answer is "yes" - she's the sister of talented John Severin, who illustrated our Agent of Shield strip about a year ago."

From Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1, No. 46

February 1967

"So, if a competitor wants to pay us his own good money in order to buy an ad in one of our mags, we're delighted. Actually, we consider it a great compliment to us - for it proves that no matter how they may hate to admit it, even they are willing to pay a bundle just to appear in a Marvel mag!"

From Fantastic Four, Vol. 1, No. 59

January 1967

"It's a funny feeling writing these Bullpen pages - here's why - Smilin' Stan is typing these imperishable words on July 14 - but by the time they're sent to the printer and finally reach YOU, it'll be sometime in October!
In other words, there's always an interval of about three months from the time we write something till the time you read it! [...] Who SAYS this isn't the Marvel Age of Compounded Confusion?"

From Fantastic Four, Vol. 1, No. 58