Offbeat Oregon History podcast

← Offbeat Oregon History podcast1. Jan. 1970 · 12 Min.

Lonely Oregon boy grew up to be a comics legend (Part 1 of 2)

Lonely Oregon boy grew up to be a comics legend (Part 1 of 2)1. Jan. 197012 Min.

When he opened the letter, he found that it was from a stranger named John Spicer. And to his astonishment, he found that it was — a fan letter.

“Believe it or not, I have been planning this letter for about four or five years,” Spicer wrote. “I have been kept from doing so for the simple reason that I knew not your name or address. I tried several times, however, but all were in vain.”

Spicer’s letter was how Barks found out that he was, and had been for at least a decade, a legend — and the most popular comic-book artist in the world. (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/24-03a.carl-barks-the-duck-man.html)