TM Maple
Encyclopedia
T.M. Maple was the pseudonym
of Jim Burke, a Canadian who wrote more than 3,000 letters to comic book letter column
s between 1977 and 1994.
Burke's letters were quite popular among readers as well as editors, and he wrote prolifically to a diverse number of comic publishing companies and titles. Burke originally signed his letters as "The Mad Maple," but Marvel Comics
editor Tom DeFalco
abbreviated it to "T.M. Maple" to make it sound like a real name (thus circumventing a new policy at the company to stop printing letters submitted under pseudonyms). Burke took a liking to the new name and began using it exclusively (including variations like "Theodore Maddox Maplehurst") until 1988, when in Scott McCloud
's Zot!
#21 he revealed his real name.
Burke published a fanzine
about comics in the late 1980s. With artist/publisher Allen Freeman, Burke co-created the superhero Captain Optimist.
In tribute to Burke, the St. Paul, Minnesota comic book convention FallCon holds all of its guest panel presentations in the "TM Maple Edutorium."
Some believe that the Simpsons character the Comic Book Guy
was based on Maple. Simpsons creator Matt Groening
, however, has repeatedly stated that the Comic Book Guy was based on "... every comic-bookstore guy in America".
After Burke died of a heart attack in 1994
, he was eulogized in a number of letter columns published by DC Comics
, the company he probably wrote to most prolifically.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Jim Burke, a Canadian who wrote more than 3,000 letters to comic book letter column
Comic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
s between 1977 and 1994.
Burke's letters were quite popular among readers as well as editors, and he wrote prolifically to a diverse number of comic publishing companies and titles. Burke originally signed his letters as "The Mad Maple," but Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
editor Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco is an American comics writer and editor, well known for his association with Marvel Comics and in particular for his work with Spider-Man.-Career:...
abbreviated it to "T.M. Maple" to make it sound like a real name (thus circumventing a new policy at the company to stop printing letters submitted under pseudonyms). Burke took a liking to the new name and began using it exclusively (including variations like "Theodore Maddox Maplehurst") until 1988, when in Scott McCloud
Scott McCloud
Scott McCloud is an American cartoonist and theorist on comics as a distinct literary and artistic medium...
's Zot!
Zot!
Zot! is a comic book created by Scott McCloud in 1984 and published by Eclipse Comics until 1990 as a lighthearted alternative to the darker and more violent comics that predominated the industry during that period. There were a total of 36 issues, with the first ten in color and the remainder in...
#21 he revealed his real name.
Burke published a fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
about comics in the late 1980s. With artist/publisher Allen Freeman, Burke co-created the superhero Captain Optimist.
In tribute to Burke, the St. Paul, Minnesota comic book convention FallCon holds all of its guest panel presentations in the "TM Maple Edutorium."
Some believe that the Simpsons character the Comic Book Guy
Comic Book Guy
Comic Book Guy is a recurring fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Hank Azaria, and first appeared in the second-season episode "Three Men and a Comic Book", which originally aired on May 9, 1991. He is the proprietor of a comic book store, The...
was based on Maple. Simpsons creator Matt Groening
Matt Groening
Matthew Abram "Matt" Groening is an American cartoonist, screenwriter, and producer. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell as well as two successful television series, The Simpsons and Futurama....
, however, has repeatedly stated that the Comic Book Guy was based on "... every comic-bookstore guy in America".
After Burke died of a heart attack in 1994
1994 in comics
-Year overall:* Huge changes in the marketplace force many retailers and small publishers out of business...
, he was eulogized in a number of letter columns published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, the company he probably wrote to most prolifically.