Broken Frontier

How do you identify a fan? Dictionary.com says that a fan is “an ardent devotee; an enthusiast”. That certainly describes all of us who frequent Broken Frontier, but I would argue that there is one who stands out from the pack. His dedication to comics and his palpable passion for this genre of storytelling is unparalleled. Everyone on the Broken Frontier forums (and elsewhere on the net) knows him, and I once called him “The Best Connected Man In Comics”.

Allen Klingelhoets is our number one fan...

Who are you, where do you live, and how long have you been reading and collecting comics?

My name is Allen Klingelhoets. I live in Barron,Wisconsin in the USA.

I have been reading and collecting comics since about 1972. I first started reading Richie Rich and Archie comics when I was very young. My older brothers and sisters always seemed to have comics in house.

I recall reading Classic Illustrated issues of Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Tom Sawyer. I was also lucky enough to read many Fantastic Four comics. I had a coverless copy of Fantastic Four Annual # 4. I must have read the comic a hundred times. I loved the battle of the Hulk and Thing. I did not own any of these though.

What is the first comic you remember reading or owning?

The first comic that I ever recall actually buying was a 100 page digest comics from DC Comics. I bought Superman and Shazam pulp magazines. I think they cost 50 or 60 cents. I went to the James Pharmacy store in Barron. This was way before direct sales stores.

I used to go through the comics on a metal rack each week that came in from distributor. I read Superman books even before I actually read many Marvel comics. My cousin had a large collection of Marvel comics. I read DC Comics of Superman and Shazam, they were my first comics.

How many comics do you own?

Right now I own about 1,000 comics. My collection was once nearly up to 5,000 comics. I bought a collection from a comic book store after they went out of business. I have since donated most of that collection to area charities. I sent some to the Elks Club Christmas program. Many children that live in poverty received comics from me for Christmas. I have also donated many to area libraries.

Where do you keep them all?

I have them stored in plastic bags with backing boards in comic book boxes on a shelf in my basement.

What do you enjoy about reading and collecting comics?

I enjoy the art and stories. It is fun to imagine a person like Superman. I like being able to care about characters. I do find it funny no one can actually tell Clark Kent is Superman. I liked the art of Curt Swan. I also enjoy that if I feel like reading Scooby-Doo, I can read this in a few minutes. It is my choice if I want to read longer stories like Hush.

What are some of your favorite comics or comic characters, and why?

This is a rather tough one. I have read literally thousands of stories. My favorites though are older Superman comics. I like Curt Swan art. I also really liked reading Fantastic Four comics. I stated collecting from issue # 164-250. I think my favorite issue was #200. I really liked Doctor Doom. I liked way he always came back to cause trouble for Fantastic Four. I also liked how Reed Richards was able to use his brain to solve difficult situations. I also liked the Silver Surfer. It just seemed awesome to be able to travel through space on surfboard. I was happy he chose to save Planet Earth from the hunger of Galactus.

What are some of your favorite comic stories, and why?

My # 1 story of all time is published in first series of Fantastic Four . I read it in a collected edition from Marvel. I liked way Silver Surfer helped save Earth from Galactus. It was so mythic. The images Jack Kirby drew were almost over powering to my imagination. The Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer stood up to force of nature akin to Gods.

I also was brought back to comics after about eight years by the Death of Superman series. I rushed to the store each week to get next installment. I think a couple of my favorite comic book covers were old X-Men #114 and Iron Man #100 and 128. Some of my favorite comics were bought for nothing more than covers.
I think though some of my favorite comics come in ways of little surprises. I broke my foot few years ago and Renae Geerlings wrote me a get-well note in issue # 14 of Rising Stars comic.

Who are you favorite creators?

John Byrne, Chris Claremont, Dan Jurgens, Rod Jenkins (Rod draws a comic called Bountyhunter from Kiss Me Comix), Jim Lee, Alex Ross, Ron Marz (I used to read lots of Green Lantern comics.) I also really enjoy Raven Gregory’s comic, The Gift. Raven is someone that I am honored to know. I also read many comics that Mark Waid has worked on. I love art by Luke Ross. I also really appreciated reading comic book series Lions, Tigers and Bears. I look for many great things from author Mike Bullock. I was even lucky enough to appear in issue # 3 of his series. I also appeared in issue # 9 of The Gift on the letters page.

I once called you the "best connected man in comics". Can you tell me about some of the creators you know and how you met them?

The comics community is a very tight knit group. I knew few editors even before my present work with helping my niece. Mike McAvennie once sent me preview issue of Superman Animated Adventures # 1. He had me do a review of issue and my letter was published in issue # 3. Mike knew me from all my countless letters I sent in every week. He was at that time editor of Superman line.

Scott Allie is editor that helped publish a lot of my letters over at Dark Horse comics. He also sent me preview copy of Serenity # 1. I wrote in letter which was published in issue # 1. Scott even had me write in letter back in Buffy the Vampire Slayer # 55. It was an issue Paul Lee wrote. I asked for autographed comics for doing this. I received a package in the mail from Paul Lee. He thanked me for writing in a long letter. I received four autographed comics for my birthday. Paul was the editor for issue when Scott was away on business.

I know Ian Feller from days when he was editor at Combo magazine. Ian used to also work with Crossgen comics. Now I am doing publicity for him over at Assassination Comics. I have been getting involved with Zoom Suit .

I know Terrance Griep Jr. He does some writing for Scooby-Doo and Judo Girl . I know many others.

Some people that I hope to meet are Mike Bullock, Raven Gregory and Rob Schwagger. I have met many artists and writers at conventions. I have learned though that unless they tell me to say something, most things are confined to e-Mail. You would be shocked to know how many that I really know. It is though matter of respect to say that many things occur not on message boards.

What comics do you pick up every month? Where do you buy your comics?
I have been reading the Sea of Red series by Rick Remender. I have also been reading Zorro. I get The Gift comic. I read Scooby-Doo and Angel comics. I have been reading lots of trades like JLA and Hush .

Right now I have a limited income, so I only get a few series. I also buy from bargain boxes. I really liked old Meridian, Brath, Sigil, The First and Ruse comics from Crossgen comics. So monthly I buy many issues at discount prices. I just bought full set of Route 666 at discount price. I buy many comics in bargain boxes at Minnesota comic book convention. Most issues are 50 cents to dollar each. One of my favorite series that I also bought was Sojourn .

How many fan letters have you written, and how many have been published?
I must have written nearly 1000 letters. I have published nearly 150 letters.

Where have some of your letters been published?
In Superman, Green Lantern, Gate Crashers, X-Men, Iron Man #308, Scooby-Doo. (One letter earned my library an unending subscription to monthly issues.)

Other places are Batman Legends of the Dark Knight #0, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel and Turok the Dinosaur Hunter. I also had letters published in Combo and Comic Book Collecter Digest magazines.

My first published letter was in 1984 in X-Men and Iron Man comics. Now I spend more time on the Broken Frontier site. It seems like letter pages are almost non-existent. I did notice though that in Captain America #14 Bill Mummy had letter published. He used to be the boy in "Lost In Space". Bill also played a role in the "Babylon 5" television series.

Most my comics though are bought through Eau Claire Comics, Eau Claire Comics and Collectables and Samurai Comics.

You are a very active member of your community and your comics community, and you have tied this together with your work to support Kathy Falk. Who is Kathy? What is your connection with her? How have you used your knowledge and contacts in comics to help Kathy?

Kathy is my God Child. She turned six years old on March 12th.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATHY!

I am a member of Barron Knights of Columbus. Our council has helped raise money for Kathy for last three years. Kathy has a genetic disorder called Rett Syndrome. Kathy’s bio is here .

This disorder could not be diagnosed before she was born. My sister Arla noticed something was wrong with her at about age of one. Kathy lost ability to have normal functions of her body. She was not able to talk or get around like a normal toddler. It was like a nightmare came to the family. Her condition is very rare and only seems to affect girls.

My sister has three other children. None of them have anything like this genetic condition. I had never even heard of this disorder until Kathy was diagnosed at Marshfield Hospital in Wisconsin. It was clear this was a very serious condition.

So then I went out and tried few ideas that went in directions that even shocked me. I participated in the Trials of Brath contest for the Brath comic from CrossGen. It was a fun contest. I dressed up as a barbarian with blue green chalk on my arms and face! I went into Eau Claire Comics and tried to get people interested in series. I had bunch of pictures taken and sent them into Rob Schwagger. The pictures never did see publication.

I never would have guessed though that the contest would lead to getting help for Kathy. I mentioned what was going on about Kathy over on this board. Rob read about Kathy and he offered help. Brath comics put on a huge auction which raised over $1000.

Soon after the Crossgen auction, others in the comic book community wanted to help Kathy. Dabel Brothers Production had an auction which raised another $300 for charity to help Kathy. There was benefit for Kathy in Menomonie at her church. I also had small silent bid sale at Eau Claire comics. The store owner at that time was Pete and he donated day in the Fall of 2004 to help with Kathy.

James O’Barr donated signed prints. Phil Moi donated a picture, Mike Bullock donated copies of Sojourn, signed copies of the 25 cent issue. Dan Jurgens signed some Tomb Raider comics for me at Minnesota comic book convention. Others donated signed items. Raven Gregory even sent many issues of # 1 and #2 of The Gift . All these things were much appreciated.

Kathy is a silent angel who needs sacrifices which are made by many.

Not long after this, the idea came to somehow get Kathy into comic book. It was a tough decision. The family was not sure about putting likeness in book. It was decided that Raven Gregory really wanted to help. He and Mike and Angela Bullock were really attempting to help. I was so thankful I was able to post about Kathy on the Broken Frontier message board.

So, Kathy appeared in a two page spread of The Gift # 8. Raven even dedicated the book to Kathy! Not long after, she appeared in Lions, Tigers and Bears # 2. If I would go into battle for Kathy, I would put Raven Gregory on my right side and Mike Bullock on my left side. There are a few others that I would put on the team, like people that have sent wonderful donations. Some of them will be sold at future times. It is not like Kathy’s genetic condition will just go away like a bad dream.

When I get scared I think of sentences like: “Be Brave.” I also look around my room and see all encouraging cards and letters. I received Christmas card from some one in New Zealand. The person said : “Keep up the great work with Kathy in 2006.” I have touched a lot of people with my niece Kathy’s story.

Here is website Kathy’s family designed for her.  (Just type in “kathyfalk”.)

Allen, you are an inspiration. Thanks for doing this interview!