In March 2001 Bongo released Radioactive Man #222 continuing the tradition of parodying classic comics. (We will begin releasing our Radioactive Man analyses later this year!) This particular issue parodied Marvel Comics, with the cover following the design of Captain Marvel #22. In 1974 Marvel began releasing Marvel Value Stamps, a series of one hundred stamps that comic fans could cut out of their comics and place into a booklet they could send away for. In Radioactive Man #222 they honoured this practice with a Bongo Bonus stamp.

The following letter appeared in Junk Mail section of Simpsons Comics #188

STAMP CHAMP

Greetings!

After acquiring my first Bongo Bonus Stamp in November 1972 in Radioactive Man #222, I waited patiently for almost 40 years to acquire my next two Bongo Bonus Stamps. When will I be able to send away for my Bongo Bonus Stamp Book?

Sincerely yours, Bruce Gomes, Monroe, NY

Response:

We thought the first Bongo Bonus stamp had been lost to antiquity after all the copies of RM #222 were rounded up and destroyed in the '70s during a government effort to get more kids playing PONG. Glad to hear at least one survived! There aren't any plans yet for a stamp book, but who knows? It's going to be a looong series. Luckily, the good folks at www.snpp.com have a Simpsons Comics Guide that catalogs all the stamps printed so far. Maybe you've heard of it? The guide does a great job of keeping track of all things Bongo. Check it out, y'all!

LL

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