Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened
by Jason Rodriguez, editor
Published by Villard Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
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Reviewed by Sabrina Williams
Jason Rodriguez, editor of Elk’s Run, was intrigued by the history behind various postcards he discovered in antique shops. The postcards had been filled out and mailed, complete with postage and destination stamps. Not having access to the actual events and people behind the postcards, he decided to disperse them to authors and comic artists so that they could create their own personalized version of the stories that could be behind each card. The result, Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened, is a collection of these graphic creations contributed by thirty-three artists, including several from DC and Marvel Comics.
The black and white illustrations are creations of the individual artist, which means each style is as unique as the matching storyline. A recurring theme throughout is sadness and melancholy set in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, usually during particularly trying periods in history such as war or depression. Each story opens with a photo of the actual corresponding postcard, allowing the reader a glimpse of the authenticity of its origins. To see the sender’s handwriting noting a specific event that was a part of their life reminds the reader that actual people who really existed are behind each piece of correspondence. In an increasingly detached technological society, simple relics such as these remind us of our common humanity.
In several introductions, Rodriguez offers his own interpretation of a postcard and how the artist to whom it was assigned surprised him with a completely contrasting idea. It’s evident that few of these postcards can actually be taken at face value, as there can be so many possibilities behind the brief jottings. We can only ponder what actually took place. Most are sad, a few border on the edge of morbidity. Some are told in true comic book fashion, which means the ending is left open for a future edition. These are a little frustrating as the reader becomes engrossed in the story and is then denied closure. It’s far from an optimistic collection, but absolutely thought-provoking.
Armchair Interviews says: You may never look at a postcard the same way again.