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Presents
JOHN "BRIDGE" MARTIN


MEET JOHN MARTIN
John "Bridge" Martin grew up in the era in which Lex Barker was the movie Tarzan and Lex's image was on the cover of the Dell Tarzan comics he regularly purchased. He encountered ERB's original Tarzan, as well as the ERBiverse of other ERB characters and worlds, in the early 1960s during what is often described as the Burroughs publishing boom.

  His first fanzine contributions were poems and eventually he acquired the ERB world nickname of "Bridge," the poetry-reciting character who was introduced in the last half of "The Mucker" and also featured in a sequel, "The Oakdale Affair."

  Martin joined the Edgar Rice Burroughs Amateur Press Association (ERBapa) in the late 1980s and began writing articles on ERB's books and characters in earnest. Many of his ERBapa articles, as well as new material, are now online at ERBzine.com, the Edgardemain and Fan Fiction sections of erblist.com, and in Facebook ERB groups, most regularly ERBzine and For the Love of All Things Edgar Rice Burroughs.

  In addition to research articles on ERB, Martin has continued to enjoy writing poems and has written many short ones as well as longer ones which are featured at ERBzine, including the 115-verse retelling of "The Gods of Mars" in poetry.  He has also tried his hand at fan fiction, typically in the short "flash fiction" format and always with a dose of humor.

  Besides collecting the works of Burroughs and other authors of adventure stories, Martin became interested in the hobby of collecting special postmarks on envelopes (covers) he designs himself. He often combines his hobbies by looking for ways to tie in various stamps with ERB subjects and was especially delighted when a stamp was issued in August of 2012 honoring Burroughs himself. Many of Martin's ERB-related covers, including some in his collection that were made by others, are appearing in ERBzine and on Facebook in the on-going feature titled "Pushing the Envelope."

  Martin's professional writing career began in his 1964-68 Marine Corps enlistment in which he took photos and wrote for base newspapers in the U.S. and on Okinawa and later for the Marine magazine, Leatherneck. Afterward, he was a writer and editor for several years for his hometown newspaper, The Daily Chronicle, before moving on to a Western Washington-based regional monthly magazine, Loggers World. He also edited and published a weekly newspaper, Sportsweek of Washington, for awhile. Later, he managed the Lewis County distributorship for Portland's newspaper, The Oregonian, and eventually settled down as a rural carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, which he did for 26 years until his retirement in 2014.

   Martin serves as an elder in a local church, the Centralia Bible Chapel, and has written Christian songs and poems as well and sometimes provides music for church meetings with his guitar. He and his wife Peggy enjoy the close proximity of the four grandchildren born of their own two children.

Since his nickname of "Bridge" and his interest in poems became well-known, Martin was asked to write a poem to be included in a new publication of "The Oakdale Affair." That book was published for the 2019 ECOF by The Muckers, the Chicago chapter of The Burroughs Bibliophiles, as "Bridge and the Oskalooska Kid," which was Burroughs's working title for the novelette of how Bridge the hobo found true love. Martin's poem, which became the "Afterword" of the book, focuses on the role of the barely trained bear in the story and is titled, "Bridge and the Ballad of Beppo the Bear."

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DIRECTORY OF JOHN'S FEATURES
PUBLISHED IN ERBzine.com


REVIEWS and COMMENTARY

All About Amtor (11 Parts)
http://www.erbzine.com/mag45/4510.html
Pirate Blood Review
http://www.erbzine.com/mag60/6093.html
A Pilgrimage to Pellucidar (11 Stage Journey)
http://www.erbzine.com/mag57/5787.html
The Legend of the Beasts of Tarzan
http://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5861.html
Tarzan of the Apes Summary Project (4 Parts)
http://www.erbzine.com/mag70/7001.html

Monster Men and the Magic Number I
http://www.ERBzine.com/mag53/5360.html
Monster Men and the Magic Number II
 http://www.ERBzine.com/mag53/5361.html
Monster Men Glossary
http://www.erbzine.com/mag53/5362.html
Mad King Summary and Comments (4 Parts)
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6787.html
Pirate Blood Review
http://www.erbzine.com/mag60/6093.html

Jane of the Jungle I
http://www.erbzine.com/mag62/6272.html
Jane of the Jungle II
http://www.erbzine.com/mag62/6273.html
Back to "Back to the Stone Age" Project
http://www.erbzine.com/mag53/5358.html
Pastiches of Pellucidar
http://www.erbzine.com/mag57/5797.html
The Return of Tarzan: Parts I-IV
http://www.erbzine.com/mag70/7007.html

John Carter of Mars Special Edition: A Dream Come True
http://www.erbzine.com/mag70/7006.html
Tarzan Presley Review
http://www.erbzine.com/mag56/5647.html
Group Dynamics of "Tarzan and 'The Foreign'" Legion
http://www.erbzine.com/mag57/5798.html
Steele's Solar System
http://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5828.html
Thoughts on "Uncle Bill"
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6726a.html

ERB's Great Heritage Lives On: A Review of the ERB inc. Online Comics
http://www.erbzine.com/mag47/4799.html
Hogarth's "Tarzan and the Adventurers" Compilation: A Review
http://www.erbzine.com/mag64/6417.html
ERBzine's Cartoon Gallery: Collated by Bill Hillman with John Martin
http://www.erbzine.com/cards/cartoons/
"Tarzan and the Water Closets": 3 stories in ERBzine Eclectica 2015.05
http://www.erbzine.com/mag49/4966.html
Tarzan to the Rescue: The Game
http://www.erbzine.com/mag50/5095.html

Tarzan to the Rescue: Rules and Interpretation
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5121.html
Family Ties: "The Girl From Hollywood" in ERB's House: Pt. I
http://www.erbzine.com/mag68/6891.html
Family Ties: "The Girl From Hollywood" in ERB's House: Pt. II
http://www.erbzine.com/mag68/6892.html
Burroughs, the Activist Author, vs. the Wobblies
by Alan Hanson and John Martin
https://www.erbzine.com/mag73/7361.html

Mars Movie Memories: John Carter of Mars
 https://www.erbzine.com/mag66/6677.html


FICTION

A Gentleman of Mars: Part I
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5113.html
A Gentleman of Mars: Part II
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5114.html
(Sequel) And Baby Makes Three: Part I
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5115.html
(Sequel) And Baby Makes Three: Part II
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5116.html
Tarzan Tales of Terror
http://www.erbzine.com/mag56/5637.html

Tall Tales
http://www.erbzine.com/mag56/5656.html
Greystoke's Guest
http://www.erbzine.com/mag60/6023.html
Tricky Treats ~ Halloween Scaries
http://www.erbzine.com/mag57/5772.html
Tarzan in the Comics
http://www.erbzine.com/mag47/4798.html
Ape-Man and Histah Tales
http://www.erbzine.com/mag56/5622.html

One Night in a Canadian Bar
http://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5867.html
ERB Tales II
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6793.html
Tarzan's LA Adventure
http://www.erbzine.com/mag63/6365.html
John Carter: The Man Behind the News
http://www.erbzine.com/mag47/4797.html
Christmas With Tarzan and Jane
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5117.html

Tarzan and Santa Claus
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5118.html
Tarzan's Christmas Carol
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5120.html
Two "Fangsgiving with the Histahs" Stories for Thanksgiving
http://www.erbzine.com/mag53/5364.html
ERB Tall Tales III
 http://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5863.html
ERB Tales IV
 http://www.erbzine.com/mag70/7019.html

ERB Tall Tales V
https://www.erbzine.com/mag70/7095.html
ERB Tall Tales VI
https://www.erbzine.com/mag70/7057.html
Return of the Sussex Vampire
http://www.ERBzine.com/mag70/7088.html
ERB Drabbles: Tarzan's Transition
https://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5899.html
From the Eclectic Mind of John Martin
https://www.erbzine.com/mag68/6886.html

25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS :: DECEMBER 1 to 25
ERBzine 7076 ~ PART I: Dec 1-5
ERBzine 7077 ~ PART II: Dec 6-10
ERBzine 7078 ~ PART III: Dec 11-15
ERBzine 7079 ~ PART IV: Dec 16-20
ERBzine 7080 ~ PART V: Dec 21-25

Billy Byrne's Christmas Care Role
 https://www.ERBzine.com/mag62/6247.html
Holiday Tweets
 https://www.ERBzine.com/mag74/7473.html
THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS: TURKEY TALK
 https://www.ERBzine.com/mag74/7474.html
CELEBRATIONS!
 https://www.ERBzine.com/mag75/7590.html


POETRY

Gods of Mars Poem
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5159.html
John Carter, Stanton Style
http://www.erbzine.com/mag41/4131.html
The Legendary Tarzan
An epic 67-stanza poem recounting the events in the exciting 2016 Tarzan film.
http://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5862.html
ERB Poetry
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6767.html
ERB Rhymes and Rambles
http://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5816.html

ERB In Song and Verse
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6724.html
ERB In Verse - Poetry I
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6772.html
ERB Poems and Stories
http://www.erbzine.com/mag58/5863.html
A Visit From Lord Greystoke - Poem
http://www.erbzine.com/mag56/5635.html
ERB-Themes Poetry II
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6783.html

The Ape Man on Trouble Trail
http://www.erbzine.com/mag15/1542.html
Tarzan Christmas Poems and Songs
http://www.erbzine.com/mag51/5119.html
ERB In Verse III
 http://www.erbzine.com/mag70/7005.html
"Beppo the Bear" Poem
http://www.ERBzine.com/mag66/6680.html
THE LIFETIME RIDE OF A FICTIONEER (ERB)
By Henry Wadsofwords Longpoemwriter
https://www.erbzine.com/mag68/6885.html

The Snows of Kurlymanjaro
Tarzan meets the Three Stooges:
https://www.erbzine.com/mag53/5355.html
Fast Food
 https://www.erbzine.com/mag53/5355.html


EVENTS

ERB Country I
http://www.erbzine.com/mag21/2170.html
ERB Country II
 http://www.erbzine.com/mag21/2171.html
ERB Country III
http://www.erbzine.com/mag21/2172.html
ECOF 2018
http://www.erbzine.com/mag64/6433.html
ECOF 2009
http://www.erbzine.com/mag22/2278.html

Cruise of the Sub-Mole-Rine I
http://www.erbzine.com/mag60/6011.html
Cruise of the Sub-Mole-Rine II
http://www.erbzine.com/mag60/6012.html
ERB Daily Events in ERBzine with Bill Hillman
http://www.erbzine.com/events/
John Eric Holmes Memorial
http://www.erbzine.com/mag31/3149.html
Call of the Mangani: 2017
http://www.erbzine.com/mag60/6088.html

Denny and Elvis: Both Romeos to Juliet
http://www.erbzine.com/mag56/5652.html


STAMP FEATURES IN ERBzine
https://www.erbzine.com/martin/#stamps


Story Behind the Stamp by John Martin
http://www.erbzine.com/mag43/4395.html
John Martin's Fun With First Day Covers
 http://www.ERBzine.com/mag64/6484.html
The Stamp Story by John Martin
 http://www.ERBzine.com/mag64/6483.html
Pushing the Envelope Series I
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6781.html
Pushing the Envelope Series II
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725.html

Pushing the Envelope Series III
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725a.html
Pushing the Envelope Series IV
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725b.html
Pushing the Envelope Series V
 http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725c.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. VI
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725d.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. VII
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725e.html

Pushing the Envelope: Pt. VIII
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725f.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. IX
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725g.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. X
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725h.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XI
http://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725i.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XII
https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725j.html

Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XIII
https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725k.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XIV
https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725l.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XV
https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725m.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XVI
https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725n.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XVII
https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725o.html

Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XVIII
https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725p.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XIX
https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725q.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XX
https://www.erbzine.com/mag67/6725r.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XXI: ERB's Tigers
https://www.erbzine.com/mag75/7530.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XXII:
https://www.erbzine.com/mag75/7537.html

Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XXIII
 https://www.erbzine.com/mag76/7698.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XXIV
https://www.erbzine.com/mag77/7728.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XXV
 https://www.erbzine.com/mag77/7729.html
Pushing the Envelope: Pt. XXVI
Construction in progress 7775


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