T Campbell
@tcampbell1000.bsky.social
Writer on wordplay, crosswords, comics, and other items of questionable utility. Editor of The Journal of Wordplay, creator of Ubercross Abecedaria.
1925: The year that crosswords went from riches to rags, from sex symbol to yesterday's news! Start here: tcampbell.substack.com/p/1925-the-y...
1925: The Year In Crosswords (1 of 4)
More like XXX-words, am I right?
tcampbell.substack.com
March 16, 2025 at 2:29 PM
1925: The year that crosswords went from riches to rags, from sex symbol to yesterday's news! Start here: tcampbell.substack.com/p/1925-the-y...
Got another tiny quote puzzle for you! This one's by an inspirational guy whose name is connected to a less-inspirational guy.
Microstic by T Campbell
ubercross.com
February 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Got another tiny quote puzzle for you! This one's by an inspirational guy whose name is connected to a less-inspirational guy.
The latest issue (and the brand new John Langdon logo) of The Journal of Wordplay, now available! Engineering superheroes with acronyms, a new Scrabble record, dictionary chapters' last words, and much more! www.journalofwordplay.com
The Journal of Wordplay
www.journalofwordplay.com
February 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The latest issue (and the brand new John Langdon logo) of The Journal of Wordplay, now available! Engineering superheroes with acronyms, a new Scrabble record, dictionary chapters' last words, and much more! www.journalofwordplay.com
Why did the crossword almost disappear in early 1920? And who was Jerry King?
1920: The Year in Crosswords
A new King and a court jester.
tcampbell.substack.com
February 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Why did the crossword almost disappear in early 1920? And who was Jerry King?
More quirky, experimental designs from crossword puzzling's golden age.
1919: The Year in Crosswords
World at peace, puzzles still untamed.
tcampbell.substack.com
February 1, 2025 at 8:40 PM
More quirky, experimental designs from crossword puzzling's golden age.
New puzzle at ubercross.com/microstic.html! Fair warning: it’s a hard one.
Microstic by T Campbell
ubercross.com
January 29, 2025 at 8:09 PM
New puzzle at ubercross.com/microstic.html! Fair warning: it’s a hard one.
The first Captain Marvel took his powers from six legendary figures. There have now been more than six Captain Marvels--enough to power their own meta-Captain Marvel.
The Hero Who Outdid Superman (3 of 3)
Can you name him? Can he name HIMSELF?
tcampbell.substack.com
January 28, 2025 at 2:25 PM
The first Captain Marvel took his powers from six legendary figures. There have now been more than six Captain Marvels--enough to power their own meta-Captain Marvel.
Comics' wildest and (I'd argue) most wasteful legal battle.
The Hero Who Outdid Superman (2 of 3)
Though he didn't OUTLAST him.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 27, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Comics' wildest and (I'd argue) most wasteful legal battle.
Why classic Captain Marvel was great: "I am a species of human being a million years advanced over! WITH MY POWERFUL BRAIN, I WENT INTO A LIBRARY AND LEARNED YOUR LANGUAGE IN A FEW MINUTES! I ALSO PICKED UP A GUN."
The Hero Who Outdid Superman (1 of 3)
And his weird legal and lexical history.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Why classic Captain Marvel was great: "I am a species of human being a million years advanced over! WITH MY POWERFUL BRAIN, I WENT INTO A LIBRARY AND LEARNED YOUR LANGUAGE IN A FEW MINUTES! I ALSO PICKED UP A GUN."
In 1918, the crossword feature was caught between providing an escape from the war and acknowledging it as an item of national interest. It split the difference in some interesting ways. (One grid included the word ARMISTICE.)
1918: The Year in Crosswords
Grids go to war.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 25, 2025 at 2:03 PM
In 1918, the crossword feature was caught between providing an escape from the war and acknowledging it as an item of national interest. It split the difference in some interesting ways. (One grid included the word ARMISTICE.)
A perspective on fan jargon from someone who did a lot of looking into it!
The (Lost) Language of Science-Fiction Fandom
The slang itself gafiated.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 24, 2025 at 9:17 PM
A perspective on fan jargon from someone who did a lot of looking into it!
On Neil Gaiman, and disappointing authors more generally.
Neil Gaiman, Fandom, and Pedestals
Dreams can die, but it's up to each dreamer to say when.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
On Neil Gaiman, and disappointing authors more generally.
I took the hardest new words in the Scripps Spelling Bee's study guide, and then turned those words into pictures.
Demon Spelling Bee 2025
Here's to the troublemakers.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 18, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I took the hardest new words in the Scripps Spelling Bee's study guide, and then turned those words into pictures.
Got a new puzzle! This one's a bit more challenging than the first, but I think you got this.
Microstic #2
Getting defensive.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 15, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Got a new puzzle! This one's a bit more challenging than the first, but I think you got this.
If you want to submit something to the Journal of Wordplay, the next three weeks is the time! You can get in touch with me here.
January 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
If you want to submit something to the Journal of Wordplay, the next three weeks is the time! You can get in touch with me here.
My theories about why the JLI is actually the oddest super-team ever created...and why, despite its success, it was doomed to be one of a kind.
The Strangest "Normal" Super-Team
Some of you aren't going to believe this one.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
My theories about why the JLI is actually the oddest super-team ever created...and why, despite its success, it was doomed to be one of a kind.
A few words from the back fringes of the dictionary!
The Last Words
And MORE words, about THOSE words!
tcampbell.substack.com
January 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM
A few words from the back fringes of the dictionary!
Today, a quick roundup of words with four vowels in a row: tcampbell.substack.com/p/four-vowel...
Four Vowels, No Waiting
Whaaaa--?
tcampbell.substack.com
January 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Today, a quick roundup of words with four vowels in a row: tcampbell.substack.com/p/four-vowel...
I am releasing a new kind of puzzle today and for the next fifty Wednesdays: ubercross.com/microstic.html . It's like an acrostic, but tiny!
Microstic by T Campbell
ubercross.com
January 8, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I am releasing a new kind of puzzle today and for the next fifty Wednesdays: ubercross.com/microstic.html . It's like an acrostic, but tiny!
Cherry blossom walks: Plot of the next Godzilla movie? 🐲 More ambiguous headlines at the link.
Crash Blossoms
News read more ways than one.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 5, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Cherry blossom walks: Plot of the next Godzilla movie? 🐲 More ambiguous headlines at the link.
A few thoughts on Xwitter, as I spend time on it for the last time until 2026 at least. (And why you'll only see so much of me on Bluesky...)
X, My Ex
Watching a platform recede.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A few thoughts on Xwitter, as I spend time on it for the last time until 2026 at least. (And why you'll only see so much of me on Bluesky...)
The Year in Crosswords 2024 is here!
The Year in Crosswords, 2024
In which I, an old, try to get down with the zouth.
tcampbell.substack.com
January 2, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The Year in Crosswords 2024 is here!
The latest issue of The Journal of Wordplay is available at www.journalofwordplay.com/TJoW7.pdf! This one's got an interview with John Langdon, an unprecedented collaboration, a new kind of word game, wordplay awards, and much more.
www.journalofwordplay.com
November 29, 2024 at 1:33 PM
The latest issue of The Journal of Wordplay is available at www.journalofwordplay.com/TJoW7.pdf! This one's got an interview with John Langdon, an unprecedented collaboration, a new kind of word game, wordplay awards, and much more.
Lois Lane's earliest appearance, and the forgotten villain who mirrored her.
Lois Lane: Beginnings
And her dark opposite.
tcampbell.substack.com
November 24, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Lois Lane's earliest appearance, and the forgotten villain who mirrored her.
On "The K-Metal From Krypton," and what would've happened if the story had seen print.
The Greatest Super-Story Never Told
A reporter denied her biggest scoop.
tcampbell.substack.com
November 23, 2024 at 5:21 PM
On "The K-Metal From Krypton," and what would've happened if the story had seen print.