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Comic book advertisements are a common feature in American comic books mainly from the 1940s onwards. As these advertisements were directed at young people, many made sensational claims, and sold the products for a few dollars or less, to be sent to a post office box. Products offered included novelty items, toys, and self-improvement courses such as drawing and body building.

Companies

The Johnson Smith Company placed advertisements for gadgets and toys that appeared on the back cover of many historically significant comic books, including Action Comics #1 (June 1938) (the first appearance of the character Superman) and Detective Comics #27 (May 1939) (the first appearance of the character Batman).

Notable products offered

• Charles Atlas illustrated bodybuilding book
• Disappearing ink
• Dribble glass
• Itching powder
• Joy buzzer
• Latex mask
• Potato gun
• Sea-Monkeys
• Sneezing powder
• Squirting flower
• Stink bomb
• Whoopee cushion
• X-ray specs

The ads also included recruitment of youngsters to act as salespeople for products such as greeting cards and the national newspaper Grit.

See also

• Advertising to children
• Soren Sorensen Adams – a Danish-American inventor and manufacturer of novelty products, including the joy buzzer.
• Toy advertising

References

1. By (25 May 2008). "12 Comic Book Ads That Taught Us To Be Cynical". Cracked.com.
2. Comic Book Come-ons that Catch Kids. Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. November 1974. pp. 43–46. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
3. Tosh, D. (2015). Picker's Pocket Guide - Comic Books: How to Pick Antiques Like a Pro. F+W Media. p. pt252. ISBN 978-1-4402-4514-5. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
4. ^ The Thin Man. Cincinnati Magazine. September 2005. p. 58. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
5. "Monkey Madness". NPR.org.
6. New Society. New Society Limited. 1975. p. 697. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
7. Hix, Lisa. "Sea-Monkeys and X-Ray Spex: Collecting the Bizarre Stuff Sold in the Back of Comic Books". Collectors Weekly.
8. American Woodworker. New Track Media. p. 42. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
9. The New York Times Book Reviews 2000. Fitzroy Dearborn. 2001. p. 1706. ISBN 978-1-57958-058-2. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
10. Penkava, Michael. "Penkava: Don't monkey around with comic book ads". www.nwherald.com.

Further reading

• Demarais, K. (2011). Mail-Order Mysteries: Real Stuff from Old Comic Book Ads. Insight Editions. ISBN 978-1-60887-026-4. Retrieved February 6, 2019. 156 pages.

External links

• Media related to Comic book advertisements at Wikimedia Commons

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