By Kirk Demarais
Rediscover your experience of wonder!
Generations of comedian publication readers consider the tantalizing grants of classic novelty ads that provided real laser-gun plans, x-ray specifications, or even 7-foot-tall monsters (with glow-in-the-dark eyes!). yet what could you actually get when you entrusted your richly deserved $1.69 to the submit office?
Mail-Order Mysteries solutions this query, revealing the superb truths (and agonizing exaggerations) in regards to the genuine items advertised to young children within the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Pop-culture historian Kirk Demarais stocks his extraordinary assortment, including:
100 Toy squaddies in a Footlocker
Count Dante’s World’s Deadliest battling Secrets
GRIT
Hercules Wrist Band
Hypno-Coin
Life-Size Monsters
Mystic Smoke
Sea Monkeys
Soil From Dracula’s Castle
U-Control Ghost
Ventrilo Voice Thrower
...and many, many more!
With greater than a hundred and fifty outstanding, ordinary, and downright fraudulent collectibles, Mail-Order Mysteries is a must have ebook comedian publication enthusiasts all over the place. belief us.
Read or Download Mail-Order Mysteries: Real Stuff from Old Comic Book Ads! PDF
Similar comics books
The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia
Darkish Horse Books and Nintendo staff as much as deliver you The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, containing an remarkable number of old details at the Legend of Zelda franchise. This good-looking hardcover comprises never-before-seen inspiration artwork, the total background of Hyrule, the professional chronology of the video games, and masses extra!
X-Men is likely one of the most well liked comedian e-book franchises ever, with profitable spin-offs that come with a number of function motion pictures, caricature sequence, bestselling games, and item. this can be the 1st examine the deeper problems with the X-Men universe and the alternatives dealing with its strong "mutants," corresponding to identification, human ethics as opposed to mutant morality, and self-sacrifice.
Put up yr word: First released in 2006
------------------------
Dav Pilkey's 8th epic novel offers evil, horror, and "laffs," and provides on all 3. during this rowdy episode, George and Harold take a incorrect flip someplace and finish up in a surrealistic exchange truth the place every little thing defies expectation.
As they struggle to regulate to a realm the place academics are great and cafeteria foodstuff is sweet, our heroes come across evil types of themselves. until our dynamic duo can cease them, those diabolical twins plan to damage their native land.
Batman Unmasked: Analyzing a Cultural Icon
Over the sixty years of his lifestyles, Batman has encountered a magnificent array of cultural icons and has progressively turn into one himself. This interesting publication examines what Batman potential and has intended to a number of the audiences, teams and groups who've attempted to manage and interpret him over the many years.
Additional info for Mail-Order Mysteries: Real Stuff from Old Comic Book Ads!
Example text
Note that the two posters do not align correctly. indd 55 6/13/11 7:55 PM 56 7 GIGANTIC DINOSAURS WE IMAGINED: Large plastic dinosaurs made of molded one-piece quality latex, to be exact. Had we been keen-eyed enough to notice that they’re “completely inflatable,” we’d have guessed a beach toy. THEY SENT: Seven balloons and some cardboard feet, which, like all balloon novelties, offer extremely limited playability. You can almost see the copywriter smirk as he or she wrote the line, “You must agree that these giant dinosaurs are everything we say or your money promptly refunded,” followed by the web of masterfully worded claims.
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: Subatomic. Two variations of the the Mini Pistol. indd 42 6/13/11 7:35 PM 43 SPUD GUN ABOVE: Eventually the metal construction was discontinued in favor of plastic. WE IMAGINED: A gun that shoots pieces of potato. THEY SENT: A gun that shoots pieces of potato! The Spud Gun shoots wet, starchy pellets great distances, and it instantly renews interest in the vegetables in the pantry. The only downside is discovering stray potato bullets rotting around the house. BEHIND THE MYSTERY: The Spud Gun was an existing item made incredibly popular by mail-order guru E.
This is due in part to the eye-catching full-page battle scene featured in the ad. The illustration was penned by renowned comic book artist Russ Heath (Uncanny Tales, Frontline Combat). Ironically, this fifty-dollar art gig would become one of Heath’s best-known works. sign. indd 37 6/13/11 7:24 PM 38 COMIC BOOK FLATS 204 CONTINUED... REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS The assortment of Revolutionary Soldiers is the only one to pass the two hundred mark, making it the largest collection of its kind. This set is also notable because later versions were produced as three-dimensional figures, though they remained about half the size of store-bought soldiers.