
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,[1] 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[2] that appeared on the back cover of many historically significant comic books, including Action Comics #1 (June 1938)[3] (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[4]
 - Dribble glass
 - Itching powder[5]
 - Joy buzzer[4]
 - Latex mask
 - Potato gun[6]
 - Sea-Monkeys[7]
 - Sneezing powder
 - Squirting flower[8]
 - Stink bomb
 - Whoopee cushion[9]
 - X-ray specs[10]
 
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
- ↑ By (25 May 2008). "12 Comic Book Ads That Taught Us To Be Cynical". Cracked.com.
 - ↑ Comic Book Come-ons that Catch Kids. Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. November 1974. pp. 43–46. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
 - ↑ 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.
 - 1 2 The Thin Man. Cincinnati Magazine. September 2005. p. 58. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
 - ↑ "Monkey Madness". NPR.org.
 - ↑ New Society. New Society Limited. 1975. p. 697. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
 - ↑ Hix, Lisa. "Sea-Monkeys and X-Ray Spex: Collecting the Bizarre Stuff Sold in the Back of Comic Books". Collectors Weekly.
 - ↑ American Woodworker. New Track Media. p. 42. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
 - ↑ The New York Times Book Reviews 2000. Fitzroy Dearborn. 2001. p. 1706. ISBN 978-1-57958-058-2. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
 - ↑ 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







