Advertising in comic books explained

thumb|The dribble glass was a typical comic book advertisementComic 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

Further reading

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: 12 Comic Book Ads That Taught Us To Be Cynical. By. Cracked.com. 25 May 2008 .
2. Book: Comic Book Come-ons that Catch Kids . November 1974 . Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. . February 6, 2019 . 43–46.
3. Book: Tosh, D. . Picker's Pocket Guide - Comic Books: How to Pick Antiques Like a Pro . F+W Media . 2015 . 978-1-4402-4514-5 . February 6, 2019 . pt252.
4. Book: The Thin Man . September 2005 . Cincinnati Magazine . February 6, 2019 . 58.
5. Web site: Monkey Madness. NPR.org.
6. Book: New Society . New Society Limited . v. 34 . 1975 . February 6, 2019 . 697.
7. Web site: Sea-Monkeys and X-Ray Spex: Collecting the Bizarre Stuff Sold in the Back of Comic Books. Lisa. Hix. Collectors Weekly.
8. Book: American Woodworker . New Track Media . February 6, 2019 . 42.
9. Book: The New York Times Book Reviews 2000 . Fitzroy Dearborn . v. 1 . 2001 . 978-1-57958-058-2 . February 6, 2019 . 1706.
10. Web site: Penkava: Don't monkey around with comic book ads. Michael. Penkava. www.nwherald.com.