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Topic: Proof That Comics Are All Ages (Or Were) Post ReplyPost New Topic
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Robbie Parry
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 4:07am | IP Logged | 1 post reply

As a kid, I saw a lot of ads in comics for models, 'x-ray' specs, toy soldiers, balloons, cakes and all those other cool things that were only available in North America.

Obviously, those ads were aimed at kids, but does that mean comics weren't all ages?

This ad, often found in many 70s comics, is clearly aimed at adults:





I can't think of many kids who'd be quitting a dead-end job to study electronics. I always loved the above ad - I think I first saw it in a 70s SHAZAM comic - but it is surely targeted at adults.

Thoughts?

Incidentally, I wish I could track down some old comic ads. I seem to recall one where a guy, perhaps called Bob, is bullied on the beach, subscribes to a bodybuilding course, comes back muscular - and punches the bully!

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John Byrne
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 5:19am | IP Logged | 2 post reply

As I recall, ad space was bought on the basis of distribution numbers. It's not inconceivable that the advertiser seen above didn't even consider that the publication was a comic book.

(Altho those ads ran back when the audience for comics was thought to be composed of children and dim-witted adults, so who knows?)

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Robbie Parry
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 5:21am | IP Logged | 3 post reply

Ah, I see. That's interesting to hear.

I always thought the above ad was a bit too "adult" for a comic. 
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John Byrne
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 5:24am | IP Logged | 4 post reply

Roger Stern noted that "Bill" looked a lot like Ross Andru, and so scripted (and had lettered) a mock-up in which the story in the ad became all about Ross quitting DC to go do Spider-Man.
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Robbie Parry
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 5:27am | IP Logged | 5 post reply

That's interesting.

I did find such ads misleading. 2 free books on how to get a career in electronics? Hmmm. I suspect the books were free, but they probably pointed you in the direction of a college (or institution) which did charge a fee.
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Dave Phelps
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 5:50am | IP Logged | 6 post reply

I was a little surprised to buy an early 70s back issue (Avengers maybe?) and see an insert with THIS ad:



I'd seen the Mark Jewelers ones before, but jewelry is a little more family friendly. :-) If I understand correctly, those copies were intended for Military servicemen.
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Michael Penn
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 5:59am | IP Logged | 7 post reply


While I found this a compelling comic strip at 10 years old, I don't think the ad was directed at me!
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Robbie Parry
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 6:02am | IP Logged | 8 post reply

That's the one I was thinking of, Michael! Thanks.
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Tom French
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 7:22am | IP Logged | 9 post reply

Oh, that Charles Atlas ad! I wanted that course so bad. Bigger Arms? Check! Powerful Chest? Check! Homoerotic Overtone? CHECK!!!!

My Mom found the envelope before I mailed it, shook her head, and said, "No..." (with that ellipse)

Several years later, we participated in a Church/ Community Yard Sale and our Pastor, a rail-thin man with a reluctant beard, had the whole entire series, twenty some-odd "lessons", for only five bucks! Of course I bought them -- I still have them... somewhere. 

Poorly written (carbon copied from an old-school typewriter), the exercises in "dynamic tension" are little more than flexing before a mirror, basically an excuse for pictures of musclemen. Frankly, for that kind of eroticism, I had the comics themselves. I'm glad I didn't spend more than five bucks.

Now, years later, as someone who does work to maintain his physique, I realize I could never have been a superhero -- to get in shape like that, that kind of training is brutal on the body. Poor Batman...
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Robbie Parry
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 7:37am | IP Logged | 10 post reply

 Tom French wrote:
Of course I bought them -- I still have them... somewhere.

You said you were after a roommate, right? 
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Bill Collins
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 7:49am | IP Logged | 11 post reply

Robbie, i bought this for a friend a few years ago, it
may be what you`re looking for!
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Robbie Parry
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Posted: 23 April 2018 at 7:57am | IP Logged | 12 post reply

Thank you, Mr Collins, just what I am looking for!
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