Good Old Times

[Snaggletiger]

I’m so old, I knew Cap’n Crunch when he was still a Private.  This is not a post about how it was “back in my day”, when we walked barefoot to school, 5 miles, in the snow….yada yada yada.  Just that times were in fact, different when I was growing up.  Without cell phones, computers, Play Station, 8,592 channels etc. entertainment consisted of whatever sports, or general stupidity we could get into in the great outdoors, or a lot of reading while stuck inside.  One of the staples of any kids’ library, was comic books.

I, and all my friends, had stacks of them.  I was a Marvel guy.  One of my best friends was partial to DC comics.  I also loved a series that was similar to Beetle Bailey, called Sad Sack.  The misadventures of an Army enlisted man.  We traded off and would read, and re-read them 100X over.  About a week ago, I’m in an antique store (Snagette has a booth in an antique store and works there part time as well) and came across some vintage comics for sale.  I couldn’t resist. I picked up a Thor and a Hulk edition, for $8.00.  The comics were originally .25 cents each.  I also found a Time Magazine from 1942 in excellent condition.  BTW, I love, love, love old stuff like that.  I have an Auburn/Georgia Tech program from the mid 30’s.

The absolute joy in thumbing through those comics, was not so much the story, as much as it was the advertisements every few pages.  You could get a pair of x-ray vision glasses for $1.00.  You could earn anywhere from $2.00 to $10.00 a week selling GRIT magazine.  I could have had a Greek God-like body in one week, if I had just sent the $6.99 plus postage and handling, for that color brochure from Charles Atlas.  I would have an established business as a motorcycle mechanic, had I ordered that manual for only $9.99.  Just out of curiosity, I’m actually considering sending the dollar in to see if I get those x-ray vision glasses. 

That’s my favorite part about these old magazines and comics.  The ads, and how they’re written, are hilarious.  Any old comic book buffs on here?

[wesfau2]

Nerd.

Wasn't a comic guy, but loved Mad magazine and definitely bought some of those x-ray specs once upon a time.  Don't recall the publication that had the ad...but all your mentioned items were there in that marketplace of wonders.

[AUJarhead]

BTW, I love, love, love old stuff like that.

Good thing your wife does, too.

[Snaggletiger]

Good thing your wife does, too.

There might be, a little dust on the ball sack.  But don't let it fool ya' about what's inside.

[GH2001]

There might be, a little dust on the ball sack.  But don't let it fool ya' about what's inside.

From sitting in a desolate location for so long? Like an old book.

BTDubbs, check out the Florbama live version of that song by Kenny and David Lee. 10/10.

[Kaos]

Doubtful it's a surprise, but I love comics.   Have a pretty diverse collection.  Remember Sad Sack, but never had any.  I'd read it at the comic rack and put it back.   

I'm probably the only person left alive who remembers Kamandi or Plop! both of which I followed.  I also liked Werewolf By Night and was really looking forward to the Marvel version on D+ last Halloween, but it wasn't true to what I remembered at all. 

I remember once I had to write this paper for history about great figures from the past.  In one of the horror comics I had, there was a center section about the parallels between Kennedy and Lincoln.  My parents were freaking out because I hadn't written anything until the night before and I just straight up boosted that whole thing.  My dad was furious. He said it was asinine that I'd try to use a comic book as a source.  But I did. And I made a decent grade on it.  This was before all this stupid plagiarism software - or any software, really - existed. 

Best comic series?  Always partial to Batman. Dark Knight Returns is pretty up there. 

[CCTAU]

I read a lot of comics. Then I grew up…
I had a decent very old collection. I gave them away.
I had an old train set as a kid. I stopped using it and another kid wanted a train set. So we gave it to him. Thats what poor people do… The locomotive was made out of metal. I found out later that was rare since they didn’t make them out of metal after WWII.