Advertising in comic books

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.

The dribble glass was a typical comic book advertisement

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).^{[citation needed]}

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.

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See also

• Comics portal

• Advertising to children
• Soren Sorensen Adams – a Danish-American inventor and manufacturer of novelty products, including the joy buzzer.
• Toy advertising