How many of us who grew up in the 1960s and early 70s were. Skull key chain real switchblade comb spy pen radio the money maker bike decals crazy signs. Sea monkeys could be ordered by mail directly from the sea monkey headquarters. Ht lowbrow comics, comicconmovie, 80s comic ads, scarymother. No, sea monkeys were more like an underwater insect, with a seethrough body and visible exoskeleton, rows of spidery legs, two freaky bug eyes, and a long tail. May 09, 20 and, for some kids it was, as long as you werent expecting a life form that even remotely resembled those cheery faces in the comic book ad. Print advertising for seamonkeys puts the s in sensationalism. Mans account of ordering a live monkey from comic book ad. Sea monkeys are a variety of artemia crustaceans such as brine shrimp or seed shrimps, successfully marketed as a pet product due to the appealing. When i was a kid, i remember seeing an ad for sea monkeys in the back of a comic book. Take a look at this sea monkeys ad taken from an old comic book where sea monkeys have historically been sold directly to unsuspecting children, bypassing their parents who obviously might be a little more skeptical of what this ad seems to promise.
This series of ads, illustrated by joe orlando later vice president of dc comics, ran in comic books throughout the 1970s and depicted the sea creatures as a nuclear family, sans clothing, with crowns on their heads. A 1978 comic book ad for sea monkeys, with art by the comic book artist joe orlando, who would serve as vice president of dc comics and associate. It wasnt that no one was buying them, it was that no one wanted to sell them, so harold got the idea to place an ad for instant life inside comic books to market directly to kids. Sea monkeys were intensely marketed in comic books throughout the 1960s and early 1970s using illustrations by the comic book illustrator joe orlando. Well, i was one of those goofy kids that fell for it. The ads in comic books first drew my attention when i was a very little girl. These are posted for the enjoyment of all comic book fans. With almost no experience of any kind of advertising at all i hardly ever watched tv, and 2 out of the 3 channels that existed had no ads, i was particularly susceptible to it. If todays generation y and zers accuse us baby boomers of being cynical and distrustful, well, i for one blame it all on comic books. The product was heavily marketed in the 1960s and 70s, especially in comic. For seamonkeys, the ads portrayed a cheerful family of humanoid creatures bearing crowns of some sort and hanging out by their underwater castle. What kid did not order or dream of ordering such classics as sea monkeys, polaris subs or xray glasses that we saw in the comic books.
Get all good price and hot deals of comic book sea monkeys here. If youre not of a certain age and dont know what im talking about, here is a vintage ad for the monkeys of the sea. Mar 24, 2020 the strange era when kids could buy live monkeys through the post via comic book ads. And, most shamefully unlike the advertised product, sea monkeys were just tiny brine shrimp. Seamonkeys are a novelty aquarium pet, a type of brine shrimp that undergoes cryptobiosis. Harol sea monkeys, old comic books, book advertising. Sea monkey s vintage 1971 comic book ad 11 x 14 poster etsy. False advertising of science can still be fascinating.
If you would like to see some old classic sea monkeys comic book ads or see what the kits originally looked like then drop on by the museum. But now and again, the advertisers delivered exactly what they promised, and of course, these instances were always the most horrific imaginable. The shocking true tale of the mad genius who invented sea. The shocking true tale of the mad genius who invented seamonkeys. A regular ad in late sixties and early seventies comic books offered a darling pet monkey, and who.
The product was heavily marketed in the 1960s and 70s, especially in comic books, and remains a presence in popular culture. Collecting the bizarre stuff sold in the back of comic books. Yeah, the drawing on the ad makes it look like sea monkeys are living beings with human faces that can look at you and weird crowns on their heads. Vintage comic book ads that were too good to be true. Monkey madness in the spring of 1968, two young brothers ordered a live monkey from a comic book ad. If you have ever experienced the joy of sea monkeys you know that. Back in the glory days of the comic book ad pages, it was generally a given that the product being advertised was not going to live up to the extravagant hype.
Shop top fashion brands tshirts at free delivery and returns possible on eligible purchases. May 12, 2015 print advertising for seamonkeys puts the s in sensationalism. It all sounded like some far away, magical fantasy, but. Seamonkeys were intensely marketed in comic books throughout the 1960s. We had sea monkeys in superman dc comics, we had it in harvey comics, archie, in fact every comic book on the market we bought 303 million pages of advertising a year for years. What kid didnt want to use their allowance to buy these magnificent pets. I collected comic books from about fourth grade through high school.
Comic book resources has a fantastic firsthand account of ordering a live miniature monkey from a comic book advertisment. If you click them and buy a product, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Finally, when your visit is over then be sure to check out our links section to see other fine sea monkeys web pages. Jul 28, 2017 old comic book ads xray specs sea monkeys kit charles atlas workout if something seems to good to be true. The strange history of comic book advertisements syfy wire. Now the sea monkey lady tells everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. The reality is that theyre tiny shrimp whose eggs can be freeze dried for long periods of. Top 10 outrageous comic book advertisements youtube. From the heyday of comic book mail order ads, a look back at the top 10 best novelties, gags and gimmicks plus a full list by category.
I vowed to send away for sea monkeys as soon as i was a grown up and had that kind of power. The battle over the seamonkey fortune the new york times. Buy retro sea monkeys comic book ad graphic tshirt. And these secrets and lies will shake you to your salty core. On the left you see your normal sea monkeys ad from 1972. Although this ad was printed in 1963, maybe it just hadnt been updated yet at least, thats my best guess. Jun 03, 2014 top 10 outrageous comic book advertisements from many of the comic book lists on this site you can tell is big supporter of comic books.
Sea monkeys are a novelty aquarium pet, a type of brine shrimp that undergoes cryptobiosis. The unusual designs of the liveaction characters in the amazing live sea monkeys are based on fantasy characters created by orlando for a series of wellremembered 1960s1970s comic book ads. Im attempting to get back into the swing of things and start posting on my regular schedule again. Enticed by those ads in the back of comic books, generations of children from around the world have. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Sea monkeys that could live in a goldfish bowl and be trained to perform tricks. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. Anthony dagostino in 1957 and originally called instant life and sold for only 49 cents. The items were truly unbelievable as in, not to be believed.
And if youd like to learn more about the fascinating history of seamonkeys, check out this article. At the center of this story are sea monkeys, the amazing critters advertised in the pages of batman, superman, and archie comics. Demarais, who is 39, became fascinated with mailorder comic novelities as a kid in smalltown siloam springs, arkansas, where hes lived most of his life. The unusual designs of the liveaction characters in the amazing live seamonkeys are based on fantasy characters created by orlando for a series of wellremembered 1960s1970s comic book ads. So heres a semipost to get things started not actually a comic book ad, but a fascinating article about the comic book ad mainstay, seamonkeys, and what has happened to the creators widow in recent years. Yes i know they were pants now but at the time i imagined these things really worked. Love the graphics of the happy family of sea monkeys in the picture.
Generations of kids flirted with the notion of ordering sea monkeys. Back to menu simple gadgets and novelties were the most common type of offering in comic book mail order ads. Perhaps the pictures above will bring you back in time. These ads are as much a part of the history and lore of comic books as the stories themselves.
On the right, however, you can see a 1978 ad for super. The picture in the ad showed fascinating creatures with humanlike features frolicking in the sea. Enter the wonderful world of amazing live sea monkeys. Remember all those ads in the back of your comic books. Listcaboodle fun, informative, and cool stories in list format. In only five minutes you will actually hatch a whole tumbling, playful, happy troupe of seamonkeys that are even more fun than a zoo full of chattering, howling, jungle monkeys.
Xray spex did not allow you to see through girls clothing. Nov 05, 2009 as a little kid, i thought it was amazing that once, someone had actually responded to one of these ads in a comic book, and something real had happened in the world in response to that. Nov 03, 2008 comic book resources has a fantastic firsthand account of ordering a live miniature monkey from a comic book advertisment. Sep 20, 2011 mailorder mysteries presents original comic book ads alongside photos of what actually arrived in the mail, accompanied by some clever descriptions of what the purchaser imagined and what the manufacturers sent. And if these depictions compelled you to adopt a family of your own, then you were also going to learn a little about marketing. I was so excited to get the sea monkeys and was sorely disappointed when they looked nothing like the picture. If you were a regular reader of comic books in the 60s and 70s, you probably couldnt help but notice the recurring ad that offered you your very own kidsized polaris nuclear submarine all for the low price of about seven bucks. The widow of the inventor of sea monkeys is suing a toy company for allegedly failing to fork over close to a million clams a year in royalties. Mailorder mysteries presents original comic book ads alongside photos of what actually arrived in the mail. When the sea monkeys arrived, i was sadly disappointed. Top 10 outrageous comic book advertisements from many of the comic book lists on this site you can tell is big supporter of comic books. These products and more were promised to young gullible comic book readers in dubious advertisements for decades. I had sea monkeys and was dying to be the proud owner of the sea monkey racetrack. Despite their incredibly short lifespan, sea monkeys remain one of the most infamous comic book pop culture.
Live sea monkeys pet baby raccoons imported birds for hunting. Think you have an idea about what sea monkeys dont want you to know. One look at the ads suggested evidence of evolved creatures, almost human, who lounged around their aquatic surroundings without a care. What would a vintage comic book be without ads for sea monkeys. The new name was based on their saltwater habitat, together with the supposed resemblance of the animals tails to those of monkeys. Anyone in the vicinity of a comic book as a kid, was aware of those lovable sea monkeys. While the ad claims these blowup ladies are anatomically correct, theyre, um, not equipped for lovemaking.
Old comic book ads xray specs sea monkeys kit charles. Having to be so cynical see more ideas about vintage comic books, vintage comics and comic books. George has the story of one fan who bought one, which resulted in an er visit and 28 stitches. May 15, 2018 enter the wonderful world of amazing live seamonkeys. A 1978 comic book ad for sea monkeys, with art by the comic book artist joe orlando, who would serve as vice president of dc comics. Since 1960, children of all ages have been fascinated by comic book ads featuring the alluring and mysterious beings known as sea monkeys. Apr 17, 2016 the battle over the sea monkey fortune. Vintage comic book ads that were total scams 20 photos the funny pictures nostalgia.
Retro comic books and their amazing ads sea monkeys, my. For sea monkeys, the ads portrayed a cheerful family of humanoid creatures bearing crowns of some sort and hanging out by their underwater castle. Old comic book ads xray specs sea monkeys kit charles atlas workout duration. This comic book is not graded we include extra pictures and describe as. All one had to do was send in a few bucks, and theyd send you these incredible creatures in the mail. Sea monkeys perhaps one of the more unusual and intriguing products ever sold in comic books, sea monkeys, actually a very specific. It shows a royal family of sea creatures, each with two feet that end in flippers, an eellike tail, two arms. When i was little, i was totally creeped out by the sea monkeys ads. Sea monkeys another ad that everyone on earth knows about because it was just that popular. With all you need about informations, prices of comic book sea monkeys, we always supply the cheapest cost, compare and the best service to you. The first time i ever saw comics for sale was in 1979, when the.