Historical Superman Files....

[binarysunrise]

So as a cultural historian, or dare I say it, Superman historian, I often run across interesting historical Superman files in my research.  Currently I am writing the history of the Superman daily strips, so if people don't object, I will post files that I stumble across that aren't related to my research, but are neat nonetheless.

First up is an ad from 1954:

[MatterEaterLad]

Cool, I love this stuff...

[binarysunrise]

Here are two that are related to my research.  This is where it all begins in 1939:

[Super Monkey]

$6.98 was a lot of money back then. I wonder how it looked like in actuality. Great illustration however, classic 50's style.

[JulianPerez]

My GOD, were the ads in comics something. Considering the Hypnotic Coins and X-Ray Specs, in addition to the usual comics audiences of kids and science fiction loving teenagers, the next biggest comic demographic must have been gigantic perverts.

By far one of the best has to be for a HYPNOTIC TELEVISION. It describes a manual that explains how to turn "any ordinary television into a hypnotic flickering device!" Besides the image of the television, there was a Betty/Veronica style curvy girl WINKING at the reader. The clear indication here is that the television hypnotism is to place attractive women under your power.

Another of my favorites is "PLANS TO BUILD A REAL ROBOT!" It features an image of a giant clanky robot with crab claw hands chasing after bully-types while some Urkel looking kid looks on in the background, cheering the robot on. I wonder if the year 1976 coincided with a monumental spike in gym-teacher homocides by flesh-melting ray?

[binarysunrise]

August 30, 1940 - proof that girls read Superman too...

[Super Monkey]

check it out: http://comicbookads.leafpublishing.com/

[binarysunrise]

December 31, 1940 - anyone believe his excuse?