The Comics Bin

2/28/09

Public Service Comics: Computer related

One reason I think the Public Service comics are interesting is because they blur the line between education, propaganda, and sales. For example, in the context of historical hindsight, the comics produced by GE help people learn about new technology, and might also convince some kids or adults to become scientists or technicians. But they are also used by GE to sell the idea of atomic power, and also to promote General Electric as a company that has a future, and that's a much more subtle message.

Here are some comics from computer hardware and software companies, and they're a lot more blatant. Sure, they're still trying to be entertaining, but the comic is really a showcase for the product. Click on any picture to see it in more detail.
Superman in the Computer Masters of Metropolis from DC Comics, 1982 for Radio Shack.
Superman, Wonder Woman and the TRS-80 Computer Whiz Kids tak on Lex Luthor. The cover is only the beginning. Learn how powerful transistors make the TRS-80 the most amazing thing since sliced bread. Check out the pre-Internet explanation for how to set up an "information retrieval system."

Tandy Computer Whiz Kids (A Deadly Choice Edition), produced for Radio Shack by Archie Comics, 1990.
The kids use camcorders, skateboards and computers to stop a drug dealer near the school. This issue has a confusing message, since the kids use the computer to set up a drug abuse hot line, but that's only a small portion of the story. It's mostly typical late 80's anti-drug propaganda.

SWAT: Software Warriors Against Tampering for XTree Company anti-virus software circa 1992(?).
I don't know where I got this, but it's a great example of a comic gone wrong. Sure, it catches your eye, but it's not really entertaining, and it doesn't explain the features of XTree anti-virus software, which might have been useful in 1992.

Public Service Comics: Health Issues

Here are some more PSCs, all around health topics. Click on any picture to see it in more detail.

"Hooked!" is an early anti-drug comic from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), US Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the US Government Printing Office 1966.
This lurid story is told by a Heroin junkie who's done it all, from Marihuana to Goofballs. His girlfriend no longer needs drugs -- she's dead! And this poor sap is still hooked. You can read the whole story online here.

"Operation Survival," is a Civil Defense (CD) comic from Graphic Information Service Inc, 1957.
Two kids get stuck in a flood, and then the boy, Jim, dreams the US is under attack. Li'l Abner only shows up on the cover, and I don't know if any of this was drawn by Al Capp.

"Spider-Man - Explores the Tragedy of Verbal Abuse of Children"
In association with National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse (NCPCA), Marvel Comics, 1987 presents two stories of kids who get loads of verbal abuse unfairly heaped on them.
Then, Spider-Man unleashes his wrath, and a lengthy speech, against the Hobgoblin.
As the Hobgoblin says, "Spider-man, you are a real drag."

"Captain America Goes To War Against Drugs." Produced in Cooperation with The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Marvel Comics, 1990. This is a truly weird story of aliens giving drugs to a high-school kid to undermine the human race.

"Death Talks About Life," from DC /Vertigo Comics, 1994. Surprisingly, written by Neil Gaiman and drawn by Dave McKean.
Starring the Death character from The Sandman. It's frank, but not too shocking.

"Ninja High School Talks About STD: Sexually Transmitted Diseases," from Antarctic Press, 1992, is a lot more graphic. Ichi is on her period, but that's nothing because Rich has Gonorrhea! Jeremy gets quite an education.
This comic is explicit, and written by an MD to combat misinformation from other PSA comics that only talk about "safe sex." By Ben Dunn and Dr. Joeming Dunn MD

"Microbes: Invisible Invaders Amazing Allies," copyright BBH Exhibits Inc, 1997, is a strange comic which I picked up at a science museum (OMSI? Exploratorium?).
It was "made possible by Phizer, Inc." I like Microbe-guy's pick up line: "Want to try my new time machine?" Unfortunately, it doesn't work.

Public Service Comics: Reading and Comics

Here are some more public service comics, although these all seem to have conflicts of interest. They are all about reading, and collecting comics.

The "Marvel Guide to Collecting Comics," from Marvel Comics, 1982. This isn't a story, but a basic handbook on collecting. Definitions, where to buy 'em, how to bag and box 'em, and tips on potentially lucrative investments. Unfortunately, this was the 80's, and most of the comics since then have gone boom and bust.

"Comics 101: How-to & History Lessons from the Pros!" from TwoMorrows Publishing. I picked this up on Free Comic Book Day 2007. Get the hint? Free comic that explains how to collect comics...

"Target Presents Reading to the Rescue!" from Marvel Comics and Target
Copyright 2004, Target Stores. In the story Loki turns the attendees at an amusement park illiterate, and it takes Cap, Thor and Spider-man and Jean Grey to get them to read again. Poignant, and why not buy something at Target?

An assortment of Energy related Public Service Comics

For years comics have served not only to entertain, but to educate. Although some of the pseudo-science in DC Comics' The Flash is questionable, I at least gleaned from the pages of the Justice League of America that a geosynchronous orbit must be at 22,300 miles above the Earth.
Of course, quite a few comics have been printed as blatant propaganda, often omitting the story entirely.
From time to time I've picked up various comics I call Public Service Comics (PSCs). Sometimes the topic is interesting, and sometimes the content is just absurd.

Here are some covers and excerpts from my collection on Energy and Conservation PSCs. Click on any picture to see it in more detail.

"Adventures Inside the Atom," from the Adventures Series by General Electric Comics, 1948. As the narrative states: "The modern miracle of atomic power is the climax of a never-ending search for knowledge." It mentions that "we
re building the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory near Schenectady, New York where we will learn to use Atomic Fuel." So, this takes place before the first useful nuclear power plant. It also mentions the Hanford Plutonium reactors.

"Network of Power," from the Adventures in Science Series by General Electric, 1953. Notice that "in Science" has been added to the title of the series. This comic talks about the distribution of energy and the miracle of power lines.

"Inside the Atom," from the Adventures in Science Series by General Electric, 1955. Extols the virtues of atomic power. Notice that the artwork from the final page is almost the same as the final page of "Adventures Inside the Atom" (see above).

"Adventures in Electronics," from the Adventures in Science Series by General Electric, 1955. It explains how radio and television transmissions work.

"The Earth: Our Home in Space" from The Soil Conservation Society of America, Ankeny Iowa, 1972. A good comic stressing conservation of all kinds.

"The Atom, Electricity and You!," from Portland General Electric Company (PGE). This is copyright 1973 and produced by Custom Comics of NYC for PGE. It talks about the proposed Trojan Nuclear Power plant, which was shut down in 1992 and demolished in 2006.

"Ee-Yi-Ee-Yi-Oh! A Barnyard Fable About Ecology," from Consumers Power Company, 1973. I picked this comic up while touring (what I believe is the) Donald C. Cook Nuclear Generating Station in Michigan. It's a sort of "Animal Farm" a la Orwell, except instead of communism, the evil force is the back-to-nature movement.

"Mickey Mouse and Goofy Explore Energy," from Walt Disney Educational Media Company, 1976. Due to the energy crisis of 76, Mickey and Goofy explore energy alternatives including solar, hydro and nuclear.

2/24/09

Who's watching The Watchmen?

Cover of Watchmen

Today a friend of mine sends me some email, and he's like: "What is the big freakin' deal with this movie? Why is every other thing I read on the internets about The Watchmen?"

And I'm like, "In terms of popular culture, it's akin to the first Star Trek movie. I hope it doesn't suck, but like the first Star Trek movie, it probably will."

And he's like, "I'm so glad I'm about 18 months behind pop culture. That way when (really if) I watch this movie I'll have long forgotten all the hype and nonsense."

And I'm like:
Get with the times.
The Watchmen "graphic novel" came out about 23 years ago.

It's so old, it wasn't even called a "graphic novel" when it came out.
it's so old, it was printed on newsprint instead of glossy paper.

It's so old, kids were reading comics instead of adults.
It's so old, Alan Moore... well, yeah, he looked about the same.

PS, this note from Wikipedia:

After the series concluded, the individual issues were collected and sold in trade paperback form. Along with Frank Miller's 1986 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns miniseries, Watchmen was marketed as a graphic novel, a term which allowed DC and other publishers to sell similar comic book collections in a way that associated them with novels, but disassociate them from comics.

PPS: I hope it doesn't suck.

2/7/09

Virtual Comic Book Stand

Remember when you were a kid and you stood in the 7-11 or local drug store browsing through all the comics? Half the time was spent just drooling over the covers. Now you can waste even more time without searching for a comic book rack. The Cover Browser site has tons of comic covers.
Here are two nice ones...

Presidents in the comics

Speaking of Obama in Spiderman #583, the Chicago Tribune has a short tribute to presidents appearing in comics. I'm sure there are better Carter pictures than his cover shot on the Superman vs Muhammad Ali oversize comic, but it's funny to see the contexts for Nixon and Kennedy.

Nixon adorns the cover of DC's "From Beyond the Unknown" #17, published July 1972. This is especially funny because it was probably written before the Senate Committee hearings on the Watergate break-in (May 17 to August 7, 1973).

In this appearance of Kennedy from Superman comics, it adds a twist to the conspiracy theorists. Maybe Kennedy was killed to (possibly by Jean Loring?) to cover any traces of people who knew Superman's secret identity?

2/4/09

Obama: Sell Out?

It's been two weeks since President Obama's inauguration, and almost four weeks since Amazing Spiderman #583 first came out. That's the issue where Spiderman meets the president.

I was at my local Things From Another World (TFAW) and they had a full wall display of the 4th printing of the comic. They said the first and third printings were gone so quickly they didn't even get to see them. The guy behind the counter said he thought the cover for the 4th printing was the best, but it's only a reprint of the splash page of the story.

The Obama story happens to be a four page backup. The main story is a slice of Peter Parker's life where Betty Brant tries to pretend she doesn't know Pete is planning her birthday party. It's a nice bit of characterization, but probably not what made Spiderman a household name.

Speaking of household names, I have to wonder about the tie-in here with Obama. In a recent Q&A session with some schoolkids, Obama claimed his favorite superheroes were Spiderman and Batman. Always the politician, he chose one each from the major comic publishers.

But, why stop there? If Obama is about change, why not push for an underdog? Pick a superhero that doesn't get the attention he or she deserves. And maybe go for a smaller publisher. For example, TFAW's sister company is Dark Horse Comics. What if Obama had said he liked Concrete for his environmental work, or Buffy for her vigilance against the dark forces?

Or, he could have chosen a different company. I don't think it would have been politic to choose Michael Allred's Madman from Image Comics, but he could have used the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from Top Shelf for choosing role models for his cabinet.

Why stick with Batman and Spiderman? Let's hear it for diversity.

Here's the wikipedia page with a list of comic book publishers.