From What The--? #5 (July 1989), by Marc Siry and Russ Heath (who illustrated the original 132 Roman Soldiers ad)
From Avengers 1½ (December 1999)
I also just discovered this Mad Magazine parody of a Johnson Smith and Co. Catalog via Doug Gliford's Mad Cover Site, click to enlarge...
I have this memory of the Sea Baboons ad parody originally appearing in Marvel's CRAZY in the late 70s/early 80s. Based on the covers of issues I remember owning, it may be in #58 or #66. Sadly, I am pretty sure both of them are long gone.
ReplyDeleteAnother comic book ad parody I recall from the pages of CRAZY was a spoof of this Kenner Star Wars ad with the toys based on...KRAMER VS. KRAMER. I was absolutely fascinated by this.
You know, the 153-Piece Street Gang set would sell.
ReplyDeleteKirk, we're you able to read each item on the Mad cover/Johnson Smith parody? Some of them are quite funny and it took Harvey Kurtzman about a year to put that one together.
Brian O.
C. Elam - I have a nice condition copy of that issue of CRAZY, and the "Sea Baboons" ad is definitely on the back cover! It's a Star Wars parody cover...I'll have to check what the issue number is though. In fact I was just reading this parody about a week ago, and laughing at how awful it is. Perhaps Secret Fun Spot has figured out how to probe the minds of its readers for material with a hypno-coin.
ReplyDeleteKirk, for a live-action parody there was a funny sketch on Joel Hodgson's "TV Wheel" pilot. I'd describe it as a old-time magic and novelty catalog that's come to life. Check it out on YouTube here, I think you'll really like it.
ReplyDeleteI liked the whole gimmicky concept of the "TV Wheel" (you can find the entire show on YouTube if you wish). Unfortunately it didn't last beyond the pilot.
I could have sworn it was in Mad or Cracked, but it was a very long time ago. I was probably 6 or so, and my friends older brother gave me a stack of those magazines. I had seen the Sea Monkey ad, and Sea Baboons looked even better. I couldn't believe how cheap they were. I showed it to my mom and told her I really wanted them. I wouldn't kill them. I would keep them as pets. She helped me cut out and fill in the ad. She addressed the envelope for me, and I seald my money inside then clipped the order to the mailbox with a closepin. Everyday I waited for the mail for weeks. Back then a mail order toom at least 6 to 8 weeks. Finally months later my envelope was returned marked no such address. I was so disappointed. Were my mom and me the only ones who ever actually fell for this?
ReplyDeleteHa, that's a really great story. I'm glad it happened.
ReplyDelete