Fantasies of a Pre-teen
Comic books promised the world, for the right price20 total reviews
Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill
Me, I bought, the turn the tongue black gum, because my older sister Kathy always stole my gum and would swear to Mom she didn't. Worked like a charm. Kathy had to buy me a pack of gum every week for a month, my choice. Not so good with the itching cream. The lid came off and I itched for days. :-)
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2024
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Me, I bought, the turn the tongue black gum, because my older sister Kathy always stole my gum and would swear to Mom she didn't. Worked like a charm. Kathy had to buy me a pack of gum every week for a month, my choice. Not so good with the itching cream. The lid came off and I itched for days. :-)
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2024
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Hey Karen,
that was funny! I never did order anything from the back of a comic book. I really wanted a pair of the X-ray specs, but never ordered them. I did however order greeting cards to sell in order to get a prize, and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the prizes, but that was from the back of a Boy's Life Magazine that the Boy Scouts put out. Thanks for the entertaining review gal.
Blessings,
Tom
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I think that was from the "grit" company. I think they were also in our "girl scout" magazine. :-)
Comment from karenina
Hah! I remember all those comic book coupons! Your author's comments had me laughing out loud! I was pretty gullible...
But then I never wanted to be a He-man!
(Chuckling here)
Karenina
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Hah! I remember all those comic book coupons! Your author's comments had me laughing out loud! I was pretty gullible...
But then I never wanted to be a He-man!
(Chuckling here)
Karenina
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Hello Karen,
thanks so much for the delightful review. Its encouraging to know that being a he-man didn't appeal to you. I, on the other hand, wanted very much to be able to mete out justice to bullies, on the beach and elsewhere. However, even when I had the dime or whatever it was that it costs, I seldom had an envelope or a stamp, so instead I bought something I knew would bring satisfaction- candy.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
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Smiling here. My brother loves to remind me I used to spend the nickel or dime to buy baseball cards, then throw out the cards because I liked that long wider piece of gum. Nothing important...just Mickey Mantel, Roger Maris.... (groan)
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Karen, you and I were alike in that respect. No other bubble gum came close to the texture and flavor of what you could get in baseball cards. I was never a sports fan, so God knows how many thousands of dollars I may have given to my brother or someone who wanted the cards. If we knew then what we know now, we'd have been dangerous.
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Thanks! My brother's had me convinced for decades I was the ONLY ONE!
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Nope you weren't. I didn't like regular sports, but if they had come out with Fishing cards, with the various species and lures used to catch them, I probably would have forfeited the gum just to get the cards.
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Now THAT would have been my DAD!
(I still marvel at how patient he was taking his little girl with him)
A memory I'll always keep close to my heart!
Comment from LateBloomer
Hi Tom, I remember those comic books. It was shameful they way children were used and lured into their ploy, but I guess that was part of being a child. Anyway, the fantasies were worth it all. Well done. A complete story. Fantastic graphic. Margaret ~ LateBloomer
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Hi Tom, I remember those comic books. It was shameful they way children were used and lured into their ploy, but I guess that was part of being a child. Anyway, the fantasies were worth it all. Well done. A complete story. Fantastic graphic. Margaret ~ LateBloomer
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Hi Margaret,
You're right, they had no scruples at all, knowing full well that at least a certain percentage of the young male population would fall for the offerings. I used to fantasize about the delights that a pair of X-ray specs would provide me, but I guess deep down I knew they were a scam, otherwise every male over twelve would be wearing them down the street.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom
Comment from lyenochka
I remember those types of ads in the back of the comics. Although I don't think I read comic books but something else and I wanted to order those "sea monkeys." Lol. Thanks for bringing back those memories!
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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I remember those types of ads in the back of the comics. Although I don't think I read comic books but something else and I wanted to order those "sea monkeys." Lol. Thanks for bringing back those memories!
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Hello Helen,
Somehow I'm not surprised that you didn't read comic books. You were probably a Scientific American fan. I, on the other hand, was a twelve year old buffoon who used to go to Meister's Drug Store on Friday nights after collecting money for the newspapers I delivered, and indulge in junk food, pinball machines and comic books. I wish I had all those comics, I'd be in the money. Thanks so much for the great review gal. Have a blessed day.
Tom
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I'm sure I read my share of "junk" food for the mind. I'm impressed that you worked to get your spending money. That's not a concept that was nurtured in later generations!
Comment from cupa tea
I remember those old comic books with coupons and magic fish on the advertisement pages. I never once sent anything in to get anything. But I remember glasses you could buy that allowed you to see through walls and clothing. I always wondered if those worked or not...lol...as a kid that is.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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I remember those old comic books with coupons and magic fish on the advertisement pages. I never once sent anything in to get anything. But I remember glasses you could buy that allowed you to see through walls and clothing. I always wondered if those worked or not...lol...as a kid that is.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Hello cupa,
I so much wanted a pair of those X-ray specs. Of course I could care less about looking through walls, unless a beautiful girl was disrobing on the other side. I was a typical adolescent boy I suppose. I never bought anything either, but I did respond to a Boy's Life Magazine ad once and sold greeting cards. Much to my surprise, after unloading a dozen boxes of cards which no one wanted, I sent in the money and received a Ben Pearson, fiberglass recurved bow, with three target arrows, an arm guard, finger tabs and a target. It had a 25 pound pull, and could shoot an arrow so high into the air that it would waver and disappear. Of course I became a celebrity in the neighborhood. Fortunately my friend's mothers had no idea what we were doing. Thanks so much for the hilarious review. Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment from lancellot
Well, this is a complete story in fifty words. The motivation and the hope of the main character, and yes, the fantasies of pre-teen boy all come through. This short hits home for those who once held the same dreams.
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Well, this is a complete story in fifty words. The motivation and the hope of the main character, and yes, the fantasies of pre-teen boy all come through. This short hits home for those who once held the same dreams.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Hello lancellot,
thanks so much for the great review. The back of comic books offered so many things that a boy could want, and the prices were actually reasonable. I never really ordered anything, but I desperately wanted a pair of those X-ray specs. I did order greeting cards to sell from the back of a Boy's Life Magazine and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the prizes I got.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment from Rachelle Allen
HAHAHAHAHA!! I remember those Charles Atlas ads!! In fact, I remember sending away for the book for a younger friend of mine (I was 10, he was 8. His mom was my babysitter.) He definitely was the real-life equivalent of a super-hero with that body, was he NOT??
Absolutely delightful post, Tom. I enjoyed it a lot...and thanks for the memory it evoked. xo
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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HAHAHAHAHA!! I remember those Charles Atlas ads!! In fact, I remember sending away for the book for a younger friend of mine (I was 10, he was 8. His mom was my babysitter.) He definitely was the real-life equivalent of a super-hero with that body, was he NOT??
Absolutely delightful post, Tom. I enjoyed it a lot...and thanks for the memory it evoked. xo
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Hello Rachelle,
thanks so much for the delightful review gal. Yes, he was a well built fellow. I read up on him a little bit, and he was offering a booklet apparently that told you what to do to get a bod like his. Of course on a twelve year old 80 pound kid, it would have taken a lot more than exercise to develop a physic like that. I was really interested in getting those X-ray specs that were advertised, but never bothered.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom
Comment from Michele Harber
With me it was, "Draw this character and you can win XXX." So I dutifully drew whatever character it was--and won absolutely nothing. And here I thought I could become a professional artist just by reading a comic book. Go know!
Thank you for a cute and very relatable story.
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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With me it was, "Draw this character and you can win XXX." So I dutifully drew whatever character it was--and won absolutely nothing. And here I thought I could become a professional artist just by reading a comic book. Go know!
Thank you for a cute and very relatable story.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Hello Michele,
I looked at those contests, and thought perhaps I could do it, but I lacked discipline to ever follow through. Just as well it sounds like. I find that its interesting that it didn't matter to the companies that they were taking advantage of kids, they just wanted your money. I guess things haven't changed much. Thanks so much for the wonderful review gal.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
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On the other hand, though, as a child, we thrilled over that "decoder ring," or the "magic glasses," and any other nonsense that might have been worth a penny and sold for a dollar. Yes, they were taking advantage of us, but they were also feeding into a child's imagination and fantasy, so maybe it wasn't all that bad. At least, as grown-ups, we're in more of a position to determine when someone's trying to take advantage of us. Then again, those Ponzi scheme victims suggest some of us are still reaching for that fantasy, even though the stakes are higher.
That aside, you're very welcome for the review. Have a lovely weekend!
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Your comment reminded me that some brands of cereal used to have little prizes in them. I used to reach my grubby hands into the box clear to the bottom trying to get the prize before my brother and sister did. Kids!
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To my credit, I used to wash my hands before I did exactly the same thing. I'm embarrassed to say I used to love those cereal box prizes.
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Nothing to be embarrassed about gal, unless you were twenty one and still doing it. I remember for a short time Cocoa Puffs had a train engine imprinted on the bottom of third of the box. I was eating cereal in serving bowls trying to empty the box so I could cut out the "train" I dug empty frozen food boxes out of the trash and used the string that the butcher used to wrap meat with to run my train all around the house. Good memories.
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One of the great things about having kids is that it gives you a legitimate reason for doing all these things (with them) that society would otherwise deem you too old for. Do you have any idea how excited I was to have a girl and have the excuse to play with Barbies?
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
I do remember those comic book promises. I always wished they had a Charles Atlis lady I could learn from so I would look like a model. Unfortunately, I looked like Twiggy. I assume you didn't sell greeting cards door to door for a fortune in spending money.
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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I do remember those comic book promises. I always wished they had a Charles Atlis lady I could learn from so I would look like a model. Unfortunately, I looked like Twiggy. I assume you didn't sell greeting cards door to door for a fortune in spending money.
Comment Written 05-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Hi Carol,
Well, if you recall, Twiggy was very popular for a time. Obviously you developed when you were supposed to. For some reason, kids all want to grow up before their time. Actually, I did sell greeting cards, but not from the back of a comic book, I got mine from a group advertising in Boy's Life Magazine. I thought I'd never get done selling those cards. I actually got a really good recurved, Ben Pearson, fiberglass bow, with three target arrows, a finger tab, target and arm guard. It was the real thing. I used to go down to the high school with my ignorant friends and shoot an arrow up into the sky until it wavered and finally disappeared. Then we'd run like hell and hope it didn't come down on us. Its a miracle any of us grew up to be men. Thanks for the great review gal.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
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This left me with the image of you with a feathered stick sticking out of the top of your head. So glad you got lucky.
Comment from Douglas Goff
Ha! They got us all back in the day! I ordered the box of 299 hundred army men with ships, tanks, planes, and artillery!
A box the size of a bar of soap arrived. Even at ten-year-old could see my army could not fit in that box.
Once I opened it, I discovered they were all there. Each piece was plastic but was flat as a pancake. Ha!
Thanks for the memories.
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2024
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Ha! They got us all back in the day! I ordered the box of 299 hundred army men with ships, tanks, planes, and artillery!
A box the size of a bar of soap arrived. Even at ten-year-old could see my army could not fit in that box.
Once I opened it, I discovered they were all there. Each piece was plastic but was flat as a pancake. Ha!
Thanks for the memories.
Comment Written 05-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2024
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Hi Douglas,
I suppose things haven't changed all that much down through the years. Of course when you're young, you haven't learned the lesson yet of deceit and how it works. They were shameless then, and they're shameless now. I haven't thought of army men for ages. I used to get a bag of them and put them in my sandbox and build small barriers for them, and then proceed to bombard them with marbles. I could entertain myself for hours. Thanks so much for the wonderful review and the memories it evoked.
Blessings,
Tom
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Same here. My brother and I used to blasts our armies to pieces!
