Cover Contest June 20-26: Pre-Silver Age Kirby

[Kirby101]

Wonder how the typical monthly sales were for this era of comics.

They sold very well through WWII. After that sales slipped. In the early 50s, with a combination of changing taste and the attacks on comics as bad for youth, sales took a dive. This is why Simon and Kirby struggled, and eventually went their separate ways.

[Enigmatic Undead]

[worstblogever]

I've used this cover in a previous Kirby-themed contest, but I want to use it again, because it always makes me laugh. Note that it beats the February 1957 cut-off by one month. I like the basic joke, the reaction of the guy eating the white bread, and speculating about what the hero's hand is doing under the counter.

I still say that guy with a white mustache eating the white bread sandwich is an optical illusion.

[worstblogever]

In with Hitler's TRUNK OF TERROR.

[Kirby101]

Sorry, not only is that book from only a few years ago, but all the Kirby Green Arrow stories were done after the cut off date.

I am sure you can do better than a reprint book that uses clip art for a cover.

[Tami]

[Scott Taylor]

I still say that guy with a white mustache eating the white bread sandwich is an optical illusion.

Also it sort of looks like that guy is French kissing his sandwich. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

[Scott Taylor]

Not sure for the 1950s, Comichron's earliest recorded year is 1960 at which point the 48th best selling book (Space Adventures form Charlton) was selling over 100K copies and the #1 book (Uncle Scrooge from Dell) was selling over a million copies. Superman was the #3 book in 1960 clocking in at just over 800K a month, Batman was #6 at 500k per month. So I'd say the 50s were similar as by 1960 post-code reductions in sales were in place.

-M

They sold very well through WWII. After that sales slipped. In the early 50s, with a combination of changing taste and the attacks on comics as bad for youth, sales took a dive. This is why Simon and Kirby struggled, and eventually went their separate ways.

Sure wish comics could sell at those kind of rates regularly today. People just don't know what they are missing, the kind of joy and whimsy they could have in their life. Reading and art, what a combo!

The 50s were the McCarthy era, lots of fear going around.

[Kirby101]

Sure wish comics could sell at those kind of rates regularly today. People just don't know what they are missing, the kind of joy and whimsy they could have in their life. Reading and art, what a combo!

The 50s were the McCarthy era, lots of fear going around.

And of course, comics are the biggest source for films right now. Even The Incredibles is a comic movie. And people don't see how great the source material is. The will watch these characters in live action, but can't bring themselves to red the books. It is a shame.

[Kai "the spy"]

[icctrombone]

[CaptCleghorn]

Never send a boy pout to do a man's job. Wait, that didn't come out right...

[SuperCooper]

[Raffi Ol D'Arcy]

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Barely dressed man in a cape to the rescue!