Surveying the Gen X landscape and the origins of geek
Beautifully illustrated ads that originally appeared in the comics section of the Sunday paper. They sold recently on eBay for a large sum.
50 pieces of Bazooka bubble gum for 79¢? A Spider-Man costume for $1.98? Speaking of which, the Ben Cooper Spider-Man costume is probably the first Marvel licensed product, originally appearing in 1963, just a few issues into the comic’s run. It’s got a very interesting story that you can read at Hero Envy.
That’s a box of raisins in Skeletor’s bag. God, I hated getting raisins for Halloween. You can see the He-Man costume (Ben Cooper) better below. That’s Tenderheart Bear next to the big guy.
(Images via thepeachmartini and Shane Woodall)
Darkseid? Darkseid. It appears that DC/Ben Cooper were banking on the success of Super Friends: The Legend of the Super Powers Show, which debuted in September 1984 and was the first animated series to feature the super villain. The Kirby creation had been around in the comics since 1970.
Elementary school kid is wearing the Ben Cooper Alien costume! As in the Xenomorph from the movie Alien that was rated `X’ in the UK and yet spawned a massive amount of merchandise marketed to small children, a campaign I talk about here and here. File under: when Halloween wasn’t banned because “costumes and parading increases apprehension in an increasing number of students who are presently experiencing anxiety issues.”
(Photos via the Miami Herald)
Anyone who wore a Micronauts costume back in the day—by choice—achieved a special geek-pimp status that can never be revoked. Ben Cooper made two Micronauts costumes: Baron Karza and Biotron. See them both at Innerspace Online.
Gene Simmons looked a little out of proportion until I realized he or she was on his/her knees.
(Photo via Are you there, God? It’s me, Generation X)
2 Warps to Neptune 