Author Topic: Gag Criticism, Variation, and Packaging (Read 218307 times)

Swiski · « **Reply #1750 on:** September 22, 2019, 06:29:07 AM »

Easy Cuss-Words and Easy Crosswords. I'd love to see the exact original cover the artist based the parody on. At least I narrowed down to being a Curtis publication.

MoldRush · « **Reply #1751 on:** September 22, 2019, 05:17:41 PM »

While I agree most of the magazine parodies are probably not based on actual issue covers, this one looks like it could be, or at least should be. Who comes up with something as specific as a blue cartoony guy looking like that? This would be interesting to research, although those crossword magazines are such recycled pulp that i’d be shocked if anyone in the universe compiled a cover history dating back 40+ years.

Zenergizer · « **Reply #1752 on:** September 23, 2019, 06:44:19 AM »

Like most, I wasn't the biggest fan of this Magazine subseries, but I appreciate this
thread, and I had never seen "Easy Crosswords" before.

Swiski · « **Reply #1753 on:** September 23, 2019, 09:28:40 AM »

Yeah...unlike other magazines, something like this was thrown out after completing the puzzles back in the day. Super-rare but worthless at the same time. I found other 1970s era crossword puzzle magazines on eBay.

Baked Bears · « **Reply #1754 on:** September 23, 2019, 02:10:36 PM »

My grandfather always had one of these magazines on hand, especially when he drove my grandmother around on errands while she shopped, shopped, shopped (using up his retirement fund!)

Fanatical_and_Sickly · « **Reply #1755 on:** September 23, 2019, 02:44:26 PM »

there isn't much info online about Curtis, but what is out there indicates it was an imprint of Marvel comics,
Primarily used for distribution of b&w magazine comics like Conan, Planet of the Apes, Doc Savage, Kung Fu, etc.
But the listings I've found show nothing along the lines of crossword or game magazines.

this makes me wonder if Cuss-words is even based on a real item?

MoldRush · « **Reply #1756 on:** September 23, 2019, 05:33:25 PM »

I would think it is a real magazine. I can’t speak for what was on newsstand/drugstore/candy store shelves circa 1974, but “easy” is a descriptive long in use to let puzzlers of average ability know “yes, you can handle these.” They don’t want to inadvertently choose an edition with NY Times-caliber puzzles that are basically impossible for the average puzzler to even start, let alone solve.

Fanatical_and_Sickly · « **Reply #1757 on:** September 24, 2019, 03:56:56 PM »

Quote from: MoldRush on September 23, 2019, 05:33:25 PM

I would think it is a real magazine. I can’t speak for what was on newsstand/drugstore/candy store shelves circa 1974, but “easy” is a descriptive long in use to let puzzlers of average ability know “yes, you can handle these.” They don’t want to inadvertently choose an edition with NY Times-caliber puzzles that are basically impossible for the average puzzler to even start, let alone solve.

No doubt that there are 'Easy' books, have done some myself. From what I'm finding though, it doesn't look like there is backing evidence that Curtis publishing ever printed any.

Paul_Maul · « **Reply #1758 on:** September 24, 2019, 04:02:38 PM »

Curtis was not an imprint of Marvel, rather it was a distribution company. Even on regular marvel comics of that era you will see a “CC” logo. The company still exists today. Whether that style of Curtis logo was specific to Marvel magazines I’m not sure.

http://www.curtiscirc.com/1_about/index.html

Paul_Maul · « **Reply #1759 on:** September 24, 2019, 04:10:20 PM »

This explains the relationship between Curtis Circulation and Marvel (or parent company Magazine Management Co.)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Circulation

Fanatical_and_Sickly · « **Reply #1760 on:** September 24, 2019, 05:14:02 PM »

Quote from: Paul_Maul on September 24, 2019, 04:10:20 PM

This explains the relationship between Curtis Circulation and Marvel (or parent company Magazine Management Co.)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Circulation

there also seems to be Curtis Magazines, which used the logo on the Wacky - with this site indicating it was an imprint of Marvel back in the day
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Curtis_Magazines
perhaps a case of the logo of the publishing arm of the distributor of Marvel being confused for an imprint line

Paul_Maul · « **Reply #1761 on:** September 24, 2019, 05:37:20 PM »

Quote from: Fanatical_and_Sickly on September 24, 2019, 05:14:02 PM

there also seems to be Curtis Magazines, which used the logo on the Wacky - with this site indicating it was an imprint of Marvel back in the day
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Curtis_Magazines
perhaps a case of the logo of the publishing arm of the distributor of Marvel being confused for an imprint line

(Image removed from quote.)

The Wiki article makes it pretty clear that Marvel had no affiliation with the publishing portion of Curtis, that only Curtis Circulation was sold to Perfect/Cadence. It’s possible Marvel did not want the Magazines to carry the Marvel banner (as the content was more adult and not subject to the comics code), and so just used the usual Curtis banner more prominently. Who knows.

Paul_Maul · « **Reply #1762 on:** September 24, 2019, 05:51:23 PM »

More info....

Swiski · « **Reply #1763 on:** September 25, 2019, 05:52:20 PM »

Family Circuit and Family Circle - the parody May 1975 cover compared to the actual May 1975 cover. I also included the reprint, where the cover date was changed to May 1982. NOTE: Someone asked on an earlier magazine sticker vintage-reprint comparison if the color quality was different like that on my stickers. I actually Googled these parody images, so the coloring between the stickers could be different due to that person's scanner settings.

MoldRush · « **Reply #1764 on:** September 25, 2019, 06:14:24 PM »

Definitely one of the better magazine parodies IMO. A bunch of Wacky characters thrown in plus all the electricity gags. “Current events”, cute. Always a very ubiquitous magazine in supermarkets, waiting rooms, Mom’s stash, etc.

Swiski · « **Reply #1765 on:** September 27, 2019, 07:44:19 PM »

TV Guide and TV Garbage, along with the reprint sticker with different TV show titles on the cover...

Swiski · « **Reply #1766 on:** October 01, 2019, 07:59:56 PM »

61 compared to 16...

BustedFinger · « **Reply #1767 on:** October 02, 2019, 08:59:46 AM »

Quote from: Swiski on October 01, 2019, 07:59:56 PM

61 compared to 16...

The real magazine almost looks like a parody itself!

Swiski · « **Reply #1768 on:** October 08, 2019, 09:47:34 PM »

Next up - Mud vs Mad. Reprint included to show price inflation on cover

sco(o)t · « **Reply #1769 on:** October 09, 2019, 05:21:45 AM »

Quote from: Swiski on October 08, 2019, 09:47:34 PM

Next up - Mud vs Mad. Reprint included to show price inflation on cover

Always a favorite of mine. I subscribed to MAD when I was a young teen and was happy to see this one when it was released. I have to confess I am missing the joke, however, with the "No. 3XK6 Out" in the upper left corner. The Alfred pig Neuman is spot on.

Baked Bears · « **Reply #1770 on:** October 09, 2019, 02:38:28 PM »

Although I wasn't fond of the magazine parodies, this one is rather good. It definitely helps to have something iconic and spot-on like Alfred E. Neuman to parody. I think this helps lift this magazine parody above most of the others. And good question. What does "No. 3XK6 Out" mean? Three strikes?

RawGoo · « **Reply #1771 on:** October 09, 2019, 02:41:09 PM »

Mud is one of the few magazine Wackys that I like. Not only is the gag good and close to the real title, it's hard not to like Alfred E. Neuman as a pig. It could almost have been something Mad would have done themselves!

MoldRush · « **Reply #1772 on:** October 12, 2019, 09:51:29 AM »

Mud is a very different one to me. Has an almost surreal quality, can’t quite put my finger on it. I guess it’s because I have a history with MAD, and the parody doesn’t quite match up with anything I’ve seen. I do like the umbrella cover for matching color scheme though.

Swiski · « **Reply #1773 on:** October 14, 2019, 08:47:23 PM »

Sleepy and Creepy magazines...

RawGoo · « **Reply #1774 on:** October 15, 2019, 02:57:15 AM »

Sleepy is a good gag, and the tag lines fit in well. And, it has a monster. What more could a Wacky need?

MoldRush · « **Reply #1775 on:** October 16, 2019, 05:53:18 PM »

So cool that they spoofed not just one, but three of the Warren horror magazine titles. I remember first discovering these in a neighborhood comic shop, and I was immediately intrigued.

Based on this, it’s too bad WPs didn’t venture into spoofing Bronze Age comic book titles. That would have allowed for full set of 30 all-magazine titles with ease. I never counted - how many total were sprinkled among Series 11 and 13-15?

mikecho · « **Reply #1776 on:** October 16, 2019, 07:15:12 PM »

Quote from: MoldRush on October 16, 2019, 05:53:18 PM

So cool that they spoofed not just one, but three of the Warren horror magazine titles. I remember first discovering these in a neighborhood comic shop, and I was immediately intrigued.

Based on this, it’s too bad WPs didn’t venture into spoofing Bronze Age comic book titles. That would have allowed for full set of 30 all-magazine titles with ease. I never counted - how many total were sprinkled among Series 11 and 13-15?

I checked it out in the '74 Wacky Magazines section of lostwackys.com. According to Duane, 24 were made (I'm including Famous Mobsters of Frightland here; Duane, however, doesn't) and three were pulled...Tomb, Rotting Zone and Schnozmopolitan.

Schnozmopolitan was officially released three times and Tomb only once. Only Rotting Zone remains to be published.

If you look at Reply #1735 on pg. 50 (9-12-19), you'll see all of the other 11 1970s magazines known to exist that didn't make it. I think that all of them are only rough art. According to lostwackys.com, it's possible that the planned Wacky Magazines series might've had 30 titles total in it, if it had been made (which, of course, it wasn't). That means that, out of all of the 11 unmade 1970s magazines on the preceding page, any of them could've been the remaining three. I guess we'll never know in this case.

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Author Topic: Gag Criticism, Variation, and Packaging (Read 218307 times)