Another title I have a lot to say about.
First, on the general topic of the lack of precisely matching real products for magazine titles, I tend to agree that is the case, although here you have found a real SI issue cover that looks as though it could have inspired the Wacky, other than the fact it’s a different MLB team. Kudos for finding that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that cover, and it’s a 1975 to boot. But there’s reason to believe that most of the magazine spoofs were created before 1975, but more on that later.
Shorts Illustrated was probably the most eagerly anticipated title that I failed to acquire in my OS ‘career’. Why? I had three older brothers, we were all into sports, and copies of SI were always lying around the house. It was a strong product familiarity that was uncommon at that age. When I saw the spoof name on the 13th checklist I was just about drooling. Alas, the title completely eluded me until the 1982 album series. And for whatever reason, through the eyes of a 15-year-old in 1982, it didn’t blow me away like I figured it would when I was 8. Not sure why, I think i had built up some kind of fantasy image in my head of what the title would look like, and the actual title was nowhere close to that mental picture, whatever it was. Looking at it now as objectively as I can, it’s a perfectly fine title, great retro Chisox uniforms, good colorful art, etc., but I always have that slight nagging thought that it fell a bit short of my expectations, though I couldn’t tell you what those expectations were. It’s like a dream you completely forget as soon as you wake up.
I’m curious what other members have to say, to see if this is a well-liked title. Have never heard any critique of it before, good, bad or indifferent.