True Comics Movie Guide Films of January 1942


Panel # 1

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America's Favorite Candy! Chewy! Chocolatey! De-licious!

In 1942, Toosie Rolls, "America's Favorite Candy," dug up some unusual stories to sell their treats via comic book advertising. World War II was just becoming a reality to most American's as these images of high-energy heroes inpired readers of True Comics #2 to consume candy.

In retrospect, the vignettes presented here seem shocking, even a little horrifying. This ad from the outside back page of the comic book begins with an example of bad parenting when Pilot Clark's little girl is be left untended near an running airplane. Today, such irresponsibility would require an investigation by Child Protective services and may lead to criminal charges of child endangerment.

The second episode involves a tragic fall, a family with no health insurance and a doctor who hands out tootsie rolls as health food. Consumer protection was unheard of, and when it came to health claims for food and drugs, it was truly an era of "buyer beware."

 

Museum of Comic book Advertising