shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 13, 2016 19:31:04 GMT -5
Remember when toys came packaged with free mini-comics? Sure, there are still action figures that come in comic-packs today, and those are full sized and printed on glossy paper, but they're just reprints. Mini-Comics were original and exclusive to that format, even if the adventures themselves were often forgettable. I remember mini-comics being included with the Kenner Super Powers figures (which I still have) and the Mattel Masters of the Universe figures (which I do not), the Atari Force comics came with certain Atari video games, and I even recall some Marvel mini comics coming packaged in Drakes Cakes during the early 1990s, but I was surprised to discover today, upon obtaining a M.A.S.K. Rhino, that they were also included with Kenner M.A.S.K. vehicles. So this is a general thread for recalling this unique format, the stories (if you remember any of them), and the writers and artists who worked on them (if you know). I'd also like to know what other Mini-Comics are out there.  By the way, the Kenner M.A.S.K. mini-comics were also published by DC and included the exact same subscription order form that was printed at the back of the Kenner Super Powers mini-comics. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
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Post by shaxper on Aug 13, 2016 20:17:52 GMT -5
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,872
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Post by shaxper on Aug 13, 2016 20:21:51 GMT -5
Looks like only the initial wave of Kenner M.A.S.K. toys included the comics. Only three were ever made. Too bad, as the first issue (pictured in the OP) provides an origin story for M.A.S.K. that I don't recall the cartoon ever addressing: www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=21468925 |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 21:19:03 GMT -5
I know they made a bunch for the various Masters of the Universe toy lines and spin-offs. Dark Horse put out a collection of them last year.  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 21:32:55 GMT -5
I have all the ones from Super Powers, and somewhere, stored away in a box (hey, I'm a packrat) are all the "Atari Force" comics that used to come in the Atari 2600 cartridge games  |
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,872
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Post by shaxper on Aug 13, 2016 21:33:00 GMT -5
I know they made a bunch for the various Masters of the Universe toy lines and spin-offs. Dark Horse put out a collection of them last year. I had no idea they'd been collected. I wonder if they've been able to credit the creators involved. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 21:48:30 GMT -5
I know they made a bunch for the various Masters of the Universe toy lines and spin-offs. Dark Horse put out a collection of them last year. I had no idea they'd been collected. I wonder if they've been able to credit the creators involved. The back cover says "this edition has interviews with the original comic creators", so it would seem they are credited. I may have to track this book down now. It looks awesome. |
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,872
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Post by shaxper on Aug 13, 2016 21:57:04 GMT -5
I had no idea they'd been collected. I wonder if they've been able to credit the creators involved. The back cover says "this edition has interviews with the original comic creators", so it would seem they are credited. I may have to track this book down now. It looks awesome. I may have to as well. I wonder if these were done by DC, as DC ultimately did the MOTU comic a short while later(?). Anyway, the actual DC comic was a much more compelling series of concepts than what made it into the cartoon. |
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 13, 2016 22:04:06 GMT -5
I recall the first Marvel mini-comics. They were mixed in with gumballs in a penny or nickel vending machine in 1966. Put your coin in and you wouldn't know if you would receive a mini comic or gum. And there was no control over what title you would get. I don't remember how many pages were in them, but I'm pretty certain each page was a panel reprint of the character.  I'm sure there was a lot of cursing when Millie The Model shot out of the slot |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 13, 2016 22:07:37 GMT -5
I recall the first Marvel mini-comics. They were mixed in with gumballs in a penny or nickel vending machine in 1966. Put your coin in and you wouldn't know if you would receive a mini comic or gum. And there was no control over what title you would get. I don't remember how many pages were in them, but I'm pretty certain each page was a panel reprint of the character. I'm sure there was a lot of cursing when Millie The Model shot out of the slot I just saw a guy ebaying these the other night. They were going for crazy money. |
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shaxper
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Posts: 22,872
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Post by shaxper on Aug 13, 2016 22:30:20 GMT -5
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Post by coinilius on Aug 13, 2016 22:33:48 GMT -5
DC produced some of the MotU comics - there are different waves of MotU mini comics, including creators such as Alfredo Alcada, Mark Texeria and Bruce Timm.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Aug 13, 2016 22:38:42 GMT -5
DC produced some of the MotU comics - there are different waves of MotU mini comics, including creators such as Alfredo Alcada, Mark Texeria and Bruce Timm. WOW! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 23:27:11 GMT -5
Mark Waid's webcomic site Thrillbent features a series called Mini-Comic Included that featured one off digital mini-comics done in the style of these 80s giveaways by various creators using made up toy lines that was fantastic. Tim Seeley and his brother did one along with Michael Moreci that they then did a kickstarter to continue...  my favorite were the Prime-8s a toy line I would have been more than happy to support as well...  SO these mini comics had an influence on the current generation of comic creators. On a side note, I checked out that Masters of the Universe volume form my local library, and it is a gorgeous production, and chock full of background info on those strips, the creators, the process by which they were conceived and created etc. so well worth checking out if you are interested in such. -M |
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Post by Bronze Age Brian on Aug 14, 2016 15:11:08 GMT -5
I remember the mini-comics that came with Atari 2600 games. They had Atari Force (before the DC series), Centipede and one for Yars' Revenge. But the one that really struck me was Swordquest, created and written by the powerhouse of Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway with art by George Perez and Dick Giordano. There were three issues, I had the first one and a friend had the second, never saw the third issue until a few years ago. They were fun reads, with great art (I believe this was NTT era Perez) and a cool story about twins Tarra and Torr, who are involved in a complex prophecy and a demon wants to kill them. Each issue features a different world (Earthworld, Fireworld, Waterworld), where the twins must find magical artifacts to aid them in their quest. Fun books, too bad the story was never completed. You can read all of the Atari 2600 comics here: www.atariage.com/comics/  |
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