Comic Promo Bags

Earlier this year I discussed the nostalgia that comes from a plain brown paper bag: in that column I mentioned having a stack of promotional shopping bags from my early days and I’ve finally scanned them.

I can’t say why I saved these bags in particular from 1986-1991: I found them folded in the back of an old box. They do represent a time and place for me as a comic collector: my teenage years. When working part time meant having money in my pocket that could be spent on whatever frivolity I chose, which at that point meant comics.

Superman promo bag 1986 front   Superman promo bag 1986back

New Universe promo 1986 bag front   New Universe promo 1986 bag back

Total Eclipse promo bag 1988 front   Total Eclipse promo bag 1988 back

The Action Never Ends promo bag 1989 front   The Action Never Ends promo bag 1989 back

Robin Joker promo bag 1989 front   Robin Joker promo bag 1989 back

Marvel Masterworks Excalibur promo bag 1987 front   Marvel Masterworks Excalibur promo bag 1987 back

Marvel Masterworks Inferno promo bag 1988 front   Marvel Masterworks Inferno promo bag 1988 back

Spider-Man promo bag 1991 front   Spider-Man promo bag 1991 back

Batman promo bag 1989

Scott VanderPloeg
Scott VanderPloeg

Scott works in I.T. but lives to eat and read. His other ramblings can be found at AE Index and eBabble. Art collection at Comic Art Fans.

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Bryan Munn (@bkmunn)
9 years ago

Did I ever hate having to carry my new comics home in that New Universe Starbrand bag! It seemed like my LCS Card’N’Comics had an endless supply of the hideous things. I was so embarrassed to be toting my Flaming Carrots and American Flaggs around inside a bag printed with images from Jim Shooter’s stillborn attempt to reinvent Marvel for the 80s. Even in junior high I knew it was lame.

stephen b. keisman
stephen b. keisman
9 years ago

The Grocery Bag! The very first mobile device to slip your comic books past the parents and teachers back in the pre 70’s era…sigh.