Anyone ever order from comic books those plastic military men?

[acrovader]

There was always a page in a comic book that advertised something like '150 piece' set of plastic army men with cannons and other accessories. I'm guessing this was featured for awhile during the 1970s (though maybe during the early 80s). I remember seeing an American Revolutionary War set with the Americans in blue and the British in red. Might of came with horses and Indians too. Then, I think, there was a World War 2 set. Anyone order these? What did they look like? Where they crap?

[MRP]

There was always a page in a comic book that advertised something like '150 piece' set of plastic army men with cannons and other accessories. I'm guessing this was featured for awhile during the 1970s (though maybe during the early 80s). I remember seeing an American Revolutionary War set with the Americans in blue and the British in red. Might of came with horses and Indians too. Then, I think, there was a World War 2 set. Anyone order these? What did they look like? Where they crap?

I never did, but on a classic comic forum I am a part of, we had a thread discussing merch from comic book ads that people bought, and one member posted pics of the set of toy soldiers he got form one of those ads....

This was the ad...



and these were what came...



so I would lean towards yes they were crap as my answer.

-M

[JediJaida]

I once ordered a set of original Dr. Who episode tie in novels from the back of a black and white comic. I think it was an issue of Eerie.

[rykerw1701]

My cousin ordered those back 100 years or so ago, and yes, they were really crappy and really, really small. Much smaller than what we would think of for army men or any of the Marx stuff.

[drquest]

I always wanted to order the Army guy ones but never did.

What I really wanted was this:

It's funny I never realized it doesn't say Battlestar Galactica anywhere...

[Earth 2 Chris]

Yeah, I heard those were flat. What a bait and switch.

Chris

[Spyweb007]

Yeah, I ordered them as a kid and was so disappointed . . . I had never seen "Flat" Plastic Soldiers before or since.

[Hedji]

Reminds me of this book. If I recall correctly, it was on a "Year's Best" episode of Pod Stallions:

https://www.amazon.com/MAIL-ORDER-MY...MVWHWGEAQ2F6K7

[SKotK]

I just remember the 100 army men being advertised as being packaged "in a replica footlocker"!

100 green army men?! In a FOOTLOCKER?!!

I never ordered any myself, but of course I wanted it because it sounded incredible.

Someone else at school got it, however, and it turned out to be those tiny crappy flat plastic army men in this tiny thin cardboard box that had printed graphics that looked vaguely like a footlocker.

What a scam.

That Colonial Warrior jacket, on the other hand...that thing was the shiz. I saw one many years later (assuming it was the same maker), and was pretty impressed by the quality and the buckles. Would have bought it for sure just to wear, but of course it was size ultra small.

--SKot

[JediJaida]

I wanted one of those jackets SO bad! But even back then, it would never have fit me, and I was thirteen at the time! Plus, my mother would never have ordered it for me.

[megoat]

My brother ordered the army set. The "Footlocker" was a small cardboard box. And yes, the figures were flat two dimensional figures with plastic bases.

Of course the whole thing was a rip off. That's the nature of comic book ads, no?

[rykerw1701]

I always wanted to order the Army guy ones but never did.

What I really wanted was this:

It's funny I never realized it doesn't say Battlestar Galactica anywhere...

I remember that ad! I so wanted that jacket, but then I realized it was green, not brown and didn't beg my parents for it. I guess brown would have been too close to the copyright, but it sure looks like they were rolling the dice already.

[Hedji]

That artwork is so great. Can you imagine the whole family going to the mall in those?

[palitoy]

As a kid, my dad sold many of the novelties that were advertised in comics including sea monkies. So even as a wee one, I knew all of this stuff was likely disappointing trash.

Oh and X-Ray specs were freaking heart breaking.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I had a friend actually order those. I think they went straight from the envelope to the trash can.

Chris