The Secret Origin of Underoos

[George Khoury]

On the Facebook page for my new book, I posted the "Secret Origin of Underoos" chapter that got cut from the book at the last minute - it'll be included in the digital edition. As an added bonus, there's a small sidebar about the origin of Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Peebles. Feel free to share.

https://www.facebook.com/comicbookfever/book_preview

[comicmike]

O M Goodness, *thank you* very much for posting this article. Sometimes, I get to work alongside marketing focus groups, & I keep saying the same thing: *Focus* on the idea of youth; and maturity's perspective of looking back at one's own youth. This article confirms my own world view. *Brilliance*, IMO. So fun to see contemporary Underoos marketed for adults.

[George Khoury]

O M Goodness, *thank you* very much for posting this article. Sometimes, I get to work alongside marketing focus groups, & I keep saying the same thing: *Focus* on the idea of youth; and maturity's perspective of looking back at one's own youth. This article confirms my own world view. *Brilliance*, IMO. So fun to see contemporary Underoos marketed for adults.

Thanks, Mike! Those marketing gurus are the same people who would never give me a chance. I'm glad you liked the piece.

[JediJaida]

What about Garanimals? What was their origin?

[George Khoury]

What about Garanimals? What was their origin?

I never said I had all the answers.

[JediJaida]

Aw phooey!

[ScottA]

One day I will find the Robin Underoos.

[George Khoury]

One day I will find the Robin Underoos.

I didn't even know they were rare. My younger brother had one when we were kids.

[Gadgeteer]

Oh the ROBIN Underoos! Green footies, yellow towel and one of those black masks with the rubber band and I was set!
My folks wouldn't let me go out and play in that outfit, but oh well...

[SWBL5252]

Is there a list or a book of all the different characters made?

[George Khoury]

Is there a list or a book of all the different characters made?

I imagine there's something online. If you read the article, the problem with the original Underoos is the shift in tone and design by the early Eighties. Instead of incorporating the designs and costumes of comic book and other media characters, they got lazy and basically made composite t-shirts that weren't as inspired as the originals.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Thanks so much for sharing that! The funny thing is, even as a kid, I could tell when Underoos was "Jumping the Shark" (even though Fonzie had done it already, no one was saying that). When they just became T-shirts and not "costume-ready" components, some of the magic was gone. I always thought The Hulk was the one dud among the main heroes, but I wasn't really sure how you'd do it back then. Now we know you just print the line work of Hulk's pecs and abs on the shirt.

I had all the main heroes, and few of the more obscure ones like Flash and Aquaman. I never did get that Robin...

Chris

[George Khoury]

^Thanks so much for sharing that! The funny thing is, even as a kid, I could tell when Underoos was "Jumping the Shark" (even though Fonzie had done it already, no one was saying that). When they just became T-shirts and not "costume-ready" components, some of the magic was gone. I always thought The Hulk was the one dud among the main heroes, but I wasn't really sure how you'd do it back then. Now we know you just print the line work of Hulk's pecs and abs on the shirt.

I had all the main heroes, and few of the more obscure ones like Flash and Aquaman. I never did get that Robin...

Chris

Jump the shark - that's exactly it, Chris. Unlike Mr. Weiss, the company managing these things didnt understand the appeal. Thank you for reading my article.

[Mr.Marion]

Poppa been smooth since days of Underroos- Notorious BIG


I wonder if they made Ironman.

[PNGwynne]

I recall Iron Man, yes.