Collecting Free Gifts pre 1990s

[Lew Stringer]

Who is the artist of that Dandy No.991 cover? Chances are it's Charlie Grigg taking over from James Crichton, but the officer looks like Bill Ritchie's style at the time.

[stevezodiac]

I came across a Beezer Thunderbag a while bag - was looking for it this week to put on here but a dozen crates to look through. 1970s I think. I did find the first Christmas Beezer - issue 47.

[AndyB]

Artist was indeed Bill Ritchie. It says a lot about Bill that he delivered a Korky so true to James.

I've a notion it was discussed elsewhere, maybe here or someone's blog.

[philcom55]

I don't think I ever had a Dandy Thunderbang, but I do remember buying a copy of Buster in November 1965 with its free 'Guy Fawkes Banger'. I really liked the way in which they gave away free gifts to coincide with Bonfire Night (another year I think they gave away a Guy Fawkes Mask).



I'm afraid that my own 'Banger' was tested to destruction long ago, but it's amazing how many fond memories this rather blurry image from the cover is still capable of summoning up (does anybody recognize the cartoonist btw?):



Given the highly limited life-expectancy of such an item I doubt if there are more than a handful (if any) still in existence.

Apart from the early giant-size editions I think that must be my all-time favourite period of Buster...it's a shame they seem so hard to get hold of these days!

- Phil Rushton

[DavidKW]

These thunderbags remind me of an episode of a mid/late 90s show called "Ads Infinitum" by Victor Lewis-Smith.

It cynically remembered old ads & gifts in comics was featured on one edition. It showed a clip of the black & white Dandy Thunderbag ad.

Also I remember it showed a clip of a "Bimbo" comic ad for a gift of Tip-Top Tiddlywinks.

Show ended with a mention of today and of the thunderbags & blow-balloons that make a noise when contracting being gived away in the Beezer & Topper (newly merged) saying the "same gifts over again years later".

Don't know if anyone remembers this show/episode.

[DavidKW]

In fact when I worked at WH Smith's distribution arm in 1990 in the Returns department, we got a lot of Beezer & Toppers returned with free gifts.

As well as the balloon & the thunderbag, one week they gave a big strawberry chew bar. We got a lot back that got caught in the rain so they ran & stank sweetly a bit.

[Digifiend]

These thunderbags remind me of an episode of a mid/late 90s show called "Ads Infinitum" by Victor Lewis-Smith.

It cynically remembered old ads & gifts in comics was featured on one edition. It showed a clip of the black & white Dandy Thunderbag ad.

Also I remember it showed a clip of a "Bimbo" comic ad for a gift of Tip-Top Tiddlywinks.

Show ended with a mention of today and of the thunderbags & blow-balloons that make a noise when contracting being gived away in the Beezer & Topper (newly merged) saying the "same gifts over again years later".

Don't know if anyone remembers this show/episode.

The series aired in 1998, but if Beezer and Topper were newly merged, it would be 1990. Hardly what I'd call today, the comic had folded five years prior (in 1993) to the show's broadcast!

[AndyB]

Curious thing about that 1965 Buster - don't know who did the banger artwork, but the strip was drawn by Reg Parlett. Did he do more than a one-off?

[DavidKW]

The series aired in 1998, but if Beezer and Topper were newly merged, it would be 1990. Hardly what I'd call today, the comic had folded five years prior (in 1993) to the show's broadcast!

Yeah I noticed that then - I think Victor L-S was searching for a conclusion so used this ad as it was the most recent example from 1990 with the title long dead.

The clip used I think related to the second issue with a picture of the dreadfully unfunny back page star Des Troy in a racing car.

[alanultron5]

David! I had that clip once but sadly the DVD got damaged when moving furniture! (Along with a few more!) I wish I could find it on U.Tube!