SUNDAY FUNNIES WITH KERRY CALLEN!
By KERRY CALLEN
A while back, I was looking through some old comics and found an advertisement for Ricochet Racers’ Spider-Man set, by Hasbro. While it wasn’t a Hostess Twinkies ad, I thought the dialogue was pretty silly. The ad ran 50 years ago in 1976, so it was during the Bicentennial –a great time to hock products!
In my head, it read more like the following, something that fits the images a little better:
As I wrote in my revised ad, I’m not quite sure what the toy did, but it’s a CAR and a GUN! That’s a home run for boys in 1976!
One last note, if you’re curious where I saw the ad, it was at the end of Marvel Spotlight #32, the first appearance of Spider-Woman! And get this: Marvel is releasing the issue as a Facsimile Edition in November, so you’ll get to see the ad yourself!
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Want more SUNDAY FUNNIES WITH KERRY CALLEN? Come back next week!
Want a commission? Send an email to KerryCallenArt@gmail.com. You can also find other work at linktr.ee/kerrycallen.
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MORE
— RESTING COMFORTABLY: The INCREDIBLE HULK’s Incredible Visit to the Hospital. Click here.
— Hey, WONDER WOMAN! The JUSTICE SOCIETY Can’t Handle the Truth. Click here.
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KERRY CALLEN spent much of his career as an artist and art director, developing product for Hallmark, but has also dabbled in comics for many years. As a freelancer, he creates work for a range of needs, spanning from Mad Magazine to children illustrations. He has two graphic novels available on Amazon worldwide, Halo and Sprocket: The Definitive Collection, as well as Dirtnap: Mystic Spit.
September 27, 2026
I always wondered who drew and lettered this ad. The color’s great, too. Goofy but memorable– that was the idea, right?
September 27, 2026
Holy cow. I didn’t recognize it until you posted the pic of the actual product but my little brother had that toy.
September 27, 2026
I worked at Hasbro in the 1970’s when these came out! They were a nothing burger until the licensed them with the Marvel characters then they took off like a shot, no pun intended.
September 28, 2026
I had this toy!
September 28, 2026
I can only assume Phase Two of Project Ricochet was to genetically engineer giant humanoids large enough to actually handle and fire the launchers.
September 28, 2026
GH–
October 3, 2026
Yes, Kerry?
September 28, 2026
I can still remember the ricochet racers jingle “Ricochet Racers on Target!”
See -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXMynp5u4m4
September 29, 2026
The first is a great ad but if I were looking for something more hilarious, I’d definitely turn to the second.
“For sure, Spidey!”