Above are two images that weren’t full house ads but rather smaller ads that appeared mainly in the letters pages. If I am remembering something I read on the Internet years and years and years ago, Mike Carlin had a habit of putting small ads like this into other books when their letters pages were running a bit light in an effort to get some light on the Superman titles as well as putting them into the Superman books themselves.

These ads have two distinct tones, which is why I like them and why I like putting them together.

The top ad, from 1992, is saying, “Hey, there, potential reader. Look at how a prestigious weekly comics newspaper is saying that the four Superman books are not only enjoyable but dependably enjoyable. There are four books, which means there is one coming out every week of the year. Which isn’t quite true yet because there are skip weeks that will one day get filled with a fifth title, but that’s like three years in the future. Still, read our books. They are keen. Look at this awesome Dan Jurgens drawing of Superman.”

The bottom ad, from 1991, is saying, “WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE?! Superman is super pissed that you are not reading his books. There are four in the line and they are all awesome! This man is out there saving the world week after week and you are just ignoring him! How can you live with yourself? How do you think this makes him feel? You know what? Keep this up and we’ll just kill him. Seriously. We will kill Superman? How will you feel then, huh? How can you live with yourself? I’m ashamed to even know you. Jon Bogdanove Superman is mad at you.”

I mean, that was my take.

I could be a little off there.

I’m also tired and in a silly mood.

But that doesn’t make me wrong.

More to follow…