Once again, we dip into the Fred Sez archives for some old nudes – er, I mean, old news.

Well, just keep reading – you’ll understand..

A few days ago, whilst trolling through a handful of my earliest issues of DC’s Detective Comics for a suitable shot of our old friend, J’onn J’onzz, to run in the our annual St.Patrick’s Day entry, I stumbled upon this once ubiquitous full page advertisement in the very first issue of that Batman-headlined publication that I’d ever purchased, the August, 1961 issue, number 294…

Granted, there’s a lot going on there, but I really wasn’t all that concerned about being tough (after all, I was reading comic books, wasn’t I?…), learning to dance, or even forking over a buck for a book chock-full of fun for boys.

Nope, it was THIS portion of that ad that caught my attention – and not entirely because I liked to draw for fun, either!

Remember, folks, this was 1961. The Comics Code had been ruling with an iron fist for little over half a decade by that point, and they carefully scrutinized everything for objectionable content before a book made it anywhere near a newsstand – and I mean EVERYTHING! They probably even gave the staples the once over in that era of heavy-handed self-censorship!

So how, I’ve always wondered, did THIS ever get past them?

And not just once, but month after month – and not in some quasi-sleazy IW reprint sold in plastic bags in the nation’s bargain outlets, either – uh uh – but in books issued by industry leader National Periodical Publications no less!

Not sure what I’m talking about yet? Well, here’s an even CLOSER look…

That’s right – she’s NAKED!!

AND brazenly colored in warm pink hues, just so there’d be absolutely no mistake about our shapely young model’s lack of attire!!

Geez, talk about your fun for boys!?!..

This ad has ALWAYS baffled me. Were the Comics Code people on some sort of mind-numbing flu medication the first time this thing slipped through, with its continued appearances just a matter of lucky ongoing neglect?

Whatever it was, let’s face it – there were quite a few little boys out there aping the excitement of our overly animated cartoon friend pictured directly below the not-so-modest Miss back in that woefully flesh-deprived era.

Not ME, of course. I was SHOCKED, shocked I tell you!

(And I’m gonna KEEP telling you that until you believe me! However long it takes, I’ve got the time…)

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Copyright 2006 Fred Hembeck

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