Earlier this year I discussed the nostalgia that comes from a plain brown paper bag: in that column I mentioned having a stack of promotional shopping bags from my early days and I’ve finally scanned them.
I can’t say why I saved these bags in particular from 1986-1991: I found them folded in the back of an old box. They do represent a time and place for me as a comic collector: my teenage years. When working part time meant having money in my pocket that could be spent on whatever frivolity I chose, which at that point meant comics.
Did I ever hate having to carry my new comics home in that New Universe Starbrand bag! It seemed like my LCS Card’N’Comics had an endless supply of the hideous things. I was so embarrassed to be toting my Flaming Carrots and American Flaggs around inside a bag printed with images from Jim Shooter’s stillborn attempt to reinvent Marvel for the 80s. Even in junior high I knew it was lame.
The Grocery Bag! The very first mobile device to slip your comic books past the parents and teachers back in the pre 70’s era…sigh.