There were tons of ads in comics aimed squarely at boys, but none sent them into paroxysms of mad delirium as much as an ad for a MINI-BIKE!
Owning and riding a mini-bike was the subject of many a school yard reverie. Kids would practically drool imagining how BOSS it would be buzzing around on a sweet, sweet miniature motorcycle.
But $59?! Cleaning out the piggy bank and combining Christmas and birthday money wasn’t going to cover it. It may as well be a million dollars!
Time to work on Mom and Dad!
For the better part of a half-hour, you work on Mom. Begging, pleading, cajoling, conniving, bargaining…
I know it’s expensive, but you could combine two birthdays and a Christmas!
More begging, arguing, bartering, reasoning. You show her the ad.
Sure, I’m old enough. Look right here!
Next month, I’ll be 10-and-a-half!
Mom mulls it over and renders her decision:
Go ask your father.
That sinks it. It was all over. Case closed. There would be no appeal. You already know what Dad’s judgment would be:
You’ll break your neck on the damned thing!
Mini-bike denied!
The jerky, jerk-face kid in the ad stares back haughtily mocking your lack of a mini-bike and cool parents who would buy one for you.
The ad appeared in Two-Gun Kid No. 91 published by Marvel Comics in 1967.
