Mystery Half-wit needs his own series.
Bill Burns | Email | 11.22.08 - 1:51 am | #

I don't know why that woman is wearing that stupid mask; the guy clearly isn't impressed by it.
Just Some Guy | Homepage | 11.22.08 - 3:52 am | #

"Cover entire head... last for years..."

What they're not telling you is once you put it on, it doesn't come off. You HAVE to "smoke... talk... even eat thru it" BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER TAKE IT OFF. At least, not until it comes off on its own, but that'll take... "years..."
Phill | Email | Homepage | 11.22.08 - 4:24 am | #

V for Vendetta would be so much better with a Mystery Halfwit mask.

And the headline on the desription is full of barely concealed terror:

This is how it started out.

Brrr.
Derooftrouser | Homepage | 11.22.08 - 5:16 am | #

Hey, rubber mask parties caught on with some people - the designs just needed a bit of tweaking, that's all.
Joe S. Walker | Email | 11.22.08 - 5:35 am | #

"The mystery half-wit sure has the girls all agog"

The story of my life.
CW | 11.22.08 - 8:34 am | #

If you see the entire series of ads, the guy wearing the mask wears a different one in each "episode".
Sleestak | Email | Homepage | 11.22.08 - 10:22 am | #

Mike, did you run this post once before? Because I'm getting this deja vu feeling, but can't remember where I saw this ad before, and it's bugging me...
Rob Rogers | Email | Homepage | 11.22.08 - 1:13 pm | #

Rob - I've been having this very discussion with Chris Sims, actually. Not that I've run it, but that he's seen it before. I don't recall seeing it anywhere (I just happened upon this ad the other day in some books we acquired), but I wouldn't doubt it's turned up someplace.

Hopefully, if it did pop up somewhere before, someone will let me know eventually.
Mikester | Homepage | 11.22.08 - 1:40 pm | #

"It pulls on over the head like a diver's helmet"

Did people in the 1940's have more experience with diving helmets than rubber masks?
Bigfriendymike | Email | 11.22.08 - 4:52 pm | #

Here, maybe:

http://www.seanbaby.com/ comicads...omicads36.shtml
Susannaaaa | Email | 11.22.08 - 5:12 pm | #

Thanks, Susannaaa. But for me, at least, that wasn't it. It was some other comics-related blog, I guess. Hmmm....
Rob Rogers | Email | Homepage | 11.22.08 - 5:13 pm | #

Found it!

Dr. K covered it in October:
http://doctor-k100.blogspot.com/...eciding- on.html

Not that that creepy ad doesn't deserve a blog post on a million different blogs. Just one of those "I've seen this before" things that made my brain itch.

Thanks all.
Rob Rogers | Email | Homepage | 11.22.08 - 5:20 pm | #

Wow, and the ads are very slightly different. So which is creepier?
Rob Rogers | Email | Homepage | 11.22.08 - 5:21 pm | #

Is it just me or does it look like Donald Duck is about to pop a cap in somebody's ass?
Aqualad | 11.22.08 - 8:09 pm | #

Oh, and one other thing:

"It pulls on over the head like a diver's helmet"

Were kids in 1949 really that familiar with the use of diver helmets as to make such a comparison?
Aqualad | 11.22.08 - 8:13 pm | #

"Were kids in 1949 really that familiar with the use of diver helmets as to make such a comparison?"

Sure, why not? They featured in adventure serials and pulp magazines and comics and other kid friendly media. A child would understand the concept on the same level as a kid might understand SCUBA gear today (to keep it in the same area); they've seen it, seen people putting it on, and understand the general concept.
Just Some Guy | Homepage | 11.23.08 - 1:18 am | #

July 24 ,2007 is where I first saw this ad as covered by Adam Barnett at

http:// comicsmakenosense.blogspo...01_archive.html

Still pretty amusing second time round.

Can't believe I have been reading Barnett's column for so long !!

Or that I made time to find the exact date!!
John Parker | Email | 11.23.08 - 3:20 pm | #

May God have mercy on our souls.
Sarah | Email | 11.24.08 - 1:24 pm | #