“Yesterday’s” Comic> Adventures of Kool-Aid-Man #1

His side job is repairing walls.

The Adventures of Kool-Aid-Man #1

Marvel Comics (1983)

It should be noted that my edition was a mail-in giveaway from Kool-Aid. You sent in the right amount of points off of the back of the packages and when you had enough you sent away for it. I don’t think they do that anymore. Also, this is one of those old comics where I lost the cover two, so I had to look online for a scan of the cover. Finally, no credits were given within the comic. Jim Shooter was the Editor-in-Chief of Marvel at the time, but that’s it.

The comic contains two stories. In “The Thirsties Strike Out!” we’re introduced to the series concept: the Thirsties like to ruin people’s fun, but Kool-Aid-Man uses the routines from his commercials at the time (smashing through walls, giving kids Kool-Aid) to ruin their plans, including a baseball game. In “Thirst From Space”, the Thirsties attempt to cause trouble from their spaceship, including a giant thirst monster, aimed at an amusement park.

What they got right: The art is in keeping with the lighthearted nature. It’s not meant to be seriously analyzed. Actually, it’s meant to sell Kool-Aid soft drinks to kids, but that’s besides the point. 🙂 It’s just a fun story.

What they got wrong: There are people who might bring up the questionable science (like when Kool-Aid-Man flies through space) or how he always crashes through walls, and while they have a point they’re just trying to bring the commercials to a superhero comic, so if it doesn’t bother you there it shouldn’t bother you here. For that matter, complain that Space Ghost and the Silverhawks never need air in space. That’s SUPPOSED to be a serious story.

Recommendation: It’s a goofy kids comic. Taken from that angle it’s a fun comic, and there are worse out there. Besides, what do you want for nothing? 🙂

Tomorrow’s Comic> Adventures of Kool-Aid-Man #4

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