Where Did You Get Those Shoes?

Ads in today’s comics tend to be ads for other comics by that company or licensed products with their characters. Take for example the latest issue of Superman (to be reviewed tomorrow). Outside of two book ads (which for all I know are owned by Warner Bros–who released Paranorman or owns Aladdin books, which published the Beyonders book series?) it’s all ads for comics and some super hero busts.

There are also two ads for Converse’s Superman & Wonder Woman shoes (coincidentally–and yes, coincidences happen–DC’s new power couple and yes that’s still stupid) that don’t exactly bother me as somewhat confuses me. It’s minor but I thought it would make a fun article–provided Snell doesn’t sue me or something. This is usually his gimmick.

Even though the Superman shoe comes first in page-flipping, I want to skip ahead to the Wonder Woman’s sneaker ad.

Why would I want to enter THAT world? The surfboard that’s smashed through the dock has a shark bite out of it and airplanes are attacking a building for no discernible reason. Did G.I. Joe find another Extensive Enterprises building that was housing a Cobra front? It doesn’t make “their world” look like something you’d want to visit.

I’d also think I’d like to stay in “your world” here as well. Nice quiet condo versus car crash, falling helicopter, burning building and a damaged phone booth. At least nobody’s bombing the place. My problem here though is that unlike Wonder Woman, or even another ad they’ve had with Batman and Joker shoes, there are some iconic buildings in Metropolis to sell “their world” with. In other words, where the heck is the Daily Planet building? I think these ads are trying to sell the shoe on how cool the character on the shoe is. So why not show the good parts of a comic book world rather than the bad parts?

I’m no advertising executive, nor am I a kid who is too young to be reading this comic book anyway because I doubt too many late teen kids are going to wear these. Unless times have changed from my youth, of course. However, I don’t think using a crappy environment like the ones in these ads really say “these shoes are awesome and you’ll feel like a superhero wearing them”. Maybe they should rethink this campaign a bit. Just a thought.