Questprobe - Become your favorite Marvel Character

 

What's the ad for?
Questprobe Marvel computer adventures
Year
1986

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The Scoop

 Questprobe were a series of video games designed and released for the Commodore 64 and Atari systems. Three games were released along with comic book tie ins. The first game was released in 1984 and was based on the Hulk.

The next game, also released in 1984, featured The Amazing Spider-Man.

Finally in 1985 the third game, featuring the Human Torch and the Thing of the Fantastic Four was released. 

 Each release of a game was accompanied by the publication of a comic book.

There was plans for twelve games but during the production of the fourth game, one based on the X-Men, the company went bankrupt. It was all over in two quick years. The X-Men comic was already completed and found it's way into Marvel Fanfare #33. Interesting to note that this ad was published after the demise of Adventure International, the company ran by Scott Adams who developed the Questprobe games.

Marvel Galaxy of Super-Stars

Year
1982

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Energized Spider-Man

What's the ad for?
Energized Spider-Man and Green Goblin toys
Year
1978

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The Scoop

Since when did Spidey use a flashlight? Doesn't matter...I'd still like one.

Energized Green Goblin

Star Wars models that are out of this world...

What's the ad for?
The Empire Strikes Back diorama kits
Year
1982

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The Scoop

 Battle on the Ice Planet Hoth

Encounter With Yoda On Dagobah kit

Chopcycles

What's the ad for?
Chopcycles
Year
1972

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Dig these! No glue required.

What's the ad for?
Snap Tite models.
Year
1972

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Far-Out new hobby kits from Aurora

What's the ad for?
Movie themed model kits from Aurora
Year
1969

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The Scoop

 See pictures of the finished models below. The Land of the Giants spaceship looks kinda lame but the other two look cool. I guess the Land of the Giants ship is just a bit too simple for me.

Nobody likes a bag of bones...

What's the ad for?
The Do-It-Yourself Gain-A-Pound-A-Day Kit
Year
1972

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The Scoop

The Do-It-Yourself Gain-A-Pound-A-Day Kit. Wow. That's a lot of hyphens. No where in the ad does it say you'll gain muscle...just pounds. You can gain a pound a day by eating doughnuts too.

Young America Record Club

What's the ad for?
Young America Record Club Top Hit Records
Year
1969

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House Ad - The Outsiders

From 1985 comes an ad for the Outsiders. The Outsiders came about when Batman wanted to rescue 

Lucius Fox from Baron Bedlam, who had killed King Viktorin, ruler of the fictional European country of Markovia. Batman asked the Justice League for help but they refused saying they had been ordered to stay out of the conflict. Batman said "screw you ", left the team and headed to Markovia taking a non-leaguer by the name of Black Lightning with him. While in Markovia they picked up Geo-Force, Metamorpho, Katana and Halo, thus forming the Outsiders. 

The ad above is for volume two of the Outsiders, now without Batman.

Heroes In Action! Command 'Em! Collect 'Em!

What's the ad for?
Marvel Character Halloween costumes
Year
1975

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The Scoop

I can't imagine war toys released in the mid-seventies would be that popular. You know with the Vietnam war and all. Nonetheless Mattel offered us Heroes in Action. Below is a catalog page featuring photos of all the heroes. Image courtesy of www.plaidstallions.com

Hulk it for Halloween!

What's the ad for?
Marvel Character Halloween costumes
Year
1975

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A little late I know but I just came across it last night. Flame Retardant for Safety!

It's not easy being Q*Bert

What's the ad for?
Q*Bert the video game
Year
1983

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 This is the second ad from Q*bert featured on Four Color Promises. If you are interested in the creation of the game, there is a good article over at Coinop.org. Click here to read.

Not knowing why- but programed to purchase...

What's the ad for?
  Star Frontiers RPG
Year
1983

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The Scoop

Star Frontiers was made by TSR, the same company that brought the world Dungeons and Dragons. However this early foray into Sci-fi role playing games had some major differences when compared to D&D. For starters there was no leveling up of characters. You were given a set amount of health but you could buy skill points with the experience points gained. The game system also ran on a percentile system. A player would role two ten sided dice, 2d10 for those in the know. The role would result in a number from 1-100.

Similar look to the D&D boxes. Image by Dave Bernazzan. 

Join the Best! G.I. Joe

What's the ad for?
G.I. Joe Mobile Strike Force Team
Year
1982

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The Scoop

The Mobile Strike Force Team, a G.I. Joe fan club. I would have loved to join this as a kid. Never did. Maybe it was because I lived in Canada. Or maybe the fact that most of the comics I read at the time were DC seventies titles my mom would bring home form the quarter bins. Anyway, below are images of the some of the things you would get when you joined the Mobile Strike Force Team. All images are borrowed from www.yojoe.com, a great site for all things G.I. Joe.

Dog Tags

Military Web Belt

Membership Card

Poster featuring the cover of Marvel's G.I. Joe #1

Burger Time

What's the ad for?
Burger Time the video game
Year
1983

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Do you know what the chef's name in Burger Time was? Peter Pepper! You can play an online version of the game here.

Scottie- A Cracker Jack Story

What's the ad for?
  Crackerjack
Year
1983

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Coming this fall...James Bond 007. License to roll play

What's the ad for?
James Bond 007 the role playing game
Year
1983

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