May 5, 2012
As I began last week, Marvel was going a little crazy in the 1980’s. In addition to putting out a bizarre Generic Comic Book, they also put out a Fumetti Book. What is fumetti? It is a photo or series of photos with “funny” text balloons or captions. Why did Marvel do this? I don’t know but as you will see next week, Marvel’s love affair with photography was just beginning. This comic featured various Marvel staffers in all their black and white glory.
Then there was the No-Prize Book. Marvel, like DC, often ended up with things that made no sense in terms of established continuity or even with a single story. Sometimes even one panel was so screwed up it made no sense. Rather than say “my bad,” Marvel would give out “No-Prizes” to any fans who wrote in and explained away the mistake. Sometimes the reasons were bizarre. What was the prize? There was no prize. Well, I guess there was. See the envelope below.
Next week, more Marvel 1980’s oddities.
Mr. Blog's Tepid Ride 
Just for the records, “fumetti” is the Italian word for “comic books” (plural, the singular form is Fumetto, which is also the name of the art form and it means “little smoke” from the idea that balloons look like smoke coming out of the characters’ mouths).
What Marvel probably meant to say was “Fotoromanzo” (“Photonovel”); which was an old sort of comic book with balloons and everything, but with staged photos in place of drawings. It was aimed at women and young girls, featured (of course) handsome (for those days’ standards) young actors and models, and was only used for romantic stories. This kind of product disappeared sometime during the 70’s, I believe. Here’s an example http://www.fotoromanzi-topilio.it/prova%20fotoromanzi%20internet/la%20pelle%20che%20sa%20di%20mare/lapellechesadimarepag4.htm
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