

One of the more interesting pieces of news to come out of the all-consuming media juggernaut that is the DC Reboot is the rumor that DC will be running a TV ads to promote their comics. But while it's been a while since we've seen an entire ad campaign for comics, they won't be the first.

Back in 1993, things were different. As unearthed by Ridiculously Awesome, there were commercials produced by DC and Marvel to be used by local comic book shops to highlight the best that the early '90s had to offer, using the cutting edge of 1993 local television video editing technology. And yes: they are as amazing as they sound. Check out both commercials after the jump... and prepare to get x-treme!!



If there is anything that says "comic books in 1993" better than a professionally produced video of someone cutting a hole in a picture of Lobo so that they can use their own mouth to make him tell people that these ain't their daddy's comics, then I haven't seen it. And now that I think of it, I'm not sure I'd want to see it.

Really, though, DC's whole ad is fantastic, from the prominent spots given to timeless superstars like Darkstar, Looker and Guy Gardner: Warrior to Black Canary's odd hopping across the screen and the fact that the women of DC comics are able to morph into each other pretty easily because they all have that same "holding up a beach ball" sort of pose.

Plus, the fact that you are being informed that Mongul and Doomsday are "too tough for TV" while watching a commercial that is, in fact on TV proves that thesea re comics that also make you think.

And the Marvel one's even better.

This, I believe, marks the second appearance of X-Force in the world of TV ads, the first of course being the infamous Rob Liefeld Levi's 501 jeans commercial where The Rob was interviewed by Academy Award nominee Spike Lee.

And I have to admit, it's pretty darn exciting. Regardless of how you feel about the actual comics, "You gotta fight hate! You gotta make a stand!" is a way better call to action than a picture of Hawkman that turns into Swamp Thing. Throw in that rad synthesizer riff and the idea that these are "America's faaaaaaaaaaaaaavorite comics!" and I'm definitely filled with a desire to see what the shouting (and the tooth-gritting, and the belt-pouching) are all about toute suite.

Honestly, there's a part of me that hopes the new commercials are just like this. And considering how much of the rest of the reboot seems like they're raiding the '90s for ideas, I think there's a pretty good chance they might be.