Explosive Bazooka Gum and Comic

Last updated on August 20th, 2024 at 07:25 am

Explosive Bazooka Gum and Comic

"Bazooka" is the name of a bubble gum and the name of an explosive rocket launcher. Why did a confection company choose an explosive word for its gum and comic strip?

In this article I will reveal the secret meaning behind the names, the iconic Joe mascot, and the quirky character Mort.

Inception of the Comic Strip

In the late 1930s, the Great Depression was ending, World War II was starting, and four Shorin brothers started selling tabs of gum for 1¢ a piece.

Wanting to "top" their Fleer "Dubble Bubble" Chewing Gum competitor, the Shorin brothers called their company "Topps" Chewing Gum.

Aditionally, as part of the plan to beat Fleer, Topps came up with the idea of printing small "jokey comics" to be packaged with each tab of gum.

Inception of Bazooka Joe

Initially, the comics were bought from third parties. Then in 1953, Topps hired artists Woody Gelman and Wesley Morse to create its own comic strip.

Because Gelman and Morse were both World War II veterans, they gave the Topps gum packaging an American red, white, and blue theme.

And with news of the Atomic Bomb fresh in their minds, Gelman and Morse named the gum and comic series "Bazooka, The Atom Bubble Gum".

In conjuction, Gelman and Morse also devised an Atom Bubble Gum mascot which was a small fearless blond boy who blew bubbles so big he could fly.

Topps hoped he would be an exciting and aspirational character for kids, blending the fun of bubble gum with the fantastical idea of flying.

The character's daring nature tied into the post-World War II fascination with science and atomic energy and the enthusiasm for innovation and exploration.

However, Atom Bubble Gum was short-lived because parents, concerned about the effects of radiation, didn't want anything called "Atom" in their child's mouth.

So instead, three years later, Gelman and Morse created a new mascot character named Bazooka Joe who wore a patch over his right eye.

They gave Bazooka Joe an eye patch in honor of their war buddy Pvt. Joseph Weinek who was blinded in his right eye by a bazooka attack.

Bazooka Joe and His Gang

The storyline for the comic strips centered around the wild antics of Joe and his friends which usually included:

• Pesty, Joe's younger brother who always wears a 1950s sombrero
• Hungry Herman, Joe's chubby pal
• Jane, Joe's girlfriend
• Toughie, the streetwise guy who always wore a sailor hat
• Metaldude, the blond guy into heavy metal
• Walkie Talkie, the neighborhood simpleton
• Mort, Joe's gangly wisecracking friend

Bazooka Joe (and his gang) were a smashing success. Throughout the years, various members of Joe's gang came and went, except for Mort.

Joe's Friend Mort

Mort was the one member of the gang who appeared consistently and he always wore the same red turtleneck stretched up to his ears.

The reason for Mort’s distinctive look was a mystery and a source of speculation among fans. Then in 2008, Topps provided a backstory for Mort's unique appearance.

On October 27th, 2008, Mort revealed the lower half of his face which was covered in burn scars like the ones Gelman and Morse saw firsthand during WWII.

They wanted fans to face the reality that life's not all fun and games with Mort's face being the shocking reminder of how tragic life can be.

It was the most captivating and controversial installment of the comic strip. Such a dark outlook in comic literature was unheard of.

Topps artist, Martin Shore, reportedly said that "Bazooka Joe has always been about mankind's search for meaning in a world marked by pain".

Mort's scars also reflected a shift in how comics and characters were being reimagined to resonate with contemporary themes, such as overcoming adversity.

Bazooka Joe's Fall and Rise

Although the comic strips amused readers for decades, by the 1980s and 1990s, the popularity of Bazooka Joe comics began to wane.

The format of the comics, with their simplistic humor, began to feel outdated as newer forms of entertainment and media captured the attention of young audiences.

Then in 2012, there was a steep decline in sales of the brand so Topps decided to cut costs by discontinuing the comic strips.

However, requests poured in from fans around the world asking for the return of the Bazooka Joe and his gang comic strips.

In response, Topps revived 48 of the best comics from the 70s and 80s and packaged them in a 2021 nostalgic Bazooka "throwback" pack.

Bazooka Joe Collectibles

The Bazooka Joe comics and gum have a nostalgic place in American pop culture. Hence items featuring the brand are treasured by many collectors.

To start or add to your collection, check out the Bazooka Joe Tin sold in our Collectibles Store on this website.

Released by the Topps company in 1991, the tin measures approximately 4.25" W x 3.75" H. It originally stored 4.2oz of gum but it is now empty.

This vintage tin is more than just a nostalgic nod to the classic comic strip... it's a piece of history that every collector will cherish.

This concludes our article Explosive Bazooka Gum and Comic. We hope you enjoyed reading Explosive Bazooka Gum and Comic. Check out more content from our store by clicking on these links: