PUBLIC SERVICE ADS

DC Comics from the 1940s-1970s often contained single page features containing social and health related messages directed to young readers. These "Public Service Ads" taught children lessons on responsibility and the world around them. Many of them were hosted by DC super-heroes such as Superman, while others featured teen humor stars Buzzy and Binky. The ads themselves were often quite preachy, and it's questionable how effective they were at modifying behavior. Big issues like sex or drugs were never mentioned, but these artifacts from old comics do provide an insight into the culture and issues faced by the youth of that time.

FEATURE/TITLE DATE FOUND IN:
Flash: The Flash Celebrates the President's Diamond Jubilee BirthdayFeb/Mar 1942All-Star Comics #9
Mutt & Jeff: (Liberty Bonds) 1942Mutt & Jeff #5
Flash: The Flash Pays a VisitNovember 1942Flash Comics #35
Green Lantern: (War Bonds)November 1942All-American Comics #44
Wonder Woman: (March of Dimes)March 1943Sensation Comics #15
Superman: Fight Paper Waste -- and Hang One on the Paper-Hanger of BerlinMar/Apr 1944More Fun Comics #96
Batman: (Paper Drive)Spring 1944World's Finest Comics #13
Wonder Woman: Wonder Woman Explains Waste Paper SalvageApril 1944Sensation Comics #28
Superman: Turn Waste Paper into War WeaponsSummer 1944World's Finest Comics #14
Superman: Safety FirstAugust 1949Star Spangled Comics #95
Peter Porkchops: Smokey, the Fire-Preventing BearSeptember 1949Star Spangled Comics #96
Buzzy: Stay in School – Give Yourself a BreakOctober 1949Star Spangled Comics #97
Green Arrow: The Red Feather KidDecember 1949Action Comics #139
Superboy: Give Your Town a PresentJanuary 1950Star Spangled Comics #100
Batman: Stand Up for SportsmanshipFebruary 1950Action Comics #141
Wonder Woman: It's Fun to Be HealthyMarch 1950Action Comics #142
Superman: Code for BuddiesApril 1950Action Comics #143
Binky: Home, Sweet HomeMay 1950Action Comics #144
A Salute to the Boy Scouts of AmericaJune 1950Detective Comics #160
Buzzy: Balance Your Fun DietJuly 1950Detective Comics #161
Superboy: Job CounselorAugust 1950Detective Comics #162
Dodo and the Frog: How Are Your Manners Out-of-Doors?September 1950Detective Comics #163
Superman: School Children 'round the WorldOctober 1950Detective Comics #164
Buzzy: Nature Loves a Nature-LoverNovember 1950Detective Comics #165
Your United Nations at WorkDecember 1950Adventure Comics #159
Superboy: How to Bring Christmas CheerJanuary 1951Adventure Comics #160
The World of Adventure in BooksFebruary 1951Adventure Comics #161
Buzzy: Scores One for the HandicappedMarch 1951Adventure Comics #162
Superman: Human Rights for AllApril 1951Action Comics #155
Buzzy: Get It Off Your ChestMay 1951Action Comics #156
Superboy: Know Your CountryJune 1951Detective Comics #172
Binky: Look for the Real ReasonJuly 1951Detective Comics #173
Peter Porkchops: Sweet Land of LibertyAugust 1951Adventure Comics #167
Buzzy: Old Folks Are People, TooSeptember 1951Adventure Comics #168
Binky: Lost -- a Free EducationOctober 1951Hollywood Funny Folks #39
Superman: The World is Our SchoolroomNovember 1951Real Screen Comics #44
Superboy: Share with OthersJanuary 1952Detective Comics #179
Buzzy: Be Yourself -- Your Best SelfFeb/Mar 1952Mystery In Space #6
Binky: The Team's the ThingMar/Apr 1952Leave It To Binky #25
Buzzy: Be Sure of Your FactsApr/May 1952Mystery In Space #7
Superboy: Happy Hobby TimeMay/Jun 1952Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #3
Superman: Hop on the Welfare WagonJun/Jul 1952Mystery In Space #8
Buzzy: That Deep, Dark SecretJul/Aug 1952Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #4
Superman: It's Smart to Check -- and DoublecheckAug/Sep 1952Mystery In Space #9
Binky: What Do You Know About Other People?Oct/Nov 1952Mystery In Space #10
Superman: Unicef Spells Help for the Children of the WorldDec/Jan 1952Mystery In Space #11
Superboy: A New Kind of Junior SportJan/Feb 1953Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #7
Superboy: The Holiday SpiritFeb/Mar 1953Phantom Stranger #4
Binky: Good Neighbor SpiritMar/Apr 1953Here's Howie Comics #8
Superman: People Are PeopleApr/May 1953Mystery In Space #13
Buzzy: Choosing a ProfessionMay/Jun 1953Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #9
Peter Porkchops: Carelessness is No JokeJun/Jul 1953Mystery In Space #14
Buzzy: Get a Box-Seat to Nature's WondersJul/Aug 1953Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #10
Binky: How to Spend a Summer WeekAug/Sep 1953Mystery In Space #15
Buzzy: How Safe is Your Driving?Sep/Oct 1953Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #11
Binky: Give Your Pet All the BreaksOct/Nov 1953Mystery In Space #16
United Nations DayNov/Dec 1953Buzzy #52
Binky: Know Your CommunityDec/Jan 1953Mystery In Space #17
Binky: The Best Present of AllFeb/Mar 1954Mystery In Space #18
Buzzy: Start the Day Off RightMar/Apr 1954World's Finest Comics #69
Buzzy: Do You Know the People of Your County?Apr/May 1954Mystery In Space #19
Binky: Welcome AmigoMay/Jun 1954World's Finest Comics #70
Binky: Act Your AgeJun/Jul 1954Mystery In Space #20
Peter Porkchops: Tips on Summer FunAug/Sep 1954Mystery In Space #21
Buzzy: Work Can Be FunSep/Oct 1954World's Finest Comics #72
Buzzy: School BluesOct/Nov 1954Mystery In Space #22
Buzzy: The Key to SuccessNov/Dec 1954World's Finest Comics #73
Binky: Christmas in Many LandsFeb/Mar 1955Mystery In Space #24
Your United Nations at WorkMar/Apr 1955World's Finest Comics #75
Peter Porkchops: Don't Be Afraid to Speak UpApr/May 1955Mystery In Space #25
Binky: Tips on CampingMay/Jun 1955World's Finest Comics #76
Buzzy: There May Be a Career in Health for YouJun/Jul 1955Mystery In Space #26
Binky: Family Projects Can Be FunJul/Aug 1955World's Finest Comics #77
Binky: Never Underestimate a New IdeaAug/Sep 1955Mystery In Space #27
Buzzy: What Are You Getting Out of School?Oct/Nov 1955Mystery In Space #28
Buzzy: Do You Know Your Neighbors?Nov/Dec 1955World's Finest Comics #79
How a Nation is Born, Your United Nations at WorkDec/Jan 1955Mystery In Space #29
Buzzy: Do You Know How to Be a Good Baby-Sitter?Feb/Mar 1956Mystery In Space #30
Binky: Healthy Teeth for You and Your PetMarch 1956Strange Adventures #66
Binky: It's Fun to BelongApr/May 1956Mystery In Space #31
Superman: Get Your Ticket to the Treasury of BooksMay 1956Strange Adventures #68
Binky: Pioneers of 1976Jun/Jul 1956Mystery In Space #32
Do-It-Yourself Safety RulesJuly 1956Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis #30
Peter Porkchops: The Case of the Careless CamperAug/Sep 1956Mystery In Space #33
Binky: Special Election ExhibitNovember 1956Strange Adventures #74
Gifts to the United NationsDec/Jan 1956Mystery In Space #35
Winter Sports Champions of the WorldFeb/Mar 1957Mystery In Space #36
Buzzy: Brotherhood WeekMarch 1957Blackhawk #110
Buzzy: Careers in NursingApr/May 1957Mystery In Space #37
A Date with EffieMay 1957Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis #37
Worldwide Adventures in ScienceJun/Jul 1957Mystery In Space #38
Binky: How to Make New FriendsJuly 1957Blackhawk #114
Earn While You LearnAug/Sep 1957Mystery In Space #39
Danger Prejudice at WorkSeptember 1957Blackhawk #116
How Not to Enjoy a VacationOct/Nov 1957Mystery In Space #40
Teddy Roosevelt, Guardian of NatureNovember 1957Adventures of Jerry Lewis #41
Binky: The Trick is to Treat All the World's ChildrenDec/Jan 1957Mystery In Space #41
Wanted: A Teen-Age CodeJanuary 1958Adventures of Jerry Lewis #42
The Flushing RemonstranceFeb/Mar 1958Mystery In Space #42
Do You Know What's Behind a Law?March 1958Blackhawk #122
Peter Porkchops: The Secret of the Happy PigApr/May 1958Mystery In Space #43
Nature's Prize PupilJun/Jul 1958Mystery In Space #44
Are You a Litter-Bug?July 1958Blackhawk #126
Wanted: A PalAugust 1958Mystery In Space #45
Know Your PetSeptember 1958Mystery In Space #46
Look to the StarsNovember 1958Blackhawk #130
Sharing -- the United Nations WayDecember 1958Mystery In Space #48
Formula for SuccessJanuary 1959Blackhawk #132
The Magic CardFebruary 1959Mystery In Space #49
The Family FavoriteMarch 1959Mystery In Space #50
What's Your B.Q.?April 1959Blackhawk #135
Do You Make Life Hard for Yourself?May 1959Mystery In Space #51
Fred Finds a WayJune 1959Mystery In Space #52
Water: A Good Friend or Deadly EnemySeptember 1959Mystery In Space #54
It's Fun to LearnOctober 1959Blackhawk #141
New Stars for Old GloryNovember 1959Mystery In Space #55
The Atom Servant of ManDecember 1959Mystery In Space #56
Superboy: It's Fun to Help OthersFebruary 1960Mystery In Space #57
Buzzy: Famous BooksMarch 1960Mystery In Space #58
Aloha... HawaiiApril 1960Blackhawk #147
What's Wrong with These Pictures?May/Jun 1960Adventures of Jerry Lewis #58
Be Your Own BossJune 1960Mystery In Space #60
Buzzy: Free Speech -- Free for AllJul/Aug 1960Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #2
Superman: Lend a Friendly HandAugust 1960Mystery In Space #61
Bike Safety = Bike FunSeptember 1960Mystery In Space #62
Keep Learning -- the Key to SuccessNovember 1960Mystery In Space #63
Children of TomorrowDecember 1960Mystery In Space #64
Get a Grip on Your GripesJan/Feb 1961Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #5
Our American HeritageFebruary 1961Mystery In Space #65
Don't Sell Nature ShortMarch 1961Mystery In Space #66
A Salute to Our American IndiansApril 1961Action Comics #275
How's Your Eye-QMay 1961Mystery In Space #67
Parents Have Rights, TooJune 1961Mystery In Space #68
It's Fun to ServeAugust 1961Mystery In Space #69
The Right to Be DifferentSeptember 1961Mystery In Space #70
Wanted: Safe Bus RidersNovember 1961Mystery In Space #71
People Are PeopleDecember 1961Mystery In Space #72
Let Science Serve YouFebruary 1962Mystery In Space #73
From Many Lands...March 1962Mystery In Space #74
Time-Out for TalkMay 1962Mystery In Space #75
Your Pass to New WorldsJune 1962Mystery In Space #76
Superman: Be a Good CitizenJuly 1962Superboy #98
Not Wanted: High School DropoutsAugust 1962Mystery In Space #77
Buzzy: Rules of Water SafetySep/Oct 1962Adventures of Jerry Lewis #72
Health Myths DebunkedNov/Dec 1962Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #16
Superman: Pennies for UnicefDecember 1962Mystery In Space #80
Touchdown for PicassoJan/Feb 1963Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #17
Safety First -- All YearMar/Apr 1963Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #18
Countdown on ExcellenceMay 1963Mystery In Space #83
Play It SafeOctober 1963Superboy #108
Your Free Trip Around the WorldDecember 1963Mystery In Space #88
Buzzy: You Get What You Vote ForJan/Feb 1964Adventures of Jerry Lewis #80
Christmas in Many LandsFebruary 1964Mystery In Space #89
Names Do HurtMay 1964Mystery In Space #91
Are You a Good Neighbor?June 1964Mystery In Space #92
Rx Against AccidentsAugust 1964Mystery In Space #93
Honesty is the Best PolicyNovember 1964Mystery In Space #95
Superboy: Don't Give Fire a Place to StartFebruary 1965Mystery In Space #97
Friends Across the SeaMarch 1965Mystery In Space #98
Summer at Home Can Be FunAugust 1965Mystery In Space #101
Nature's Bill of RightsSeptember 1965Mystery In Space #102
The Hip Way to LearnNov/Dec 1965Aquaman #24
Natural Beauty -- Everybody's FightJul/Aug 1966Aquaman #28
Champs Against OddsJanuary 1967Action Comics #345
BEM Shows UpMay/Jun 1967Aquaman #33
Make Your Summer CountJul/Aug 1967Aquaman #34