PUBLIC SERVICE ADS
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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 Birthday | Feb/Mar 1942 | All-Star Comics #9 |
| Mutt & Jeff: (Liberty Bonds) | 1942 | Mutt & Jeff #5 |
| Flash: The Flash Pays a Visit | November 1942 | Flash Comics #35 |
| Green Lantern: (War Bonds) | November 1942 | All-American Comics #44 |
| Wonder Woman: (March of Dimes) | March 1943 | Sensation Comics #15 |
| Superman: Fight Paper Waste -- and Hang One on the Paper-Hanger of Berlin | Mar/Apr 1944 | More Fun Comics #96 |
| Batman: (Paper Drive) | Spring 1944 | World's Finest Comics #13 |
| Wonder Woman: Wonder Woman Explains Waste Paper Salvage | April 1944 | Sensation Comics #28 |
| Superman: Turn Waste Paper into War Weapons | Summer 1944 | World's Finest Comics #14 |
| Superman: Safety First | August 1949 | Star Spangled Comics #95 |
| Peter Porkchops: Smokey, the Fire-Preventing Bear | September 1949 | Star Spangled Comics #96 |
| Buzzy: Stay in School – Give Yourself a Break | October 1949 | Star Spangled Comics #97 |
| Green Arrow: The Red Feather Kid | December 1949 | Action Comics #139 |
| Superboy: Give Your Town a Present | January 1950 | Star Spangled Comics #100 |
| Batman: Stand Up for Sportsmanship | February 1950 | Action Comics #141 |
| Wonder Woman: It's Fun to Be Healthy | March 1950 | Action Comics #142 |
| Superman: Code for Buddies | April 1950 | Action Comics #143 |
| Binky: Home, Sweet Home | May 1950 | Action Comics #144 |
| A Salute to the Boy Scouts of America | June 1950 | Detective Comics #160 |
| Buzzy: Balance Your Fun Diet | July 1950 | Detective Comics #161 |
| Superboy: Job Counselor | August 1950 | Detective Comics #162 |
| Dodo and the Frog: How Are Your Manners Out-of-Doors? | September 1950 | Detective Comics #163 |
| Superman: School Children 'round the World | October 1950 | Detective Comics #164 |
| Buzzy: Nature Loves a Nature-Lover | November 1950 | Detective Comics #165 |
| Your United Nations at Work | December 1950 | Adventure Comics #159 |
| Superboy: How to Bring Christmas Cheer | January 1951 | Adventure Comics #160 |
| The World of Adventure in Books | February 1951 | Adventure Comics #161 |
| Buzzy: Scores One for the Handicapped | March 1951 | Adventure Comics #162 |
| Superman: Human Rights for All | April 1951 | Action Comics #155 |
| Buzzy: Get It Off Your Chest | May 1951 | Action Comics #156 |
| Superboy: Know Your Country | June 1951 | Detective Comics #172 |
| Binky: Look for the Real Reason | July 1951 | Detective Comics #173 |
| Peter Porkchops: Sweet Land of Liberty | August 1951 | Adventure Comics #167 |
| Buzzy: Old Folks Are People, Too | September 1951 | Adventure Comics #168 |
| Binky: Lost -- a Free Education | October 1951 | Hollywood Funny Folks #39 |
| Superman: The World is Our Schoolroom | November 1951 | Real Screen Comics #44 |
| Superboy: Share with Others | January 1952 | Detective Comics #179 |
| Buzzy: Be Yourself -- Your Best Self | Feb/Mar 1952 | Mystery In Space #6 |
| Binky: The Team's the Thing | Mar/Apr 1952 | Leave It To Binky #25 |
| Buzzy: Be Sure of Your Facts | Apr/May 1952 | Mystery In Space #7 |
| Superboy: Happy Hobby Time | May/Jun 1952 | Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #3 |
| Superman: Hop on the Welfare Wagon | Jun/Jul 1952 | Mystery In Space #8 |
| Buzzy: That Deep, Dark Secret | Jul/Aug 1952 | Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #4 |
| Superman: It's Smart to Check -- and Doublecheck | Aug/Sep 1952 | Mystery In Space #9 |
| Binky: What Do You Know About Other People? | Oct/Nov 1952 | Mystery In Space #10 |
| Superman: Unicef Spells Help for the Children of the World | Dec/Jan 1952 | Mystery In Space #11 |
| Superboy: A New Kind of Junior Sport | Jan/Feb 1953 | Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #7 |
| Superboy: The Holiday Spirit | Feb/Mar 1953 | Phantom Stranger #4 |
| Binky: Good Neighbor Spirit | Mar/Apr 1953 | Here's Howie Comics #8 |
| Superman: People Are People | Apr/May 1953 | Mystery In Space #13 |
| Buzzy: Choosing a Profession | May/Jun 1953 | Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #9 |
| Peter Porkchops: Carelessness is No Joke | Jun/Jul 1953 | Mystery In Space #14 |
| Buzzy: Get a Box-Seat to Nature's Wonders | Jul/Aug 1953 | Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #10 |
| Binky: How to Spend a Summer Week | Aug/Sep 1953 | Mystery In Space #15 |
| Buzzy: How Safe is Your Driving? | Sep/Oct 1953 | Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #11 |
| Binky: Give Your Pet All the Breaks | Oct/Nov 1953 | Mystery In Space #16 |
| United Nations Day | Nov/Dec 1953 | Buzzy #52 |
| Binky: Know Your Community | Dec/Jan 1953 | Mystery In Space #17 |
| Binky: The Best Present of All | Feb/Mar 1954 | Mystery In Space #18 |
| Buzzy: Start the Day Off Right | Mar/Apr 1954 | World's Finest Comics #69 |
| Buzzy: Do You Know the People of Your County? | Apr/May 1954 | Mystery In Space #19 |
| Binky: Welcome Amigo | May/Jun 1954 | World's Finest Comics #70 |
| Binky: Act Your Age | Jun/Jul 1954 | Mystery In Space #20 |
| Peter Porkchops: Tips on Summer Fun | Aug/Sep 1954 | Mystery In Space #21 |
| Buzzy: Work Can Be Fun | Sep/Oct 1954 | World's Finest Comics #72 |
| Buzzy: School Blues | Oct/Nov 1954 | Mystery In Space #22 |
| Buzzy: The Key to Success | Nov/Dec 1954 | World's Finest Comics #73 |
| Binky: Christmas in Many Lands | Feb/Mar 1955 | Mystery In Space #24 |
| Your United Nations at Work | Mar/Apr 1955 | World's Finest Comics #75 |
| Peter Porkchops: Don't Be Afraid to Speak Up | Apr/May 1955 | Mystery In Space #25 |
| Binky: Tips on Camping | May/Jun 1955 | World's Finest Comics #76 |
| Buzzy: There May Be a Career in Health for You | Jun/Jul 1955 | Mystery In Space #26 |
| Binky: Family Projects Can Be Fun | Jul/Aug 1955 | World's Finest Comics #77 |
| Binky: Never Underestimate a New Idea | Aug/Sep 1955 | Mystery In Space #27 |
| Buzzy: What Are You Getting Out of School? | Oct/Nov 1955 | Mystery In Space #28 |
| Buzzy: Do You Know Your Neighbors? | Nov/Dec 1955 | World's Finest Comics #79 |
| How a Nation is Born, Your United Nations at Work | Dec/Jan 1955 | Mystery In Space #29 |
| Buzzy: Do You Know How to Be a Good Baby-Sitter? | Feb/Mar 1956 | Mystery In Space #30 |
| Binky: Healthy Teeth for You and Your Pet | March 1956 | Strange Adventures #66 |
| Binky: It's Fun to Belong | Apr/May 1956 | Mystery In Space #31 |
| Superman: Get Your Ticket to the Treasury of Books | May 1956 | Strange Adventures #68 |
| Binky: Pioneers of 1976 | Jun/Jul 1956 | Mystery In Space #32 |
| Do-It-Yourself Safety Rules | July 1956 | Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis #30 |
| Peter Porkchops: The Case of the Careless Camper | Aug/Sep 1956 | Mystery In Space #33 |
| Binky: Special Election Exhibit | November 1956 | Strange Adventures #74 |
| Gifts to the United Nations | Dec/Jan 1956 | Mystery In Space #35 |
| Winter Sports Champions of the World | Feb/Mar 1957 | Mystery In Space #36 |
| Buzzy: Brotherhood Week | March 1957 | Blackhawk #110 |
| Buzzy: Careers in Nursing | Apr/May 1957 | Mystery In Space #37 |
| A Date with Effie | May 1957 | Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis #37 |
| Worldwide Adventures in Science | Jun/Jul 1957 | Mystery In Space #38 |
| Binky: How to Make New Friends | July 1957 | Blackhawk #114 |
| Earn While You Learn | Aug/Sep 1957 | Mystery In Space #39 |
| Danger Prejudice at Work | September 1957 | Blackhawk #116 |
| How Not to Enjoy a Vacation | Oct/Nov 1957 | Mystery In Space #40 |
| Teddy Roosevelt, Guardian of Nature | November 1957 | Adventures of Jerry Lewis #41 |
| Binky: The Trick is to Treat All the World's Children | Dec/Jan 1957 | Mystery In Space #41 |
| Wanted: A Teen-Age Code | January 1958 | Adventures of Jerry Lewis #42 |
| The Flushing Remonstrance | Feb/Mar 1958 | Mystery In Space #42 |
| Do You Know What's Behind a Law? | March 1958 | Blackhawk #122 |
| Peter Porkchops: The Secret of the Happy Pig | Apr/May 1958 | Mystery In Space #43 |
| Nature's Prize Pupil | Jun/Jul 1958 | Mystery In Space #44 |
| Are You a Litter-Bug? | July 1958 | Blackhawk #126 |
| Wanted: A Pal | August 1958 | Mystery In Space #45 |
| Know Your Pet | September 1958 | Mystery In Space #46 |
| Look to the Stars | November 1958 | Blackhawk #130 |
| Sharing -- the United Nations Way | December 1958 | Mystery In Space #48 |
| Formula for Success | January 1959 | Blackhawk #132 |
| The Magic Card | February 1959 | Mystery In Space #49 |
| The Family Favorite | March 1959 | Mystery In Space #50 |
| What's Your B.Q.? | April 1959 | Blackhawk #135 |
| Do You Make Life Hard for Yourself? | May 1959 | Mystery In Space #51 |
| Fred Finds a Way | June 1959 | Mystery In Space #52 |
| Water: A Good Friend or Deadly Enemy | September 1959 | Mystery In Space #54 |
| It's Fun to Learn | October 1959 | Blackhawk #141 |
| New Stars for Old Glory | November 1959 | Mystery In Space #55 |
| The Atom Servant of Man | December 1959 | Mystery In Space #56 |
| Superboy: It's Fun to Help Others | February 1960 | Mystery In Space #57 |
| Buzzy: Famous Books | March 1960 | Mystery In Space #58 |
| Aloha... Hawaii | April 1960 | Blackhawk #147 |
| What's Wrong with These Pictures? | May/Jun 1960 | Adventures of Jerry Lewis #58 |
| Be Your Own Boss | June 1960 | Mystery In Space #60 |
| Buzzy: Free Speech -- Free for All | Jul/Aug 1960 | Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #2 |
| Superman: Lend a Friendly Hand | August 1960 | Mystery In Space #61 |
| Bike Safety = Bike Fun | September 1960 | Mystery In Space #62 |
| Keep Learning -- the Key to Success | November 1960 | Mystery In Space #63 |
| Children of Tomorrow | December 1960 | Mystery In Space #64 |
| Get a Grip on Your Gripes | Jan/Feb 1961 | Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #5 |
| Our American Heritage | February 1961 | Mystery In Space #65 |
| Don't Sell Nature Short | March 1961 | Mystery In Space #66 |
| A Salute to Our American Indians | April 1961 | Action Comics #275 |
| How's Your Eye-Q | May 1961 | Mystery In Space #67 |
| Parents Have Rights, Too | June 1961 | Mystery In Space #68 |
| It's Fun to Serve | August 1961 | Mystery In Space #69 |
| The Right to Be Different | September 1961 | Mystery In Space #70 |
| Wanted: Safe Bus Riders | November 1961 | Mystery In Space #71 |
| People Are People | December 1961 | Mystery In Space #72 |
| Let Science Serve You | February 1962 | Mystery In Space #73 |
| From Many Lands... | March 1962 | Mystery In Space #74 |
| Time-Out for Talk | May 1962 | Mystery In Space #75 |
| Your Pass to New Worlds | June 1962 | Mystery In Space #76 |
| Superman: Be a Good Citizen | July 1962 | Superboy #98 |
| Not Wanted: High School Dropouts | August 1962 | Mystery In Space #77 |
| Buzzy: Rules of Water Safety | Sep/Oct 1962 | Adventures of Jerry Lewis #72 |
| Health Myths Debunked | Nov/Dec 1962 | Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #16 |
| Superman: Pennies for Unicef | December 1962 | Mystery In Space #80 |
| Touchdown for Picasso | Jan/Feb 1963 | Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #17 |
| Safety First -- All Year | Mar/Apr 1963 | Many Loves of Dobie Gillis #18 |
| Countdown on Excellence | May 1963 | Mystery In Space #83 |
| Play It Safe | October 1963 | Superboy #108 |
| Your Free Trip Around the World | December 1963 | Mystery In Space #88 |
| Buzzy: You Get What You Vote For | Jan/Feb 1964 | Adventures of Jerry Lewis #80 |
| Christmas in Many Lands | February 1964 | Mystery In Space #89 |
| Names Do Hurt | May 1964 | Mystery In Space #91 |
| Are You a Good Neighbor? | June 1964 | Mystery In Space #92 |
| Rx Against Accidents | August 1964 | Mystery In Space #93 |
| Honesty is the Best Policy | November 1964 | Mystery In Space #95 |
| Superboy: Don't Give Fire a Place to Start | February 1965 | Mystery In Space #97 |
| Friends Across the Sea | March 1965 | Mystery In Space #98 |
| Summer at Home Can Be Fun | August 1965 | Mystery In Space #101 |
| Nature's Bill of Rights | September 1965 | Mystery In Space #102 |
| The Hip Way to Learn | Nov/Dec 1965 | Aquaman #24 |
| Natural Beauty -- Everybody's Fight | Jul/Aug 1966 | Aquaman #28 |
| Champs Against Odds | January 1967 | Action Comics #345 |
| BEM Shows Up | May/Jun 1967 | Aquaman #33 |
| Make Your Summer Count | Jul/Aug 1967 | Aquaman #34 |

