When I was a kid, nothing seemed to excite me more in the Summer than a local carnival. The Ferris wheel, bumper cars, fun house, and cherry snow cones brought joy and excitement. Anticipation grew as the trucks rolled in and the pieces of the Tilt-O-Whirl were put into place. Today I get ill just thinking about spinning like that, but back in the Bronze Age I could not wait to get the tickets.
Carnivals and amusement parks seem to be a common setting for comic book action. The bright lights and high speed rides are a great background. And apparently the parks seem to be frequent hideouts for the villains and antagonists. I am quite certain I have not found all examples of covers featuring amusement rides, but today let's look at a fairly vast collection. From rickety contraptions to fun house mirrors, let's enjoy the ongoing fascination with the carnival theme on comic covers.
Roller coasters are the prize attraction by far. Some characters are more prone to appear at the location; Daredevil, Ghost Rider, Archie's gang, and Hot Stuff make more than one appearance. I am quite certain, there will be some covers from the Golden Age to the modern era that you have not seen before.
You know how we play the game...pick the four comics that would get your attention at the spinner rack and share your thoughts about the selection. Also today, share some stories about your amusement park experiences. We always like to remember the good old days, and this is a prime opportunity to opine about the rides, games, and food at your local amusement park. And if you recall any other great covers that fit the theme, shout it out because I am sure that I missed dozens.
Stay cool. Spread the sunscreen liberally. Grab a cold one. And as always, cheers!
Redartz: Hi gang, just had to add one more to Marti's incredible stack here. This Jughead issue is one I recall having 'way back when', and it came to mind upon seeing that "Archie and Me" cover above. Pretty similar...
Martinex1: One last note: today of course is Memorial Day in the U.S.A. Let's remember the great sacrifice from the many who helped win us the freedom and liberty to enjoy these simple things in life that we celebrate every day at BitBA. Let us not forget.
