Let's take a trip in time back to the year 1957 - when the Russians were launching Sputnik, when Elvis Presley visited BOTH Hawaii AND Cleveland, and when every manner of problem could be solved through simple consumer products, as advertised by comic strips in women's magazines from Britain.


Yeah, I'm sorry for your wife too, you bald-headed old... oh, wait, there's a story to this. Never mind.


And.. yes! I'm STILL sorry for your wife, you cranky old fusspot! Look at her worried expression as Barbie and Ken back there insult their bitter, loveless marriage!


Surely this medical doctor will recommend some sort of psychological counselling to get at the root of Cranky's barely repressed rage and frustration. Right? No? He's prescribing...Horlicks? Horlicks.

Horlicks, for our American readers, is... well, it's kind of like Ovaltine. Only not as chocolately, and unlike Ovaltine, is sometimes recommended instead of medically approved and tested sleeping aids, by doctors clearly in the pay of the International Horlicks Conspiracy.

On the other hand, Horlicks is now manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, so who can say?


THAT NIGHT HE TOOK THE ADVICE OF HIS BARTENDER, WHO TOLD HIM TO PUT WHISKEY IN HIS HORLICKS GLASS AND LET THAT TAKE CARE OF HIS 'NERVES'.


And then, some weeks ago, thanks to Horlicks, Mr Crankypants is now all about holidays and horses! And today his chin is up and he's facing life with a new positive attitude and a love for all living things!! Sadly, he was killed ten minutes later in a riding accident. Can't blame Horlicks for that, I guess.

But cranky husbands aren't the only problem facing British women in 1957! There's also the problem of...well, it's hard to say.


And we're right into the soap opera with this one. A beautiful girl, a Royal Marine, a day in the country, and it's Heartbreak City - Population Ruth! WAS SHE A FOOL TO WAIT? (insert soap opera organ music here)


Yet only 2 weeks earlier everything was great.

Not really sure why these panels were inserted here. They don't really add anything to the story, other than to remind us that readers at the time were not expected to know what a 'thought balloon' was or how they could be used to indicate a character's thoughts.


And now back in the present, Ruth is left brokenhearted as Tony can only gaze into the middle distance, his 'thousand yard stare' mute witness to the bloodshed and devastation he's seen, the mates he's lost, the endless nights trying to forget the horror.... sorry, got kinda dark there. Where was I? Ruth. Ruth got dumped and doesn't know why, and so she visits what appears to be her exact twin, who has just found herself in the interesting position of having to teach a grown adult woman about "bathing regularly".

Seriously, think about this for a minute, Tony is back from overseas, his best girl is waiting for him, all quivering with antcipation, and he's ditching her because she's a little whiffy? I worry about Tony sometimes.


Carol was right about Lifebuoy Toilet Soap! I feel all fresh and lovely! Also, why are you in my bathroom, watching me take a bath?


THINKS: Finally landed my man. Now I never need to bathe again. Thanks, Lifebuoy! Now with "Puralin"!

So remember everybody, drink Horlicks for your 'nerves', bathe with Lifebuoy for the B.O., and preface all your thoughts with "THINKS". So long 1957!

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