Tales from the Public Domain: Pull of the Prodigy

[espanolbot]

From the public domain PSA side of things, we have Spider-man trying to bring accurate sex ed to kids being targetted by the most bizarre alien supervillain scheme this side of Plan 9.


















Holy crap, Pete killed the guy!

Comments

[althechi]

Wait, the last pamphlet's more or less pretty reasonable, except for the line about dropping out of school, which is kind of discouraging to those not suited to the education system, and "[Being] attracted to a person who's of the same sex doesn't mean you're homosexual, or ever will be." Isn't that the definition of homosexuality, or do they mean some other form besides sexual attraction?

[espanolbot]

Hm, seems unlikely that they're refering to bisexual folk, considering how there are people even now who seem baffled by the existance of people who are into people of multiple genders.

Chances are they mean "if you have a crush on someone on the same gender, don't worry, you're still straight!" which is questionable for entirely different reasons.

[althechi]

I was kind of hoping it didn't mean that, because that's pretty much playing into fears of gay panic.

As I said, most of it's actually pretty okay, but yeah, definite sign of the times there.

[starwolf_oakley]

The way a person looks or acts is no clue to homosexuality. Hmmm...

"Isn't that gay-dar?"
"No. That's stereotyping."

[althechi]

"But he just kissed a man! On the lips! I swear there was tongue-"

"THAT'S NO CLUE, STOP PROFILING"

[bradygirl_12]

Yeah, the 'About Homosexuality'--definitely sketchy! I read it as "Don't worry, you're not gay!" because that's not exactly what society would be thrilled with if you were. Of course, the MENSA candidates out there don't think it out and realize the reason it's so 'terrible' to be gay is because of people like them with their ridiculous reactions!

[alicemacher]

I'm unsure as to why they included the line about changing gender work roles which, although true, seems off-topic for a PSA about sexuality. Maybe it's meant to reinforce the "don't get pregnant and drop out of school"* message, i.e. "Don't think that because you're a girl, your only option is to have kids and stay home with them if neither nursing nor teaching nor secretarial work appeal to you."


* Which, like the section on homosexuality, is also very much an artifact of its era. Nowadays teen pregnancy and school attendance aren't mutually exclusive.

I find it hilarious that someone decided to stick that first editor's note inside someone's dialogue

[drtechnobabel]

"Hey Charlie, who's Ed?"

"What?"

"You just told a guy named Ed to look at some note on page 4, but we're the only people here, and neither of us have anything to read."

"I did? I... I don't remember that. (But he certainly DID say it, folks! See the previous page if you don't believe me! -- Stan)"

"There! You did it again! Who's Stan?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, and I definately don't know anyone named Stan. (But Roger does! And if we even did write comics about him, you would too, since Stan is also the name of his secret lover! -- Ed.) Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine! It's you that- wait, how do you know about Stan? I haven't told anyone about him, there's no way you could..."

"Look, I don't know what's come over you, but you need to stop this right now. You're starting to freak me out. (Note: If Charlie and Roger think they're scared now, wait until the two of them find out that their boss is a baby-stealing alien after Spider-Man suffocates him with his amazing web-shooters! See Page 15 for details!)"

"What? Holy shit, I thought he was just one of those Quiverfull nuts! We have to tell the others!"

"Tell them what? What's gotten into you?"

"I'll explain on the way. If we hurry, maybe Spider-Man will believe us when we tell him this was all a huge misunderstanding!"

"(Too bad that Spider-Man is in a hurry to stop the Prodigy's diabolical scheme on page 12, otherwise he might have listened to Roger instead of leaving him tied up on a balcony, giving him nothing but time to reflect on the implications of other, more powerful alien races seeing humanity as nothing more than cattle and free labor. Not to mention the crushing realization of how insignificant his life truly is in the grand plan of the Gods of Fate. Or as we call them around here, the Marvel Bullpen! -- Smilin' Stan)"

*Roger falls on his knees and weeps*

"Hey man, pull it together. I think I just saw something big land on the roof. I'm going to go check it out. (You true believers out there know exactly who Charlie's just seen. And unlike Roger here, you've known from the beginning that what is written cannot be undone! See pages 11 and 12 for proof of this!-- Stan the Man)"

The "avoid STDs" anvil did need to fall...

[sisterofbloomerjunior]

So were the aliens going to add fertility drugs in everything?