The second CARtoons magazine post! I need to update the first one, now that I have a copy and a can see there’s more to be added inside. This is the May 1979 issue of CARtoons, and it’s packed full of skateboarding content. CARtoons ran from 1959 to 1991 until it folded. In 2016 someone resurrected CARtoons comic book mag, and at the time of publication you can still buy subscriptions. The new CARtoons look a lot more polished than this 70’s issue, which was kind of rough at times.
Here’s the cover. The going rate for this issue is about $30. The quality of the magazine is all over the place. You can tell it’s a small operation and a labor of love. The illustration styles vary quite a bit. A substantial amount of the content (11 pages) is reader-submitted illustrations, mostly from teenagers who must have been stoked to see their drawings published. The rest of the illustrations and content are either regular comic book style stories or Mad magazine style gags, as well as some cartoonist profiles. Download it and see for yourself.
The first skateboard appears on page 38. in the story “Bad Break Bend.” The narrator is seen skateboarding, but it’s not a skateboard-centric storyline. These are just the panels that have skateboarding in them.
Without introduction, page 47 jumps to illustrations of skateboard gear and clothing. The illustration style is reminiscent of UK comics, and hey, there’s a Cooper helmet!
Skateboarding gear and clothing is quickly followed by a two page spread of skateboard comics by Larry Walker, who despite what AI will try to tell you, was a cartoonist. At least one Larry walker was.
Pages 52-56 are reader submitted skateboard drawings for the “Board Kings” contest. I think the thing you won was getting your drawings published. Allegedly the most popular reader contest to date, at the time. Quite a few of them are skateboard-shaped automobiles.
Recurring characters Krass & Bernie have some cash burning a hole in their pockets, but they don’t want to spend it all on gas, so they buy skateboards.
CARtoon magazine often came with a couple iron-on heat transfers for t-shirts. This issue has a skateboard version included.
Here it is, cleaned up, reversed, and flat.
Everything that wasn’t drawn by a kid is actually pretty cool in this issue, but you can tell the reading audience is mostly young teens. It was a different time though. There are some mild drug innuendos like the story “Gettin’ High At Pismo,” and there a couple mentions of beer. Another thing that wouldn’t fly these days is the penpal section. A couple standouts with addresses removed:
Jan Sherwood (11) from Clio, Michigan digs: Boys, Rock, Old Model
Cars, Sports and is lookin’ For: Foxy Boys 11-13Steve Dowson (16)from Sunderland, Ontario digs: Bikes, Music and is lookin’ For: Babes 15+
Donna Howell (12½) from Neches, Texas digs: CW and Rock and Roll, Big 10 Pickups, Fast Cars.
and is lookin’ For: Guys 12-16.Beckie Spicer (17) from Pleasant Valley, lowa digs: Motorcycles, Rock Concerts, Partying, Guys and is lookin’ For: Partyin’ Folks 16+ and/or Guys in the Service.
Terry Partington (14) from Lake City, Minnesota 55041 digs: Very Hard Rock, Girls, Anything on Wheels and is lookin’ For: Girls 14-15, Hard Rockers 13-15
Good stuff… Looks like there’s more skateboarding content in the next issue!
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