When I came across this issue of the notorious ur-tabloid Confidential Magazine from the mid-fifties, the graphic illusion was so convincing that I had to do a double-take to recognize it for what it really was - a parody issue of the EC humor comic book "Panic".
The idea of treating comic book characters and superheroes as real, and a seamless part of our celebrity culture deserving of their own gossip rag, feels so post-modern and au currant.
For you Chicagoans in the audience, there is even a parody strip on "Marvin" (read Marlon) Perkins, live from the "Blinkin' Park Zoo"!
I assume this was a one-off as I couldn't find any other issues of Comicfidential, but this year when Green Hornet, Thor, X-Men and Green Lantern and their ilk dominate the box office and cultural landscape, it seems like the time would be ripe to revive it.
Enjoy!
william
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