Whitman Comics

[IamI]

Does anyone know the story behind these comics? I picked up some old issues of Batman and they are identical to the original DC printing, except for the cover. The cover has the Whitman logo on it instead of DC's logo. Open the comic and its says published by DC Comics.

[reideen1313]

Here's a much better answer than I could ever provide. Hope that answers your question!

[IamI]

Reid, thanks for the link. Its seems odd DC would have such an arrangement, but still, I've seen odder deals in my time. I guess Whitman marketed in areas other than DC.

[ThatBlockoGuy]

Geez, I remember Whitman! Never used to buy 'em though 'cause they came in plastic baggies so I couldn't check 'em out first and, more importantly, as a discriminating comic book pre-teen I knew they weren't "the same" as newsstand copies.

[crazyhatter]

I really don't know much about Whitman Comics but I was randomly reading through my Batman Animated book which talks about the animated series, and on one of the pages there are BTAS collectible tins which held chocolate from a company called Whitman's. I am not sure if there are related since the makers of the tins has an " 's " at the end of it. I thought you all might like to know this and maybe research it a little.

[reideen1313]

crazyhatter said:

I really don't know much about Whitman Comics but I was randomly reading through my Batman Animated book which talks about the animated series, and on one of the pages there are BTAS collectible tins which held chocolate from a company called Whitman's. I am not sure if there are related since the makers of the tins has an " 's " at the end of it. I thought you all might like to know this and maybe research it a little.

Good question. I can see how that might cause some confusion, especially with the Batman, Snoopy and Loony Tunes stuff they put out every holiday. Totally different.

Whitman Comics was part of Western Printing and Lithographing Co., was the publishing arm of Kay Kamen. They were originally used for coloring books, Big Little Books, and some comics.

Whitman's Chocolates has been around much longer. Couple of facts:

1854 The first packaged box of Whitman's chocolate debuts.
1868 Richard Cadbury introduces the first Valentine's Day box of chocolates.
1880s Wunderle Candy Company creates candy corn. In 1898, Goelitz Confectionery Company began making candy corn and has made this Halloween favorite longer than any other company. It remains one of the best selling Halloween candies of all times.
1893 William Wrigley, Jr. introduces Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum and Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum.
1896 Tootsie Rolls debut, introduced by Leo Hirshfield of New York who named them after his daughter's nickname, "Tootsie".

1912 The Whitman's Sampler box of chocolates is born when the company president decides the needlework sampler hanging in his home would make beautiful packaging. It is the the first box of chocolates to include a now-famous index showing the filling in each candy.

1942-1945 Women working on the Whitman's Sampler production line secretly slipped notes to soldiers in those boxes destined for military shipment. The notes resulted in several long-term friendships and even a few marriages.

[crazyhatter]

reideen1313 said:

crazyhatter said:

I really don't know much about Whitman Comics but I was randomly reading through my Batman Animated book which talks about the animated series, and on one of the pages there are BTAS collectible tins which held chocolate from a company called Whitman's. I am not sure if there are related since the makers of the tins has an " 's " at the end of it. I thought you all might like to know this and maybe research it a little.

Good question. I can see how that might cause some confusion, especially with the Batman, Snoopy and Loony Tunes stuff they put out every holiday. Totally different.

Whitman Comics was part of Western Printing and Lithographing Co., was the publishing arm of Kay Kamen. They were originally used for coloring books, Big Little Books, and some comics.

Whitman's Chocolates has been around much longer. Couple of facts:

1854 The first packaged box of Whitman's chocolate debuts.
1868 Richard Cadbury introduces the first Valentine's Day box of chocolates.
1880s Wunderle Candy Company creates candy corn. In 1898, Goelitz Confectionery Company began making candy corn and has made this Halloween favorite longer than any other company. It remains one of the best selling Halloween candies of all times.
1893 William Wrigley, Jr. introduces Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum and Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum.
1896 Tootsie Rolls debut, introduced by Leo Hirshfield of New York who named them after his daughter's nickname, "Tootsie".

1912 The Whitman's Sampler box of chocolates is born when the company president decides the needlework sampler hanging in his home would make beautiful packaging. It is the the first box of chocolates to include a now-famous index showing the filling in each candy.

1942-1945 Women working on the Whitman's Sampler production line secretly slipped notes to soldiers in those boxes destined for military shipment. The notes resulted in several long-term friendships and even a few marriages.

Thanks for the info reideen. This goes above and beyond the call of duty.