I also seem to recall that they were reasonably priced. Almost to the point where I could've afforded one, despite not having a job at the time. I want to say they were $100? But I had no way of getting one, since I didn't have any retailer connections at the time. There was effectively no after-market for these because none of the retailers who did buy them wanted to part with them.
Decades later, they're available on ebay with some regularity. I see two that still come with the original box at the moment. But despite having the funds to purchase one now (they still seem to only be around $100!) I find that there are so many volumes more of commercially available products that are better displays of a wider variety of comic book characters, that the inflateable Spider-Man seems pretty chinsy by comparison. It was essentially made in the last days of Marvel just starting to make it big time, but just before they really developed the savvy to do really quality marketing. It's a large tchotchke, not appreciable any different than a logo-emblazened bag or stress ball.
The key to tagging this to a period before they started doing quality marketing is that some of the folks at Marvel sat down in a room and decidedly, jointly, that calling this "Inflate-O-Spidey" was a good idea.
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"Inflatable Spider-Man," 65" high, item #095, offered for just $49.50 in the Marvel Mart catalog inside Doom 2099 #17.
Took me a minute, but I knew I had at least one of these fairly novel comic-story catalogs, because the Inflatable Spidey plays a key role in the story's conclusion. And, while not great literature, I did remember it more than 20 years later, so… :-)
Difficult to say, meanwhile, whether someone had second thoughts about the brilliance of "Inflate-O-Spidey" by 1994, or the alternate name was just ignorance/indifference.
Advertised right within the Marvel books? I didn't recall that, but digging back through my collection, I found that Marvel Mart insert in Silver Surfer #92, which I would've purchased when it came out, the same month Doom 2099 #17 went on sale.
Good memory, sir! I had totally forgotten that until I actually saw the insert again.
Glad to contribute! :)
I probably would have remembered that catalog anyway; I think I may have ordered a poster from it.
I reread the couple years of Doom 2099 within the past 4-5 months, though; so otherwise I might have been digging a lot longer. "A Marvel from sometime in the mid-90s" encompasses a lot of the comics I own… ;-)
My son was three years old when we took him to a food store in Florida for his third birthday, As we were walking toward the store to enter, a Vendor was walking out, carrying an armful of POS signage for sales and promotions. The vendor stopped and greeted us, and told me that I had a very nice looking young man. He then bent over and extended his hand so my son could shake it. My son responded in kind as he was taught. The Vendor asked him how he was doing? My son responded with: "I'm Doing Good. Today, is my birthday, and I am three." The vendor responded that he had a present for him. He said to wit for a minute, and he would go get it out of his car. A cold of moments later, he handed me a box and told my son that there was an inflatable Spiderman in it, He also told him to NEVER open it until he grew up, and make sure until he was 20or 30 years old. Will you promise me that? My son said yes (He was SO smart and Polite), and was UBER Excited. I was in Management for Pepsi at that time, bt took the day off to take my son out on his special day. I was also also able to bring promotional items for the kids from work (A Replica of a 1957 Chevy Go-Cart, for instance). Again, My son was so excited. Since that day, I have never been able to find out ANY Information on the INFLATO-SPIDY, until today and on here. I was shocked and enthralled so I could send the info to my son. He has since graduated Law School with honors, and taught school in Japan for 10 years. He has NEVER Opened the box and just turned 38. He moved back to the states and entered Medical school at an Ivy League School, also earning honors. He graduated last week. HERE IS THE KICKER... My son that is a year younger works for MacFarlane Toys and is in a very good position. He is getting ready to ready to set up the European Operations in France very soon. My Third son is also employed my MacFarlane Toys as Warehouse Operations in the western U.S. Both do Comic-Con set up and many other Conventions, All three make me very proud. As of today, My Oldest Son Has Yet to Open that box. The Point of Sale Inflato-Spidey would be35 years old. I wonder if Todd MacFarlane would sign it for him?! The other two get collectible items on a regular basis, that Mr. MacFarlane will routinely sign, with authentication for his employees. I only wish I had it that good!
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