In a charming
example of life imitating art, Jamie and I have been arguing
about this comic since I wrote it.
In 2005.
Back then,
my punchline was "We open on Hitler raping the baby Jesus"
which went over rather
poorly with my more spiritually-inclined partner. It's not
like I endorse sexually assaulting tiny deities. It's just that
for the gag to work it had to be the most offensive scenario
conceivable. I also think that we forfeit the right to poke
fun at other people's sacred cows if we can't make hamburger
of our own. Still, I can't help but respect Jamie for never
failing to stand up for what he believes in.
Being men
of principle (or stubborn, spiteful bastards if you prefer),
Jamie refused to draw it and I refused to water it down. Every
few weeks, I'd pitch it again and he'd stonewall me. Two and
a half years went by like this. And then...
Last Thursday,
I read Dabitch's post
about the Nazi-tastic cosmetics ad above. The same day, we saw
Alex Bogusky at the Boards Creative Workshop, talking about
great advertising not being for the timid and I knew this comic's
time had come at last.
"We
decided to use Hitler [to advertise German-made heaters] because
as soon as you see him, you think of Germany. It leaves a
deep impression."
-Shen Yu-shan, the K.E. and Kingstone ad genius responsible.
(from Taipei
Times)
What would an advertising
site be without the fine print? Here goes: Any reference to actual brands
on this site is for satirical purposes only and is in no way endorsed by their
parent companies
or the agencies that represent them. Neither is any harm intended towards
the aforementioned brands, companies and agencies. Quite the contrary —
we may well come begging for a job one day.
And really, wouldn't you rather sue Adbusters?
