Barbie Birthday. Pif Gadget 627. 1981. Artwork by Mezza. If anyone knows any information on the illustrator Mezza please let me know!

Greetings vintage mates! Presenting: eight vintage adverts from French comic Pif Gadget. I was particularly pleased to get my hands on the Barbie ‘Birthday’ advert with art by the illustrator Mezza who designed a good deal of late 70s and early 80s Barbie adverts, and, despite my online searches, I still can’t find any info about.

The Action Man advert was also a treat to discover (known as Action Joe in France, and GI Joe in the US where the toy originated in 1964). Eagle-eyed readers will spot the popular ‘Eagle-Eye Action Man’ features on the below advert – quite an innovation for those of us who lovingly played with these toys back in the day.

Action Joe. Pif Gadget 529. 1979. France.

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