The San Onofre Collection
Kite Fun Book nn 1980 Iowa Southern Utilities

COMIC DETAILS

Comic Description: Kite Fun Book #nn Universal
Grade: 9.2
Page Quality: OFF-WHITE TO WHITE
Certification #: 0158784012
Owner: San Onofre Collection

SET DETAILS

Winning Set: The San Onofre Collection
Date Added: 6/13/2009
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Printed in late 1980 and distributed in the spring of 1981, we have the last of the multi-utility Kite Fun Books. This Books, featuring "The Waltons" was the last of the three Kite Fun Books that didn't feature cartoon characters. (The other two are Brady Bunch and Happy Days with the Fonz.)<br /><br /> The Waltons, based on the novel "Spenser's Mountain" first appeared on CBS network television in late 1971 with the pilot The Homecoming: A Christmas Story. It went on to run 9 seasons for a total of 221 episodes, concluding in 1981. <br /><br /> Strangely enough, there are NO regular issue Waltons comic books. Whitman, the publisher of children's books as well as gold key comics, apparently held a merchandising license to the Waltons. They did issue several Waltons books in the 1970s, but apparently chose not to go with a comic book.<br /><br /> Late 1980, when this comic was being prepared, was a strange time at Whitman for comics. They had discontinued selling comics individually, instead choosing to sell via multi-packs only. Comic collectors of many of the long running Whitman / Gold Key series will tell you the scarcest issues are from this time period. Apparently, the kinks hadn't been worked out of the system so the comics are very hard to find. <br /><br /> Into this chaos I proudly introduce The Waltons Kite Fun Book. No copies of this comic were found in the Random House files. What is known, based on what is in the market place, is there are three identified variations. They are Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric, and another variant with a blank indicia box. All known copies of the blank indicia box are rubber stamped "Iowa Southern Utilities."<br /><br /> The comic in this spot is a blank indicia box stamped Iowa Southern Utilities on the back cover. Population census for this issue shows this copy in CGC 9.2 (Near Mint Minus) with off-white to white pages is the single highest graded copy. (Data as of 6/8/2010) <br /><br />After this year, all known Kite Fun Books are exclusive to a single utility. This is the last year that multiple utilities have been identified as sharing this public service giveaway.<br /><br />
  
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