Playing it Kool

Previously:

Kool and the Gang

Kool-Aid Man was up always up for adventure.  Whether it was busting through walls or smacking around his arch nemesis "Scorch," there was nothing the handled-one couldn't handle.  In addition to starring in tons of commercials, he also headlined his own freebie comic for several issues.  But before those mini-marvels got us hyped for saving up Kool-Aid points there was a brief precursor series where Big Red took a backseat and let a couple of clowns do the heavy lifting.

So these two guys are the stars or Kool-Aid Komics #1 and they must have not made a great impression because not only can I not find any information about them, I'm pretty sure this is their only appearance.  So let's give the boys their due and take a look at what went down in 1975.

The bulk of pages are filled with your standard low effort, corny gags, jokes and comics.  And, of course, these two are front and center on most of the pages with Kool-Aid Man maybe showing up in the corner or to slap his seal of approval on a puzzle or maze.  Speaking of which...

I don't know if the kids today are still connecting dots, but it used to be a fairly common pastime. After some minimum effort, the connector is rewarded with this picture of a frog (and the answer to the riddle).  Of course, I took the fun out of it by doing it for you.  Soak it in...soak it in...

Instead of going through page after page of knock knock jokes and comic gags, I thought I'd just pick the best one.  You can see it above.  At the time, King Kong was at the forefront of popular culture for no particular reason.  Add in sequined bell bottoms and you've got quite the time capsule.  None of this has anything to do with Kool Aid though...

But Kool-Aid Man does show up to remind us to get hustling and round up that paper.  Paper Kool-Aid points, of course.  Back in the old days you could save up the points that came on Kool-Aid packets and trade them in (along with a certain amount of cash) for stuff.  Sometimes good stuff.

I can't imagine what Kool Aid's Earth and Ecology book has to say about the environment but there's no amount of Kool Aid points I wouldn't trade for it now.  The Kool-Aid Drink Stand is something I know the young me would have wanted but never actually used.  Starting a small business is intimidating.

 And just like that, Kool-Aid Man essentially shoves these guys off-stage and out of the spotlight forever.  We may never know anything more about them (and there may not be any more to actually know) but the next time you kick back with a nice, cool glass of Great Bluedini be sure to pour one out for this plaid pantsed pair.