Devil Girl Choco-Bar display box by R. Crumb (5th printing). --- Empty Box

Robert Crumb's Devil Girl bars were an instant success when they hit the market in 1994. The bars themselves are long gone and any surviving bars are probably not edible. But Kitchen Sink Press marketed the chocolate bars in a sturdy display box modeled after the heavy-duty cigar boxes of earlier days. This display box is constructed of thick card stock nearly 1/8 inch thick on all 6 sides. Seven sides (including the inside lid) are covered by 4-color Crumb art. The inside lid was to be propped up by retailers to expose the 15 bars that were originally inside. It also revealed the slogan, "It's BAD for you!" ---a rare example of candor in advertising.

The honesty wasn't limited to the inner lid. Our favorite side (almost never seen by actual customers) is the bottom of the box. On that hidden side Crumb hand-lettered "A Word to Wholesalers and Retailers of the Devil Girl Choco-Bar," which is scanned here. It's a hilarious tongue-in-cheek anti-marketing statement. It certainly did nothing to deter sales of the product, which approached a half-million candy bars (not bad for a comic book company's sideline). Also on the bottom of the box, near the bottom edge, is the black type noting "5th printing."

It was typical of Kitchen Sink Press, and of considerable value to collectors, that print runs on its comics, books and other products were carefully distinguished. The 5th printing was Kitchen Sink's last. The boxes offered here are in near mint condition (some are slightly scuffed from being in a larger box and moved around), from the publisher's personal archives. They were not circulated and not filled with candy bars. Measures 6.75" x 5.5" x 2.5" when closed. Packed with care. $25