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Tract of the Week, 1972's "Breakthrough!"
▲ 26 r/ChickTractCollecting

Tract of the Week, 1972's "Breakthrough!"

Read it here!

https://boolean-union.com/preview/preview.html?tract=023.XXXX.EN

Chickscription: None Available, the following is from the Chick Tract Club's page on Promo Tracts: "A tract urging the use of Wordless Gospels in Africa and New Guinea. Black title. No copyright date, but probably early 1970s. Return address is a Chino P.O. box, but called the International Gospel Literature Foundation."

Read more on Promo Tracts here:

https://www.monsterwax.com/promos.html

Quite a unique tract this week, folks. "Breakthrough!" wasn't even known to exist until 2001 when it was rediscovered in the Chick Publications vault.

"BT!" is a promo tract, so if you're a regular TOTW review reader, you'll know that means a lot of reading. Good thing you're used to it! Promo tracts typically talk about the effectiveness of Chick's tracts before becoming what I like to call a "tractvertisement".

This one in particular goes over the perceived success of a recent TOTW, Chick's "Wordless Gospel - New Guinea". Read that review here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChickTractCollecting/s/stixmMNh70

Everything about this tract is indicative of its individuality. It is two pages short of a garden-variety tract, the return address isn't the usual Chick Publications address, and so on.

Art is minimal, but I do really like the full-pager on page 4, very Jonny Quest/Cannibal Holocaust. The cover is striking as well. Most other art is secondary to the text, but that's to be expected of a promo. Copies were practically non-existent until 2022 when His Chickiness, Pope Kvrt I & the Chick Tract Club had it reprinted and made it available for all the Chick-o-holics! See the JTCMFA site for more information on how to get your copy. It's linked all over the sub.

As usual, JTC's efforts to be inclusive still come off as insensitive, with drawings of almost deformed natives. However, I'll give him points for what I still consider a unique and logical idea with the Wordless Gospels.

Due to its collectability and extraordinary existential eccentricities, I'll give "Breakthrough!" some bonus points in my arbitrary and totally made up rating system.

u/The-Fat-Matt: 7.5/10

Pope Kvrt I: B for Breakthrough!

Check back every week for a new tract review. Next week is 1972's "Don't Read That Book!"

Read it here:

https://www.chick.com/products/tract?stk=1117

u/The-Fat-Matt — 4 days ago
▲ 26 r/ChickTractCollecting

Tract of the Week: 1972's "The Assignment"

Read it here!

https://www.chick.com/products/tract?stk=0022

Chickscription: Will Charles respond to the gospel in time?

It's Monday again folks, that means I've got a review for you!

This week, we take a look at "The Assignment" from 1972, the same year that gave us Blue Öyster Cult's debut record, the first entry in The Godfather series, and the birth year of rappers Eminem, Biggie Smalls, & wrestler/actor(depending on how old you are) Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

"TA" opens with an angelic assembly ascertaining what is needed to convert a one Charles Bishop. Mr. Bishop's heart will be fully paid-off on November 22nd, so of course that means it's gonna give out on that date at 3:10am. The angels are going over how to get Chuck on the right side before it's too late.

This tract also features an appearance from some of my favorite reoccurring characters, and that's the Diabolical Directorate. Satan's fright-faced cohorts who look like mummies with Jack-o'-lantern expressions. They are also interested in Charlie but for the opposite reason.

Bishop has two potential hotlines to heaven, His business assistant, and his daughter's friend. His assistant doesn't seem like strong enough ammunition but his daughter's friend is much better candidate.

The angels and demons whisper in the ears of those near Charles to manipulate their actions to suit their respective means, similar to one of Chick's previous tracts, "A Demon's Nightmare". "ADN" is the only tract so far I've given a perfect 10/10 in its tract of the week review. You can read that here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ChickTractCollecting/s/Xnl73pzn0g

Both sides try everything they can and it looks like Charles is gonna see the light. Will he before it's too late? Did Cathy's witnessing get through to him? He'll have to think on it.

Unfortunately for Chuckie, he thinks on it a little too long. 3:10am comes and Charles goes. When he goes, he's got two of Lucifer's butt-ugly butt-kissers ready to ferry him across the river Styx to the underworld.

I like this, probably due to its similarities to "ADN", pointed out above. Art is good and plentiful. Favorite panel goes to the full-pager on page 9 of a detailed close up of Jack O. Lantern whispering in Ethel's ear.

Charles' death date of Nov. 22 might sound familiar to history buffs, as it's the anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This date is important to me, as I've studied the JFK Assassination since I was in 8th grade(22 long years ago) and no, I have no idea who did it. 11/22 has since been designated International Chick Tract Day. Read more here:

https://www.monsterwax.com/chickday.html

u/The-Fat-Matt: 9/10

Pope Kvrt I: B+ for Bishop

Check back every week for a new tract review. Next week is another formerly lost promo tract uncovered by the Chick Tract Club, 1972's "Breakthrough!"

Read it here:

https://boolean-union.com/preview/preview.html?tract=023.XXXX.EN

u/The-Fat-Matt — 11 days ago