Scarce set of three Apple items by Simpsons creator Matt Groening, which were released in 1989 to promote the use of Macintosh computers in higher education:
Scarce softcover Apple booklet entitled ‘Who Needs a Computer Anyway? A Student’s Guide,’ 16 pages, 7.5 x 7.5, published by Apple Computer in 1989, and illustrated by Simpsons creator Matt Groening, who, in addition to the front and back covers, provided nine character drawings of college student types, such as ‘The Clueless,’ ‘The Schizoid,’ ‘The Procrastinator,’ ‘The Imperfectionist,’ ‘The Unemployed,’ ‘The Starving Student,’ ‘The Technoid,’ ‘The Stressed’ and ‘The Overwhelmed,’ the latter two characters represented by the one-eared rabbit Bongo from Groening’s popular Life in Hell comic strip; interestingly, the designs of the ‘Procrastinator’ and the ‘Technoid’ resemble those of Simpsons characters Nelson Muntz and Milhouse Van Houten, respectively.
Color 23.25 x 32 poster entitled “Bongo’s Dream Dorm,” which shows the one-eared Life in Hell character in bed dreaming about an incredible dorm containing a swimming pool (with pet dolphin), a shark-filled moat, a helicopter pad, a robot chef, a circular revolving waterbed, and, of course, a Macintosh computer. The lower portion features a red Apple logo below the text: “Macintosh. Part of every student’s wildest dreams.”
Extra-large white t-shirt with the front featuring the same “Bongo’s Dream Dorm” image drawing, and the back with the red Apple logo and text: “Macintosh. Part of every student’s wildest dreams.” In overall fine condition, with a pinhole to the top of booklet, a small stain to the front of shirt, and a small area of dampstaining to the bottom edge of poster.
Intent on marketing squarely to college students, Apple hired the drawing talents of Matt Groening, whose Life in Hell comic strip and subsequent spin-off books had successfully found their way into youth culture. Coincidentally, the very year these items were released, Groening’s The Simpsons made its series premiere on Fox Television with a half-hour Christmas special on December 17, 1989. A rare, humorous, and fascinating mash-up of Groening-meets-Apple merchandise.
