Features

The Underappreciated Art of Firecracker Labels
by: -RoG-

UPDATE JULY 4, 2015: I just added a seventh page of amazing firecracker labels to the gallery! Thanks again to those of you who contributed some. Keep sending in your labels and I'll add more next year!

Aside from decorative urinal cakes, I really can't think of a more underappreciated form of art than firecracker labels. Think about it. Sure you might buy the ones that look the coolest, but soon after you're lighting 'em on fire. The once amazing artwork is now blown to smithereens and you couldn't care less. Well, I've always been a huge fan of the artwork on firecrackers 'n fireworks because I often find miniature masterpieces on them. Sometimes the art is beautiful, sometimes it's hilarious. One thing is guaranteed though, it's always interesting.

I was happy to find out recently that I'm not alone in my admiration for firecracker art, because there's a decent amount of people on eBay who do nothing but sell and collect the labels. I've actually seen some labels go for over $400... and why shouldn't they? It's just as valid an art form as any other kind right? So with July 4th right around the corner, I'd like to pay tribute to this neglected art form. I'm happy to share with you this gallery containing some of the most interesting firecrackers I've found. I'll interject with my comments here 'n there, but this is mainly a gallery for your viewing pleasure. If you happen to stumble upon some cool labels at your local fireworks stand, by all means please take some photos and email them to me. I just might add them to this gallery!

Black Cat is a famous brand of fireworks, but as you can see, the
original logo was FAR superior to the one that's around these days.

As you can see, copyright infringement isn't a real concern in the fireworks industry.
That's clearly Voltron shooting off a bunch o' fireworks... gotta love it.

Do I really need to say anything about these two?

Looks like an anime that I absolutely must see. A giant demon spider eating a city.

Ah yes, there's plenty of propaganda in the fireworks industry. For those of you who
are still in mourning from 9/11, fret not, for these fireworks help America Fight Back!
Notice the fat wad of chaw in the soldiers mouth? American as apple pie. Hell yeah!

Of course, if there's no redneck in you, perhaps you can unleash your inner-gangsta.

REMEMBER! FORGETTING! You tell 'em, chief.

Easily some of my favorite labels... looks like they come straight from the Transformers.

Flying dragons are one thing... but King Kong flying? MADNESS!

Ah yes, the ones that appeal most to young boys. Labels with SKULLS!

Er, my bad... the ones that appeal most to young boys are the labels with BLONDES.
Makes the "Shoots Flaming Balls" warning on the label take on a whole new meaning, eh?

WANNA SEE MORE FIRECRACKER LABELS?
CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE TO PAGE 2!

 

Reader Comments

 

OLD COMMENTS:

Basement Monkey
Jul 4th, 2009, 04:07 AM
These are great I'm glad this page got updated thanks RoG
The face of trapped wind.
Jul 4th, 2009, 04:31 AM
That was a good read. I liked the Outta My Way package.
Made me think of The Punisher.
Oh, and what the hell is up with that Unicorn pack?
It looks like some weird dog-dragon hybrid.
That can't be good.
No sir.
Member
Jul 4th, 2009, 06:16 PM
What better name for a firecracker than Quick and Dead? That ought to tell you that you can bet your ass that you'll be blown to bits the very moment you light the fuse.
4 Eyes, No Brain.
Jul 5th, 2009, 03:39 PM
Cheers Rog for opening my eyes to a world where trademarks and liscensed characters mean diddly squat. A world where I can see King Kong flying over the Statue of Liberty, a world where cowboys make their horses dance on fireworks for shits and giggles. My eyes have been opened Rog, and I embrace it. Thank you.
Roid Rager
Jul 5th, 2009, 06:38 PM
"Golden shower? Now that is one Fourth of July celebration I recommend avoiding"- classic. I am still chuckling over than one.
Simpson's Trivia King
Jul 5th, 2009, 07:43 PM
I'm really amazed that someone like you Rog wouldn't point out how much the "out of my way" guy looks like Bruce Campbell
Pickled Patriarch
Jul 5th, 2009, 10:07 PM
Actually, I think PoGo is more on target in saying that he looks like The Punisher, what with that outfit 'n all.
pickled
Jul 6th, 2009, 02:06 AM
Man, I love these.
Crazed Techno-Biologist
Jul 6th, 2009, 03:40 AM
Yesh, moar =D but kinda one issue, i dont wanna be a dick about this... but enthused isnt a word. though if its in the pickledictionary, ill gladly add it to mine. anyways, yea i love these things! its weird though how so how much of it is unrelated to what it does. the only ones that actually look like the art are those lil snakes, the ones that whistle, and a few fountains shaped like the pictured image (ie, the Tanks and those lil volcanoes)
skank pronger
Jul 6th, 2009, 03:21 PM
That one on the second page with the giant gorilla riding the Empire State Building rocket? Maybe that rocket is actually the building transformer from Big!!!
LOVES the tubal ligation!
Jul 6th, 2009, 03:56 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dungeonbrownies View Post
Yesh, moar =D but kinda one issue, i dont wanna be a dick about this... but enthused isnt a word. though if its in the pickledictionary, ill gladly add it to mine. anyways, yea i love these things! its weird though how so how much of it is unrelated to what it does. the only ones that actually look like the art are those lil snakes, the ones that whistle, and a few fountains shaped like the pictured image (ie, the Tanks and those lil volcanoes)
en⋅thuse/ɛnˈθuz/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [en-thooz] Show IPA verb, -thused, -thus⋅ing.

Use enthused in a Sentence

–verb (used without object) 1.to be or become enthusiastic; show enthusiasm: All the neighbors enthused over the new baby.
–verb (used with object) 2.to cause to become enthusiastic.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/enthused

If dictionary.com isnt good enough for you here is the Merriam-Websters page on it.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enthused
OH GOD
Jul 6th, 2009, 04:48 PM
edit: n/m didn't see dimnos' post FOR SOME REASON ;(
☆☆☆☆☆
Jul 6th, 2009, 04:50 PM
You know what isn't a word?

isnt
Forum Virgin
Jul 7th, 2009, 12:14 AM
Holy crap, the Great White firecrackers had me laughing uncontrollably. That's so hilariously wrong.
Doctor Caliente
Jul 7th, 2009, 12:41 PM
The Golliwog and Dixie Boy firecrackers are an NAACP lawsuit in the making if I've ever seen one. Good thing those were manufactured in China.
Crazed Techno-Biologist
Jul 8th, 2009, 05:36 AM
Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dungeonbrownies View Post
Yesh, moar =D but kinda one issue, i dont wanna be a dick about this... but enthused isnt a word. though if its in the pickledictionary, ill gladly add it to mine. anyways, yea i love these things! its weird though how so how much of it is unrelated to what it does. the only ones that actually look like the art are those lil snakes, the ones that whistle, and a few fountains shaped like the pictured image (ie, the Tanks and those lil volcanoes)
en⋅thuse  /ɛnˈθuz/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [en-thooz] Show IPA verb, -thused, -thus⋅ing.

Use enthused in a Sentence

–verb (used without object) 1.to be or become enthusiastic; show enthusiasm: All the neighbors enthused over the new baby.
–verb (used with object) 2.to cause to become enthusiastic.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/enthused

If dictionary.com isnt good enough for you here is the Merriam-Websters page on it.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enthused
Lol, k ill accept its use, but I just remember being told to never use it in Elements of Style because it wasnt a "real word." Im guessing i should quit studying from outdated texts =P
after enough bourbon ...
Jul 10th, 2009, 01:37 PM
I'm totally enthused over this update, -Rog-!

(Golden Shower? That totally belongs on engrish.com!)
Member
Jul 26th, 2009, 07:17 AM
timebomb has a massive package
Forum Virgin
Aug 31st, 2009, 06:35 AM
That is one odd looking unicorn.
Forum Virgin
Sep 4th, 2009, 06:42 PM
Just saw that "golden shower" one in a sweetbay this july. I would have NEVER expected to find one, but you can find any worth-crap fireworks in those pre-selected kits.
Bawbaruh
Jul 4th, 2011, 02:34 PM
The Warm Greeting ones absolutely mystify me.
The face of trapped wind.
Jul 5th, 2011, 12:54 AM
the warm greetings package scares me to the marrow. I do really enjoy the pissed eagle brand though. it makes me think of malt liquor for some weird reason. I think its the font.
The Glum Cunt
Jul 5th, 2011, 01:11 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed the neighbor hater one. We used to light a lot of shit on fire in our backyard and when our visiting friends would worry about the neighbors, we'd inform them that the neighbors were illegal immigrants so they aren't gonna call the cops.
OH GOD
Jul 5th, 2011, 03:59 AM
oh my god grumpy osama is my favourite
Cat Scratch Fever!
Jul 6th, 2011, 02:49 PM
Bought me a package of mortar rounds this year with two launchers appropriately labeled Zeus. The artwork on the launchers was too amazing for me to pass up so I got them. I'm a huge fan of those and Roman Candles, my all time favorite.

My wife saw the golden showers pic with me and said that would definitely belong in an adult novelty store though she and I would question the sanity of whoever decided to buy that.
Member
Jul 9th, 2011, 06:40 AM
The Mercurial Bee not only shoots flaming balls like those blondes and Uranus do, but it also reports. That is one serious warning right there.
Evil Penguin Queen
Jul 25th, 2011, 09:04 PM
The artwork on the box of the Party Snappers on page 2 looks suspiciously like Arale Norimaki from Akira Toriyama's Dr. Slump riding a pig. (Dr. Slump was the series that made him famous, then he made Dragon Ball, and then...)
Sublimed4
Sep 3rd, 2011, 02:53 PM
Nice labels! There are some funny ones and some with just great art. I came across some labels at an estate sale and don't know how to determine if they are originals or reprints. Any help would be much appreciated. The pic might be upside down but I haven't figured out how to rotate it. Hope the link works!
Forum Virgin
Jul 5th, 2012, 09:53 AM
That Danger Forward box is just a rip-off of an old Warhammer 40k cover, so... yeah, it already is a 360 game!
Forum Virgin
Jul 8th, 2012, 03:01 AM
Bah-ha! The 2nd 'Ladyfingers' label refers to the products as 'supercharged ladycrackers.' My god, ladies back in the day must have gotten excited easily!
Pickled Patriarch
Jul 4th, 2013, 04:14 PM
Just updated the article with a new sixth page chock full o' artwork! Enjoy!
soon to be internet icon
Jul 4th, 2013, 05:20 PM
These are all great, but the old timey ones are the best.
soon to be internet icon
Jul 4th, 2013, 05:24 PM
I wish I had a picture of the huge "Devil's Delight" firework, this was six in one. It was one of the best I had seen.
Member
Jul 5th, 2013, 01:39 AM
Seriously, WTF is up with "Attitude Adjustment"? It seems like many firework companies don't even try anymore and just use photoshop or stolen artwork.
Forum Virgin
Jul 6th, 2013, 11:12 AM
What better way to celebrate our independence from England than to depend on them for firecrackers. Astra must not have gotten the memo.

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