|
Mad Trivia: - Alfred E. Neuman, Mad's gap-tooted mascot, has become one of the most recognized faces in the world, thanks to countless imitations by editorial cartoonists and advertisers. Ironically, Alfred himself was based on an unnamed cartoonish face from the early 20th century, which was used to sell everything from postcards to dental work. - Mad's circulation peaked in 1973 at a phenomenal 2.8 million copies per month. - In the 1990's, FOX Television developed MAD TV, a sketch-comedy show that features TV show and commercial parodies. The only magazine strip that made the leap to animation was Antonio Prohias' 'Spy vs. Spy'. More of the Greatest Comics Ever Made: - Amazing Fantasy #15 - Fantastic Four #1 - Fantastic Four #48 - Incredible Hulk #181 - Sandman #1 - Star Wars #1 - Superman #75 - Superman Vs. Spider-Man - Swamp Thing #21 - Tales Of Suspense #39 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 - Watchmen #1 - X-Men #1 - Zap Comix #0 |
 By 1952, EC Comics had made its mark with Tales from the Crypt and its other horror, war, and science-fiction titles, and publisher William Gaines and editor Harvey Kurtzman wanted to add a humor comic to the stable.But not just any humor comic. EC had produced juvenile funny-books before, but Gaines and Kurtzman envisioned a satirical magazine with an edge, something that would have a mature message behind the immature facade. The result was Mad, a comic that described itself as "humor in a jugular vein." The first issue wasn't too far from the usual fare, but its writers soon proved that no cow was too sacred. For instance, take "Superduperman," a parody of Superman that appeared in issue #4. It drove Mad's sales through the roof, and such parodies as "Starchie," "Woman Wonder," and "Poopeye" soon followed. As the comic matured, its writers moved from spoofing other comics to spoofing everything and anyone that was ripe for ridicule, from movies and advertisements to politics and organized religion. Mad started out as a comic-sized, full-colour comic, but switched to a magazine-sized black-and-white format with #24. Legend has it that the publishers made the move to exempt Mad from the stringent guidelines imposed by the newly established Comics Code Authority, but Gaines reportedly said he made the switch to keep Kurtzman from leaving. Eventually, though, Kurtzman did move on, and Gaines continued to remain the dominant force that oversaw the Usual Gang of Idiots until his death in 1992. Under Gaines's guidance, the magazine made history with artists like Wally Wood, Jack Davis, John Severin, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Mort Drucker, Dave Berg and Sergio Aragones climbing on board. The creation of the magazine's mascot, Alfred E. Neuman (he of "What, Me Worry?" fame), in issue #21 and the comic's conversion to a black-and-white magazine format put in place the basics that entertained both kids and kids-at-heart for decades. But why did they find the magazine so entertaining? Well, it's irreverent, disrespectful of authority, and makes a mockery of everything sacred - and let's not forget the fact that possession of a copy was grounds for detention in many schoolrooms. In other words, why do you have to ask? For millions, Mad was their first introduction to irony and subversion, and its brand of humor influenced a whole generation of stand-up comedians and other not-so-wide-eyed types who shared Mad's suspicion of the people in charge. Imitators have come and gone, but Mad is still going strong in the 21st century. After its heyday in the 1960's and early 70's, it settled down to become one of the few genuine pieces of American pop culture. |