MADlogoHistory

Several years ago, I was on a local PBS testify chosen Chicago This evening with host Bob Sirrott. I was in that location to talk over the preservation/restoration procedure of a railway station I had become involved with in nearby Skokie, IL. Every bit an introduction, Bob was giving an overview of projects I'd washed and and so proceeded to depict how much he saw the influence of "Mad Magazine" in my work.

I had never articulated this myself, only the more I thought about it, the more I realized how spot on he was. I've since come to the conclusion that "Mad" and afterward "National Lampoon" were indeed the most influential publications I'd read growing up. The sensibility and parody, the illustrations and artists … heaven! I can also confidently say that I'm non alone. Generations before and after me have shown how this groundbreaking whacked out journal is in their comic DNA. I honestly cannot think of any other publication between the early 1950'due south and 1970'south that infiltrated the minds of youngsters like "Mad." At a time before cable television and the internet, "Mad" truly ruled and paved the way for "National Lampoon" and Sat Night Live. I've moved on from "Mad" and haven't even seen a copy in at least 25 years, but I'm forever indebted to the rag for totally corrupting me.

When it came to "Mad Magazine", a kid had the periodical and the various "Specials/Annuals" that compiled reprinted manufactures—plus you had the paperbacks. These 60 cent picayune softcover books compiled the stories and jokes in a volume oft with a common theme or past a particular cartoonist. Sometimes covers were taken from the issues and sometimes they'd practise a new piece of art especially for the paperback, but in any case yous got to see all your favorites like Kelly Freas, Norman Mingo and Jack Davis. Having these niggling books added a very effective dorsum up support organization to my elementary through high school sense of humor needs—they fit conveniently into my dorsum pocket and I could take'em with me wherever I wanted to. I can proudly say I never had one confiscated in class or otherwise, and of course, I still have them all…

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Mad paperback books. . .

It was the first five paperback books that introduced me to the work of Harvey Kurtzman, Will Elder and Wally Woods. Upwards to that point I had no idea that "Mad" had originally been a conventional (of sorts) total color comic book. But once I DID notice out, I was able to await for the older issues.

Studio's collection of Mad Mag

Mad (Magazine)

Mad Mag related books, anthologies and reprints…

Mad#1

The very first issue of Mad. 1952

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Mad #21 – including the first appearance of who would eventually get Mad's mascot "Alfred E. Neuman". The illustrated epitome plucked out for employ in the magazine by editor Al Feldstein, was one of the various but like likenesses that had existed for years and had become public domain. Never was a slice of clip-art e'er elevated to international icon condition like this ! Needless to say, Time/Warner at present owns Alfred. . .

As of issue #24 in 1955, "Mad Mag" was converted into a B&W magazine format. Even though the "plow of the century prune-art male child" was now in the comprehend's illustrated frame with the familiar "What Me Worry ?" caption, he was non yet called Alfred Due east. Neuman. In this issue, he's the respected scientist, Melvin Coznowski.

Mad#24
Mad#30

Front and back cover of Mad #30.

Simply I digress, (equally usual) and so here are some paperback covers. Yous'll notice that some of the coolest humorists of the day were happy to be associated with "Mad." Bob & Ray and Stan Freberg to proper name a few. . .

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Kelly Freas – illustrator

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Norman Mingo – illustrator

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Jack Davis – illustrator

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Total paperback encompass fine art.

The to a higher place cover by Jack Davis is a parody of his affiche art for the 1963 Stanley Kramer film "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Globe".

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One of the posters Davis did for the film.

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Antonio Prohias – artist

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Illustration – Jack Davis

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Uncredited but looks like a Mingo to me. . .

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Norman Mingo – illustrator

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Mingo ?

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Kelly Freas – illustrator

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Kelly Freas – illustrator

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?

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Norman Mingo – illustrator

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Kelly Freas – illustrator

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Norman Mingo – illustrator

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Father of the "fold-out", Al Jaffee.

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Example of one of Jaffe's "Fold-Out" series for Mad.

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Paul Coker – illustrator

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Bob Clarke – illustrator

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DMartin

This is a transit poster done in conjunction with the blithe spots. We sent it to Don and he signed it. The framed piece higher up the poster is the first fax we received after opening JJSP. It'south from Don & Norma Martin.

Go here to see one of the Don Martin VH-1 spots (blitheness past Tony Eastman. Tom Pomposello F/A producer) !

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Sergio Aragones (below) had his own line of Mad paperbacks, simply was primarily known for doing the random little cartoons running like a river betwixt the Mad Magazine comic panels. He afterwards got into animation and did the sequences seen on "Dick Clark's Television Bloopers and Practical Jokes" from 1984-98.

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I got to visit the offices of "Mad Magazine" presently after moving to New York from Madison, WI in the Spring of 1979. My dream then was to do comic books, and I was hoping that there might be SOMEthing I could practice there simply to be in the midst of greatness. I showed up for my appointment and met with the art director (can't call up who it was) who proceeded to take me through all the offices. He asked me for my portfolio. I handed information technology to him. Without opening information technology he held information technology in his hands and looked at it as if information technology might comprise something hazardous. He asked, "Is this your portfolio—it'south got your best piece of work in it?" I said, "Well, yes." He then proceeded to toss it in the giant garbage drum side by side to him and then said, "Sorry. We've got nothing for you here." I
cracked upwardly, and so did he. So he said I was free to go through their original fine art files if I wanted, which I took full advantage of.

Before I left, I asked if I could use the bathroom and wandered over to information technology down the hall. I passed Bill Gaines office and said hello. There was a small zeppelin suspended from the ceiling and a giant King Kong relief sculpture filling 1 of his windows as if information technology was peering in from outside. There were framed pieces of art on the hallway walls, which had miniscule cartoons past Sergio Aragones drawn on the walls in between the frames as if they were a comicstrip in the magazine. Regardless of not being able to detect a chore there, it was still i of my all time favorite interviews always—and totally in keeping with the craziness I'd been accustomed to from the "usual gang of idiots."

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(I found this online – http://www.madmagazine.com/blog/2012/11/29/totally-mad-extract-who-was-beak-gaines-part-ane/)

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