60 Years of Mad Magazine

This is a complete list of Mad Magazine issues published from 1952 to 2012 (with GEMs highlighted).  For each comic listed, there are links to the following: (a) Wiki page (from the Grand Comics Database, or GCD), (b) e-book (available upon request), and (c) More info on each comic (via optional posts by various contributors).  [Note: In some cases where there is a set of consecutive issues listed as one entry, the Wiki link takes you to the first issue in the set, and the ‘Next Issue’ link will take you to the later issues.]

Please note that the list is sortable by each column. (Multiple levels of sorting are possible by sorting more than one column in succession, from lowest to highest.)  You can also do an instant filtering of the table by entering a character string in the ‘Search’ field.

Mad Magazine (also known as simply Mad) has a rich and fascinating publication history that spans over six decades.  The satirical magazine was launched in 1952 by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines; it was initially released as a comic book before transitioning into a magazine format in 1955.  It quickly gained a reputation for its irreverent humor, sharp social commentary and distinctive visual style.  The magazine featured a mix of parodies, political cartoons, movie spoofs and humorous articles, all aimed at poking fun at popular culture, politics, and society.

Throughout its publication history, Mad became a cultural icon and a cornerstone of American humor.  It played a pioneering role in shaping the landscape of satire and influencing countless comedians and writers.  The magazine introduced beloved characters like Alfred E. Neuman, whose gap-toothed grin and catchphrase “What, me worry?” became synonymous with Mad.  Over the years, Mad faced several challenges, including censorship issues, declining sales and the changing media landscape.  However, it continued to innovate and adapt, incorporating new elements such as television and movie parodies to stay relevant.  Despite ceasing its original print publication some years back, Mad Magazine remains an enduring symbol of humor and satire, with its legacy continuing to inspire generations of comedic minds.

Mad had many regular recurring features (each listed as a “Dept.”) which were created by some incredible artists and writers who became closely identified with the magazine.  Of these, I am listing my personal favorites below (all made their debut before issue #100).

• Movie Parodies (1953):  This popular feature was created in issue #6 by writer/editor Harvey Kurtzman & artist Will Elder.  Many years later (beginning with issue #60), Mort Drucker became the artist most identified with this feature.  His caricatures bore a phenomenal likeness to the actors in the original film and his artwork made the movie parodies truly memorable.
• Don Martin Dept. (1957): Don Martin is considered Mad‘s signature artist.  He made his debut at Mad in 1956, but his ‘Dept.’ feature started with issue #36 one year later, and his characters with hinged feet continued to delight readers for many decades.
• Spy vs. Spy (1961): This feature was drawn by the Cuban-American artist Antonio Prohías, starting with issue #60.  The artist spoke very little English, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  Adding any text to his wordless cartoons would definitely have detracted from their charm.
• The Lighter Side of… (1961): Drawn by Dave Berg throughout its publication history, this popular feature started with issue #66 and poked fun at the suburban lifestyle, various institutions, capitalistic entities and the generation gap.  It was retired after Berg’s death in 2002.
• Mad Marginals & A Mad Look at… (1963): Sergio Aragones was another Latin-American artist who couldn’t speak English well.  He made his debut with these two recurring features in issue #76.  His brilliant cartoons at the margins of the magazines communicated volumes without a single written word and became wildly popular with the readers of Mad.
• Mad Fold-In (1964): This feature, created by legendary cartoonist Al Jaffee, was one of the most beloved and distinctive aspects of Mad.  Introduced in issue #86, the Fold-In appeared on the back cover of each issue and delighted audiences for over 5 decades, cementing its place as an iconic feature in the magazine’s history.
• Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions (1965): This popular feature, also created by Al Jaffee, was introduced in issue #98.  The comic panels depicted absurd or nonsensical questions posed by oblivious individuals combined with witty and often outrageous responses that sarcastically addressed the stupidity of the questions.  Another gem from the ‘usual gang of idiots’ at Mad.

The above delightful features, as well as many others, left a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of the 20th century and provided Mad‘s readers with a humorous outlet for dealing with the absurdities of the world.  The magazine has been widely imitated by many other satirical publications, but in my opinion it stands in a class apart and will never be equaled.

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