Mad

    (E.C., 1952-2018)
™ and © William M. Gaines, Agent

Comics publisher EC was in trouble in the 1950s, with the recently adopted Comics Code seemingly designed to ban most things that had been hallmarks of the publisher’s line. Although the code spelled the doom of most of their line, publisher William Gaines had a final trick up his sleeve: a humor publication called Mad.

Originally published in comic form, it switched to its current magazine format in order to avoid the influence of the Comics Code Authority. Decades later, the move seems to have worked, as whole generations of readers have grown up reading its satirical coverage of current events, popular culture, and celebrities. It’s also well-known for its standing features, including Spy vs. Spy, the Mad Fold-In, and the grinning visage of Alfred E. Neumann.

The Comics Code may have cost Gaines dearly, but thanks to Mad, he and his readers got the last laugh.

(Additional comments from comics historian Maggie Thompson…)

This series, carrying the spine-long text “Humor in a jugular vein” and the top-of cover lead-in “Tales calculated to drive you,” was one of two of Editor Harvey Kurtzman’s major projects at E.C. (The other was Frontline Combat.)

Mad began as a color comic book, shifted to black-and-white magazine format with #24, and continues to this day.) Several of the early covers were by Kurtzman, and the satiric title carried parodies even on many of its covers.

The face of “Alfred E. Neuman” as connected with Mad actually appeared first on a collection of Mad reprints from publisher Ballantine Books (The Mad Reader); the first use of the image in Mad itself appeared on the cover of #21. Issue #23 carried a notification of the upcoming change in format.

The comic book’s topics ran from Archie to Gasoline Alley, from Sherlock Holmes to Flash Gordon, from G.I. Joe to Pogo, and from Mickey Mouse to The Shadow. No issue of Mad carried the seal of the Comics Magazine Association of America.

When the shift came to the magazine format, more text was introduced and initial contributions from such mainstream comedy sources as Bob and Ray, Ernie Kovacs, and Tom Lehrer appeared. Kurtzman departed, Al Feldstein took over as editor, and the title continues to this day, with “What—Me Worry?” kid Neuman as a mascot and satire directed more toward media and society than other comic art staples. Entire books have been devoted to the series.

— Maggie Thompson
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  NotesWriterArtist
#1 Variation A (2024 Facsimile Edition Cover A by Harvey Kurtzman)

August, 2024
Cover Price: $3.99
1 copy available for $17.99 		Harvey Kurtzman, Bill GainesHarvey Kurtzman, Jack Davis, Wallace Wood, Will Elder, John Severin
#17

November, 1954
Cover Price: $0.10
1 copy available for $40.00 		Harvey KurtzmanBill Elder, Jack Davis, Basil Wolverton, Wallace Wood, Bernie Krigstein
#20

February, 1955
Cover Price: $0.10
1 copy available for $30.00 		Harvey Kurtzman, Henry Wadsworth LongfellowWallace Wood, Will Elder, Jack Davis
#22

April, 1955
Cover Price: $0.10
1 copy available for $15.00 		Harvey KurtzmanBill Elder
#25

September, 1955
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $99.00 		Harvey Kurtzman, Ernie Kovacs, Roger Price, Bernard Shir-Cliff, Al JaffeeWallace Wood, Al Jaffee, Will Elder, Jack Davis, Roger Price, Harvey Kurtzman
#31

February, 1957
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $15.00 		Harvey Kurtzman, Phil Interlandi, Ernie Kovacs, Al Collins, Nick Meglin, Arnie Rosen, Orson BeanBasil Wolverton, Wallace Wood, Jack Davis, Phil Interlandi, Bob Clarke, Don Martin, Kelly Freas
#32

April, 1957
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $25.00 		Joe Orlando, Paul Laiken, Don Martin, Orson Bean, Alen Robin, D. Marshall, Purdy, Nick Meglin, Jean Shepherd, Albert B. FeldsteinWallace Wood, Joe Orlando, Mort Drucker, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Bob Clarke, Don Martin, Kelly Freas, George Woodbridge
#33

June, 1957
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $10.00 		Paul Laiken, Frank Jacobs, Ernie Kovacs, Ed Lawrence, Don KnuthWallace Wood, Jack Davis, Joe Orlando, Don Martin, George Woodbridge, Bob Clarke, Will Elder, Mort Drucker
#34

August, 1957
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $18.00 		Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, Frank Jacobs, Don Martin, Orson Bean, E. Nelson Bridwell, Paul LaikenWallace Wood, Bob Clarke, Don Martin, Norman Mingo, Joe Orlando, George Woodbridge, Kelly Freas, Dave Berg, Mort Drucker
#35

October, 1957
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $9.00 		Albert Meglin, Paul Laiken, Don Martin, Tom Koch, Frank Jacobs, Paul Krassner, Bob Elliott, Ray GouldingWallace Wood, Kelly Freas, Bob Clarke, Dave Berg, George Woodbridge, Don Martin, Reed Crandall, Joe Orlando
#36

December, 1957
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $12.00 		Frank Jacobs, Wally Cox, Dave Berg, Tom Koch, Paul Laiken, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Henry Morgan, Bob Elliott, Ray GouldingBasil Wolverton, Wallace Wood, Kelly Freas, Bob Clarke, George Woodbridge, Joe Orlando, Dave Berg, Mort Drucker, Don Martin, Albert B. Feldstein, Norman Mingo
#37

January, 1958
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $14.45 		Ron Goulart, Paul Krassner, Don Martin, Frank Jacobs, Dave Berg, Tom Koch, George Mandel, Ernie Kovacs, Albert Meglin, Orson Bean, Bob Elliott, Ray GouldingWallace Wood, Kelly Freas, Mort Drucker, Bob Clarke, Don Martin, Joe Orlando, George Woodbridge, John Putnam
#38 (Cover was actually painted by J. Fred Muggs, a chimpanzee)

March, 1958
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $13.00 		Bob Clarke, Ernie Kovacs, Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, Frank Jacobs, Tom Koch, Albert Meglin, Paul Laiken, E. Nelson Bridwell, Paul Krassner, Dave Berg, Don MartinBob Clarke, Wallace Wood, Don Martin, George Woodbridge, Kelly Freas, Mort Drucker, Joe Orlando, Dave Berg
#39

May, 1958
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $6.00 		Dave Berg, Tom Koch, Ernie Kovacs, Frank Jacobs, E. Nelson Bridwell, Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, George Pope Morris, Paul KrassnerWallace Wood, Dave Berg, Bob Clarke, Mort Drucker, George Woodbridge, Don Martin, Joe Orlando, Kelly Freas
#40

July, 1958
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $10.00 		Ernie Kovacs, Andrew Griffith, Frank Jacobs, E. Nelson Bridwell, Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, Tom Koch, Paul Krassner, Larry Yother, Dave Berg, Don MartinBasil Wolverton, Wallace Wood, Bob Clarke, Kelly Freas, Don Martin, George Woodbridge, Mort Drucker, Joe Orlando, Dave Berg
#41

September, 1958
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $18.00 		Dave Berg, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Ernie Kovacs, Frank Jacobs, Albert Meglin, Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, Mel Lazarus, Dee Caruso, Bill LevineWallace Wood
#42

November, 1958
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $14.00 		Dave Berg, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Ernie Kovacs, Frank Jacobs, Albert Meglin, Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, Danny Kaye, Milton Schafer, Julius Rothenburg, Jules Feiffer, Dee Caruso, Bill LevineWallace Wood
#43

December, 1958
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $10.00 		Dave Berg, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Frank Jacobs, Albert Meglin, Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, Danny Kaye, Milton Schafer, Larry SiegelWallace Wood
#44

January, 1959
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $7.30 		Dave Berg, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Frank Jacobs, E. Nelson Bridwell, Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, Dee Caruso, Bill Levine, Carl MemlingWallace Wood
#45

March, 1959
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $9.50 		Dave Berg, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Frank Jacobs, Gary BelkinWallace Wood
#46

April, 1959
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $6.00 		Dave Berg, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Frank Jacobs, Larry Siegel, Gary Belkin, Robert Margroff, Sy Reit, Eugene St. JeanWallace Wood
#47

June, 1959
Cover Price: $0.25
7 copies available from $6.50 		Dave Berg, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Frank Jacobs, Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, Gary Belkin, Sy Reit, Sid Caesar, Vic CowenWallace Wood, Dave Berg, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Bob Clarke, Mort Drucker, George Woodbridge, Joe Orlando
#48 (James Montgomery Flagg parody cover by Kelly Freas)

July, 1959
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $7.00 		Dave Berg, Don Martin, Sid Caesar, Frank Jacobs, Al Jaffee, Dee Caruso, Bill Levine, Gary Belkin, Sy Reit, Buddy Basch, Arnie KogenWallace Wood, Bob Clarke, Dave Berg, Don Martin, Mort Drucker, George Woodbridge, Joe Orlando
#49

September, 1959
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $7.00 		Dave Berg, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Frank Jacobs, Larry Siegel, Gary Belkin, Sy Reit, Sid Caesar, Arnie Kogen, Klaus NordlingWallace Wood
#50

October, 1959
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $7.50 		Dave Berg, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Frank Jacobs, Larry Siegel, Gary Belkin, Sy Reit, Arnie KogenWallace Wood, Bob Clarke, Don Martin, Mort Drucker, Kelly Freas, George Woodbridge, Dave Berg, Joe Orlando
#51

December, 1959
Cover Price: $0.25
5 copies available from $10.50 		 Wallace Wood
#52

January, 1960
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $8.00 		 Wallace Wood
#53

March, 1960
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $9.00 		 Wallace Wood
#54

April, 1960
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $65.00 		 Wallace Wood, Al Jaffee
#55

June, 1960
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $5.00 		 Wallace Wood
#56

July, 1960
Cover Price: $0.24
2 copies available from $12.00 		Dave Berg, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Al Jaffee, Frank Jacobs, Larry Siegel, Gary Belkin, Sy ReitWallace Wood, Don Martin, George Woodbridge, Mort Drucker, Joe Orlando, Bob Clarke, Kelly Freas
#57

September, 1960
Cover Price: $0.25
5 copies available from $13.30 		Al Jaffee, Dave Berg, Don Martin, Frank Jacobs, Larry SiegelWallace Wood, Bob Clarke, Dave Berg, Don Martin, Joe Orlando, Mort Drucker, Al Jaffee, George Woodbridge
#58

October, 1960
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $5.75 		Sy Reit, Frank Jacobs, Larry Siegel, Don Martn, Dave Berg, Gary Belkin, Phil HahnWallace Wood, Mort Drucker, Don Martin, Bob Clarke, Dave Berg, Joe Orlando, Al Jaffee
#59

December, 1960
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $11.95 		 Wallace Wood
#60 (Flip cover, JFK/Nixon)

January, 1961
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $7.50 		 Wallace Wood
#61

March, 1961
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $6.50 		 Wallace Wood
#62

April, 1961
Cover Price: $0.25
5 copies available from $0.99 		Sy Reit, Larry Siegel, Don Martin, Frank Jacobs, Phil Hahn, Antonio Prohías, Tom Koch, Dave Berg, Al Jaffee, Gary BelkinWallace Wood, Bob Clarke, George Woodbridge, Don Martin, Mort Drucker, Antonio Prohías, Joe Orlando, Dave Berg
#63

June, 1961
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $10.00 		  
#64

July, 1961
Cover Price: $0.25
5 copies available from $7.50 		Sy Reit, Dave Berg, Al Jaffee, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Antonio Prohías, Larry Siegel, Frank Jacobs, Dean NormanBob Clarke, Dave Berg, Mort Drucker, George Woodbridge, Don Martin, Antonio Prohías, Joe Orlando, Jack Rickard, Wallace Wood
#65

September, 1961
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $4.50 		  
#66 (John F. Kennedy cover by Kelly Freas)

October, 1961
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $3.25 		Arnie Kogen, Don Martin, Jack Mendelsohn, Antonio Prohías, Dave Berg, Larry Siegel, Sy Reit, Dean Norman, Tom Koch, Walter Farley, Al JaffeeWallace Wood, Don Martin, Mort Drucker, Antonio Prohías, George Woodbridge, Dave Berg, Bob Clarke, Joe Orlando, Jack Rickard
#67

December, 1961
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $9.00 		  
#68

January, 1962
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $11.95 		Gary Belkin, Arnie Kogen, Dave Berg, Larry Siegel, Gilbert Barnhill, Antonio Prohías, Don Reilly, Sy Reit, Don MartinJack Rickard, Mort Drucker, Dave Berg, Bob Clarke, Joe Orlando, Wallace Wood, Antonio Prohías, George Woodbridge, Don Martin
#69

March, 1962
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $9.80 		Don Reilly, Larry Siegel, Dave Berg, Don Martin, Frank Jacobs, Antonio Prohías, Earle Doud, Dick De Bartolo, Al Jaffee, E. Nelson Bridwell, Sy ReitWallace Wood, Joe Orlando, Dave Berg, Don Martin, George Woodbridge, Bob Clarke, Antonio Prohías, Jack Rickard, Mort Drucker
#70

April, 1962
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $11.00 		  
#71

June, 1962
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $12.50 		Al Jaffee, Arnie Kogen, Dave Berg, Antonio Prohías, Phil Hawn, Don Martin, Howard A. Schneider, Walter Farley, Don Reilly, Frank JacobsWallace Wood, Bob Clarke, Dave Berg, Antonio Prohías, Joe Orlando, Don Martin, Jack Rickard, George Woodbridge
#72

July, 1962
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $9.80 		  
#73

September, 1962
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $3.00 		  
#74

October, 1962
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $8.00 		  
#75

December, 1962
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $4.25 		  
#76

January, 1963
Cover Price: $0.25
6 copies available from $5.00 		 Sergio Aragonés
#77

March, 1963
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $10.00 		 Antonio Prohías, Don Martin, Joe Orlando, Mort Drucker, Wallace Wood
#78

April, 1963
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $0.99 		  
#79

June, 1963
Cover Price: $0.25
5 copies available from $4.25 		Arnie Kogen, Sergio Aragonés, Gerald Garner, Stan Hart, Don Martin, Pearl Dee Belkin, Antonio Prohías, Dick De Bartolo, Larry Siegel, Dave Berg, Tom KochLester Kraus, Mort Drucker, Joe Orlando, Wallace Wood, Don Martin, George Woodbridge, Bob Clarke, Antonio Prohías, Jack Rickard, Dave Berg
#80

July, 1963
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $4.99 		  
#81

September, 1963
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $0.99 		 Wallace Wood, Sergio Aragonés, Dave Berg, Don Martin
#82

October, 1963
Cover Price: $0.25
3 copies available from $9.80 		 Basil Wolverton
#83

December, 1963
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $4.75 		Stan Hart, Tom Koch, Don Martin, Larry Siegel, Antonio Prohías, Sergio Aragonés, Frank Jacobs, Dave Berg, Harry PurvisMort Drucker, Bob Clarke, Don Martin, George Woodbridge, Antonio Prohías, Sergio Aragonés, Jack Rickard, Joe Orlando, Dave Berg, Wallace Wood
#84

January, 1964
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $6.30 		Frank Jacobs, Don Reilly, Dick de Bartolo, Don Martin, Harry Purvis, Phil Hahn, Sergio Aragonés, Isabelle di Caprio, Antonio Prohías, Dave Berg, Micky Rose, Stan Hart, Larry SiegelJack Rickard, Bob Clarke, Mort Drucker, Don Martin, George Woodbridge, Wallace Wood, Sergio Aragonés, Antonio Prohías, Dave Berg, Joe Orlando
#85

March, 1964
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $5.30 		  
#86

April, 1964
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $3.75 		  
#87

June, 1964
Cover Price: $0.25
5 copies available from $2.75 		  
#88

July, 1964
Cover Price: $0.30
3 copies available from $5.00 		  
#89

September, 1964
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $7.40 		 Walt Kelly
#90

October, 1964
Cover Price: $0.30
1 copy available for $6.30 		  
#91

December, 1964
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $5.25 		  
#92

January, 1965
Cover Price: $0.25
1 copy available for $7.05 		  
#93

March, 1965
Cover Price: $0.25
2 copies available from $5.25 		  
#94

April, 1965
Cover Price: $0.25
4 copies available from $5.50 		  
#95

June, 1965
Cover Price: $0.30
3 copies available from $0.99 		  
#96

July, 1965
Cover Price: $0.30
3 copies available from $4.75 		 Al Jaffee, Antonio Prohías, Don Martin, Joe Orlando, Mort Drucker
#97

September, 1965
Cover Price: $0.30
2 copies available from $7.00 		Al Jaffee, Don Martin, Larry Siegel, Sergio Aragonés, Frank Jacobs, Tom Koch, Ronald Axe, Sol Weinstein, Dave Berg, Stan HartAl Jaffee, Don Martin, Mort Drucker, Sergio Aragonés, Jack Rickard, George Woodbridge, Paul Coker Jr., Joe Orlando, Bob Clarke, Dave Berg
#98

October, 1965
Cover Price: $0.30
2 copies available from $5.30 		  
#100

January, 1966
Cover Price: $0.30
2 copies available from $5.00 		  
#101 (infinity cover by Norman Mingo)

March, 1966
Cover Price: $0.30
3 copies available from $3.50 		Stan Hart, Larry Siegel, Don Martin, Dick de Bartolo, Antonio Prohías, Tom Koch, Dave Berg, Al Jaffee, Donald D. ShandlerBob Clarke, Jack Rickard, Don Martin, Mort Drucker, Antonio Prohías, Dave Berg, George Woodbridge, Al Jaffee, Joe Orlando, Paul Coker Jr.
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