[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”25804″ img_size=”900×500″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]In today’s environment, the changing of societal norms that we have taken for granted is becoming commonplace. As that happens, we tend to cling to the things we can count on. The familiar, or perhaps a source we could go to take our minds off of things and laugh. Since it first debuted in EC comics in 1952, Mad Magazine has filled that prescription. Before the days of Saturday Night Live and when satire didn’t approach over saturation, Mad Magazine was there. took jabs at TV, Movies, Politics, or whatever needed a swift kick in the funny bone.
The Fate of Mad Magazine
It was recently announced that Mad Magazine was going to cease publication. Soon after the initial news broke, the fate of the iconic humor magazine was clarified. Per a report from Comicbook.Com:
MAD will be leaving the newsstand after issue #9, which will land on newsstands in early August with all-new content. MAD#10 will also contain new content, but will be available only via direct market comic book retailers and subscriptions. Rather than closing up shop, the plan at present is to continue publishing issues that will feature reprinted classic MAD pieces, wrapped with new covers art. Further, MAD will continue to publish its end of year specials, as well as books and special collections, capitalizing on the value of the MAD brand in spite of the loss of new content in the magazine.
Could have been Worse
While this is better news than the original report, it still constitutes a major change for the venerable publication. As for myself, when I was growing up, going to the movies was a rare occurrence. I was exposed to many films though Mad Magazine’s movie satires. While these were always funny and exaggerated, they still reflected the films plot. At times, that was the most I could hope for.
The art of Mort Drucker, Jack Davis, and Don Martin were a great influence on the young man who aspired to be an artist. During that time, everytime I doodled a cartoon, it resembled a Don Martin drawing…in a weak, 12 year old attempt.
So while Mad isn’t going away entirely, it will not be the same. That is quite sad and is just one more piece of my childhood that has been chipped away. Although, perhaps the reprinted content is being marketed just for people like me. A chance to relive and patch at least one of those chips. We’ll see how long it goes.
For those “mature” geeks who remember Mad Magazine in its prime, does the recent announcement make you feel “some kind of way?” Share your Mad Magazine memories with us at GeekVibesNation.
Source: Comicbook.Com
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
