Mad marks its 70th anniversary

Cover to Mad’s 70th anniversary issue

Mad magazine, which has mostly been dormant, is out with a 70th anniversary issue.

The satire publication debuted in 1952 as a comic book published by EC. Mad upgraded to a magazine as most of EC comic book titles (which included a lot of horror titles) went away.

Over the decades, Mad published various James Bond parody stories as well as parodies of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., I Spy and other examples of spy entertainment.

Here’s a description from Mad’s website:

MAD Magazine, one of the longest-running humor publications in America, is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a can’t-miss issue!

Nearly one-half of this 56-page anniversary celebration issue (issue #28) features original content, the most since the publication’s format change in 2019. Not only are current MAD staffers creating and contributing new content, but some of the original and most beloved members of “The Usual Gang of Idiots” are returning with new features, plus original contributions from celebrity MAD Magazine fans “Weird Al” Yankovic and filmmaker/comedian Jordan Peele.

Mad was founded by publisher William M. Gaines (1922-1992). In the early 1970s, he appeared on the syndicated version of To Tell The Truth. Long-time Mad contributor Dick De Bartolo is referenced. He contributed to the 70th anniversary issue.