MAD and Alfred E. Neuman FAQ
Version 2.2, August 22, 2002
Maintained by Ed Norris, Publisher of The MAD Panic fanzine. Copyright
2000, 2001, 2002. This FAQ can be published free of charge if it is published in
its entirety and not used for commercial sale.
The following is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about MAD magazine and its mascot Alfred E. Neuman. Questions that start with an asterisk (*) are either new or updated from the previous version. You can help make it an even better-quality FAQ by writing a contribution or update and sending it via email to [email protected]. WHEN POSSIBLE, you may "CLICK ON" an item in the FAQ list to view that item or items.
- *What year did MAD magazine start?
- What was the original cover price?
- Who were the original publisher and editor?
- Where are the MAD offices?
- *What MAD regular issues cover variations exist?
- What MAD Special cover variations exist?
- What MAD XL cover variations exist?
- Why do some covers have a different price, but otherwise the same?
- *What other countries published versions of MAD?
- What are the release numbers and dates for Australian MAD?
- *What are the release numbers and dates for British MAD?
- *What are the release numbers and dates for German MAD?
- What are the release numbers and dates for the Israeli Mad?
- What is the correct spelling of the MAD lexicon words?
- How many paperback books (non-trade) were published?
- Who produced the most books under the MAD title?
- How many Big Books were published?
- *What paperback gift sets exist?
- What is the hardest licensed MAD product to find?
- *How many MAD records were released?
- *How many MAD calendars were produced?
- *What promotional cards exist from the Lime Rock series?
- What was the name of the MAD movie?
- Who drives the MAD Funny Car?
- What are good reference books about MAD’s history?
- *What are the current MAD fanzines or newsletters?
- What were the previous MAD fanzines or newsletters?
What year did MAD magazine start?
MAD was first published in 1952 as a comic. It had a cover date of October / November 1952. Starting with issue #24 (July 1955), MAD became a magazine. MAD considers September their anniversary.
What was the original cover price?
The MAD comics had a cover price of 10¢. The price increased to 25¢ when it became a magazine (issue #24). Some of the confusion results from an error in the Trivial Pursuit game. The question was: "What was the price of the first Mad magazine?" and its answer of "Ten cents". But now we all know the correct answer.
Who were the original publisher and editor?
William M. (Bill) Gaines was the publisher and founder of MAD. Harvey Kurtzman was the editor. Kurtzman left MAD after issue #28, July 1956. Albert B. (Al) Feldstein replaced Kurtzman starting with issue #29, September 1956.
The current location is 1700 Broadway, New York NY. Other locations, starting at the first, included: 225 Lafayette St, 850 Third St, and 485 MADison Ave, all in New York city.
What MAD regular issues cover variations exist?
- No. 28 has three different covers: Guided Missiles, Income Tax Guide ACE, and Income Tax Guide ANC
- No. 123 has four different covers: 1,111,784 / 2,148,000; 1,112,362 / 2,148,000; 1,189,168 / 2,148,000; and 1,376,485 / 2,148,000. Also, see note at end of answer.
- No. 300-303 have two different covers: UPC Bar and Hussein Asylum Editions
- No. 323 has two different covers: Red MAD logo and yellow MAD logo
- No. 359 has four different covers: #1 of 4, Alfred E. Neuman as Mr. Freeze; #2 of 4, Alfred E. Neuman as Robin; #3 of 4, Alfred E. Neuman as Batgirl; and #4 of 4, Alfred E. Neuman as Batman
- No. 363-365 have two different covers: Border design and no border
- No 371 has two different covers featuring South Park characters.
- No.383 has two different covers: #1 of 2, Skywalker with Alfred E. Neuman shadow; and #2 of 2, Alfred E. Neuman with Skywalker shadow
- No. 395 has two different covers: #1 of 2, Al Gore; and #2 of 2, George W. Bush
- No. 401, while not a cover variation, has two different issues. The 20 Dumbest People, Events and Things of 2000 feature has different drawings. One shows George W. Bush taking the oath of office and the other has Al Gore taking the oath.
- No. 407 has 2 different covers. #1 of Alfred getting ready to blow up Johnny Knoxville (Jackass), and #2 with Alfred blowing up himself instead.
- No. 413 comes unbagged or in a plastic bag with a yellow banner that states "MAD 20 Dumbest People, Events And Things Of 2001!" with a circled "Free! AOL Software Inside!"
- No. 419 has two different covers: Alfred with Queen Amidala and Alfred with Mace Windu & Obi Wan Kenobi.
- Special Note: Seven issues of No. 411 with the Caldwell cover appeared on eBay during November 2001. These copies are not considered a variation because the issue was never legally bound or distributed. Copies with this cover most likely were stolen from the press and hand bound. The MAD offices did receive a few printer proofs of the Caldwell cover art, but they exist as single sheets. Other illegal copies could exist which didn't appear on eBay. Nick Meglin verified the facts about this issue never being bound.
- No 431 has 2 different covers featuring satires of the movie The Incredible Hulk.
Special Releases - MAD has released two special issues that look similar to the regular issue, but are not cover variations. Tang released an issue similar to MAD #352. The big MAD logo and words describing the feature articles were removed and were replaced by "Special Edition Editor's Choice". The NHRA released an issue similar to MAD #366. The UPC is replaced with a pointed circle and within it is "This Issue Compliments of NHRA and The New Team Toliver / MAD Race Car Blame Them!" The NHRA issue was released in a plastic bag because of a NHRA Jr. Dragster Membership tip-in, which is visible on the back of the magazine.
A note of interest: MAD has pictured issues of MAD #123 and 205 with covers that were not released. These issues' images are printer proofs. In the case of #123, pictured in Completely MAD, the proof has a different number 1,376,485 / 2,210,000. This printer proof was bound into MAD's file copies and Maria Reidelbach photographed it for her book. MAD knew it was just a proof so they decided not to use it in the MAD Cover to Cover book. MAD #205, pictured in Completely MAD and MAD Cover to Cover, has the unpublished cover with a yellow logo. This proof didn't get bound in MAD's file copies. MAD used Maria's slide for that proof cover, unaware that there was a difference in logo colors. Charles Kochman, Editor of Licensed Publishing for DC Comics and MAD Magazine verified these facts.
* What MAD Special cover variations exist?
- No. 82 has two different covers: Numbered and unnumbered
- No. 88 has two different packaging: Bagged, maze attached and unbagged, maze detached
- No. 89 has two different packaging: Bagged with hologram card and unbagged, no card
- A Hussein Asylum Edition of MAD Special #76 is reported in The Overstreet Comic Price Guide but none were ever published. This was confirmed years ago by Annie Gaines.
- No. 100 has two different packaging: Bagged with poster detached and unbagged with poster attached. At the top of the plastic bag is a two-inch wide band in blue and yellow that says "Free" and "8 Full-Color Alfred E. Neuman Celebrity Posters".
What MAD XL cover variations exist?
No. 2 has two different covers: Black Spy on cover 1 of 2 and White Spy on cover 2 of 2
Why do some covers have a different price, but otherwise the same?
From time-to-time MAD will release the issues destined for sale in Canada with the "higher" price tag. These issues are not considered cover variations. CLICK HERE to view side by side issues. Note the Mad on the LEFT is American, and priced at $1.75. The issue on the RIGHT is Canadian, and priced at $2.25.
REGULAR ISSUE # CANADIAN U.S. 76-95 .30 .25 200-208 .75 .60 218-221 .85 .75 222-231 1.00 .90 232-238 1.15 1.00 239-244 1.25 1.00 245-252 1.50 1.25 253-260 1.60 1.25 261-276 1.75 1.35 277-292 1.95 1.50 293-320 2.25 1.75
* What other countries published versions of MAD?
The following counties published versions of MAD, with the status if the country is still publishing:
- Argentina
- Australia (current)
- Brazil (current)
- Canada (Quebec French)
- Denmark
- Finland (current)
- France
- Germany (current)
- Great Britain
- Greece
- Hungary (current)
- Iceland
- India (current)
- Israel
- Italy
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Puerto Rico
- South Africa (current)
- Spain
- Sweden (current)
- Taiwan (China).
- Turkey
What are the release numbers and dates for Australian MAD?
Australian MAD started December1980 and is still being published. The first 4 issues are unnumbered: the first issue has a cover date and the next 3 issues have neither a number nor a date. The second issue features Yoda on the cover, the third has "Shortage Coming Hoard This Issue", and the fourth has "Salutes The Coffee Break. The fifth issue used #223, which was the current issue number in the United States at the time. The numbering has continued in sequence from #223.
The Australian MAD Specials started with a cover dated Summer 1981, with no number. The next two issues had neither a number nor a date: the second issue has "Bumper Book Of Comics", and the third has "Cricket Bumper Book". The fourth issue started numbering at #38 and has continued in sequence from that number.
* What are the release numbers and dates for British MAD?
British MAD started with issue #1 (??? 1959) and ended with issue #381 (January 1994). Issue #279 is numbered #278 with a cover date of July 1985.
* What are the release numbers and dates for German MAD?
The first series of the German Mad started with issue #1 (September 1967) and ended with issue #300 (July 1995). The second series started with #1 (October 1998) and is still being published.
started with issue #1 (1974) and ended with issue #42 (1995).
- MAD Extra
Super MAD started with issue #1 (April 1983) and ended with issue #9 (1991).Mega MAD started with issue#1 (1991) and ended with issue #3 (1992).Sammel MAD started with issue #1 (April 1983) and ended with issue #47 (1998).MAD Garbage started with issue #1 (December 1983) and ended with issue #15 (February 1999).
What are the release numbers and dates for Israeli MAD?
The first Israeli Mad was issue #1 (1994) and ending with issue #10 in 1995. 5 issues were published in 1994, and 5 issues in 1995.
What is the correct spelling of the MAD lexicon words?
Axolotl, borscht, frammistan, farshimmelt, furshlugginer, ganef, halavah, moxie, poiuyt, potrzebie, and veeblefetzer.
How many paperback books (non-trade) were published?
MAD started publishing paperback books with The MAD Reader in December 1954 and ended with Spy vs. Spy The Updated Files #8 by Bob Clarke and Duck Edwing in August 1993. MAD has started producing paperback books again, starting with a reprint of How to Be a Successful Dog (December 1999).
Between 1954 and 1993, 220 paperbacks books were released. Ninety-four contained previously published material, MAD Stew was credited to Nick Meglin. Bristling MAD (#93, June 1993) was the last reprint book.
Who produced the most books under the MAD title?
Not counting the Big Books:
- Sergio Aragones and Al Jaffee, 16 each
- Dave Berg, Frank Jacobs, and Don Martin, 13 each
- Duck Edwing, 12
- Dick DeBartolo, 10
- Antonio Prohias, 6
- Stan Hart and Lou Silverston 5 each
- Tom Koch, Nick Meglin, and Larry Siegel, 4 each
- Paul Peter Porges, 3
- Max Brandel, Paul Cokers, and John Ficarra, 1 each
How many Big Books were published?
There are 10 MAD Big Books. Al Jaffee has 3 under his name and with 1 each: Sergio Aragones, Dave Berg, Dick DeBartolo, Mort Drucker, Frank Jacobs, Don Martin, and Antonio Prohias.
* What paperback gift sets exist?
The paperback book gifts sets had 4, 5, 6, or 8 books in them. The 27 known sets are:
Ballantine Sets (3)
Totally MAD (5 books); The MAD Reader, MAD Strikes Back, Inside MAD, Utterly MAD, The Brothers MAD (Two versions: with the stock number 345-24093-6-625 and without on side of box. Also, the box structure is different.)
Classically MAD (5 books); The MAD Reader, MAD Strikes Back, Inside MAD, Utterly MAD, The Brothers MAD
Signet Sets (12)
An Insanely MAD Collection (4 books); Self Made MAD, Sing Along With MAD, More MAD's Snappy Answers To Stupid Questions, MAD's Don Martin Comes On Strong
It's A MAD World (4 books); MAD About MAD, MAD Power, MADvertising, MAD's Dave Berg Looks At Our Sick World
It's A MAD World (8 books); MADvertising; More MAD's Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions, MAD's Dave Berg Looks At Our Sick World, MAD's Don Martin Comes On Strong, Sing Along With MAD, MAD Power, Self Made MAD, MAD About MAD
Completely MAD (6 books); Greasy MAD Stuff, Three Ring MAD, The Ides of MAD, Like MAD, The Self-Made MAD, The Bedside MAD
Completely MAD (8 books green box); MAD’s Don Martin Cooks Up More Tales, MAD For Better Or Verse, The MAD Adventures Of Captain Klutz, MAD In Orbit, MAD’s Don Martin Steps Out, The Bedside MAD, MAD’s All New Spy vs. Spy, The MAD Sampler
Completely MAD (8 books, gold box): The MAD Sampler, The Organization MAD, The Self Made MAD, The Ides of MAD, Three Ring MAD, Like MAD, Greasy MAD Stuff, Bedside MAD
Completely MAD (8 books, green box): The MAD Sampler, Adventures of Captain Klutz, Self-Made MAD, Raving MAD, Howling MAD, Like MAD, MAD Snappy Answers, Fighting MAD
Completely MAD (8 books, black box): More MAD's Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions, The Portable MAD, The MAD Book Of Magic & Other Dirty Tricks, The Voodoo MAD, MAD's Dave Berg Looks At The U.S.A., MADvertising, MAD Power, MAD's Don Martin Cooks Up More Tales
The MAD Scene (red background, 8 books); Like MAD, Raving MAD, Fighting MAD, The Self Made MAD, The Questionable MAD, Good 'N' MAD, The Voodoo MAD, Son Of MAD
The MAD Scene (white background, 8 books); Greasy MAD Stuff, The Voodoo Mad. It's A World, World, World, World Mad, Mad's Spy vs Spy, Boiling Mad, The Bedside Mad, Three Ring Mad, The Ides Of Mad
The MAD Scene (red background, 8 books); Greasy MAD Stuff, The Voodoo
MAD, It's a MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD World, MAD's Spy vs. Spy, Boiling MAD, The Bedside MAD, Three-Ring MAD, The Ides of MAD
The MAD Scene (white background, 8 books); Greasy MAD Stuff, The Voodoo
MAD, It's a World, World, World, World MAD, MAD's Spy vs. Spy, Boiling MAD, The Bedside MAD, Three-Ring MAD, The Ides of MAD
The MAD Scene (white background, 8 books); The Questionable MAD, Raving MAD, It's A World, World, World, World MAD, MAD In Orbit, The MAD Frontier, Fighting MAD, The Son of MAD, The Voodoo MAD
MAD, It's a MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD World, MAD's Spy vs. Spy, Boiling MAD, The Bedside MAD, Three-Ring MAD, The Ides of MAD
Warner Paperback Library Sets (3)
MAD (6 books); Polyunsaturated MAD, The Dirty Old MAD, The Recycled MAD, The Non-Violent MAD, MAD-ly Yours, The Third Dossier Of Spy vs. Spy
The World Is Going MAD (5 books); Rip-Off MAD, The MAD Book Of Word Power, The MAD Sampler, MAD About Sports, The Non-Violent MAD
The MAD Sampler Box is a Collection of Wit, Man! (5 books); The Bedside MAD, The Organization MAD, MAD's Cradle to Grave Primer, New MAD Secret File on Spy vs. Spy, It's a MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD World.
Warner Sets (9)
The MAD Sampler Box (4 books); The MAD Sampler, The Pocket MAD, The Invisible MAD, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. MAD
The MAD Sampler Box (5 books); The Bedside MAD, The Organization MAD, MAD's Cradle to Grave Primer, New MAD Secret File on Spy vs. Spy, It's a World, World, World, World MAD.
MAD's Don Martin Carries On 4-Book Collection (4 books); Don Martin Carries On, Don Martin Steps Out, Don Martin Steps Further Out, Don Martin Drops 13 Stories
A Certifiably MAD Collection (green box, 5 books); Good ‘N’ MAD, Steaming MAD, MAD Book of Magic & Other Dirty Tricks, Dave Berg Looks At Things, A MAD Guide to Leisure Time
A Certifiably MAD Collection (blue box, 5 books); In MAD We Trust, Al Jaffee’s MAD (Yecch!) Monstrosities, MAD’s Don Martin Cooks Up More Tales, The All New MAD Secret File On Spy vs. Spy, MAD’s Dave Berg Looks Around
A Certifiably MAD Collection (gold box, 5 books); Sergio Aragones MAD As The Devil, MAD’s Don Martin Forges Ahead, MAD’s Spy vs. Spy Follow Up File, The Third MAD Dossier Of Spy vs. Spy, MAD’s Maddest Artist Don Martin Bounces Back
A Certifiably MAD Collection (orange box, 5 books); Questionable MAD, Al Jaffee’s MAD Inventions, Don Martin Drops Thirteen Stories, The MAD Guide to Careers, Sing Along With MAD
MAD's Don Martin The Whole "Don" Set (#11-201-1, 5 books); Don Martin Carries On, Don Martin Drops 13 Stories, Don Martin Cooks Up More Tales, Don Martin Steps Further Out, Don Martin Forges Ahead
MAD's Don Martin The Whole "Don" Set (#11-223-2, 5 books); Don Martin Drops 13 Stories, Don Martin Forges Ahead, Don Martin Steps Out!, Don Martin Digs Deeper, Don Martin Steps Further Out
The Certifiably MAD Prohias Spy vs. Spy (5 books); The All New MAD Secret File On Spy vs. Spy, MAD's Spy vs. Spy Follow-Up File, The Third MAD Dossier Of Spy vs. Spy, The Fourth MAD Declassified Papers On Spy vs. Spy, The Fifth MAD Report On Spy vs. Spy
Other gift sets
The Certifiably MAD Collection (generic 5 books); these gift sets have a paper wrapper around 5 MAD books priced at $1.50 each. Two different wrappers are known to exist, each has the classic Mingo Alfred E. Neuman on a blue or orange background. No books are listed on the wrapper.
Warner released 2 different MAD bookend sets with randomly inserted $1.25 priced books. The sets had either red or gold bookends, with five books, a bookmark, and a plain white piece of cardboard that went across the top and down one side. The package was shrink-wrapped. Note: This information was verified by John Hett who remembers, from 1975, looking through the red bookend sets trying to get the one with the most books he needed. There weren't any of the gold sets in the K-Mart at the time.
Known existing bookend sets include:
Red bookend set; It's A World World World World MAD, MAD's Don Martin Steps Further Out, Portable MAD, MAD's Al Jaffee Spews Out Still More Snappy Answers To Stupid Questions, MAD Sampler
Gold bookend set; MAD's Spy vs Spy: Follow Up File #2, Incurably Mad by Sergio Aragones, MAD's Don Martin Steps Further Out, MAD's Al Jaffee Spews Out Still More Snappy Answers To Stupid Questions, MAD's Dave Berg Looks Around
Of special interest to most MAD collectors is the Al Jaffee box set produced by Signet titled The Cool, Calm, Collected Al Jaffee (4 books); Al Jaffee Blows His Mind, Al Jaffee Gags, Al Jaffee Gags Again, and Al Jaffee's Next Book
What is the hardest licensed MAD product to find?
This one can cause a heated debate, not counting the Goldbrick Cuff Links which were owned by Bill Gaines and one reader (who purchased them for $66 in 1959), the MAD Charm Bracelet might be the toughest to find. This would be followed by the Collegeville Mardi Gras costume, the other pieces of MAD jewelry, the original MAD t-shirt, and the straight jacket. The four different Nosey Shades (1989) are the toughest to find of recent products.
All of the above were produced with the intent of selling many of each. The life-sized Alfred E. Neuman bust is the most limited produced licensed item. Only 6 were made of which 5 are of currently known possession.
* How many MAD records were released?
Not counting inserts in the magazine, there are five 33 rpms, one 45 rpm, and one CD/cassette. DJ promotional copies exist for all of these as well. The 33 rpms are: Musically MAD (1959), available in both Mono and Stereo versions, MAD Twists Rock 'n' Roll (1962), Fink Along with MAD (1963), The MAD Show (1966), and Up The Academy (1980). A cassette and 8-track tape were also released for the Up The Academy soundtrack. The 45 rpm record (1959) has the songs "What -- Me Worry?" and "Potrzebie" on it. The CD is titled MAD Grooves, which is also available on cassette, and it is a collection of previous material from the other recordings and insert records. New artists redid a few of the songs on MAD Grooves.
The Dellwoods released a 45 rpm with Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger / Her Moustache. Both songs appeared on Fink Along With MAD. Credited to the Sweet Sick-Teens, the songs Let's Do The Pretzel / Agnes (The Teenage Russian Spy) from MAD Twists Rock 'N' Roll were released on a 45 rpm and 33 1/3 rpm single.
The Special and Annual insert records include Meet The Staff From MAD (Worst From MAD #2 and Ridiculously Expensive MAD), Nose Job (Worst From MAD #5, from MAD Twists Rock &'N' Roll), She Let's Me Watch Her Mom & Pop Fight (Worst From MAD #6, from Fink Along With MAD), It's A Gas (Worst From MAD #9, from Fink Along With MAD), Gall In The Family (MAD Special #11), Makin' Out (MAD Special #26), It's A Super Spectacular Day (MAD Special #31), and A MAD Look At Graduation (MAD Special #32). The CD that came with MAD #350 contains three songs. The record which came with MAD Disco contains 6 songs. The Totally MAD CD collection has all of the Special and Annual songs.
Foreign MAD records include: German - Wie Es Tont Und Stohnt (33 1/3 rpm), which is also available on cassette. Australian - Harp On This and Shabby Road, which are both CDs.
Alfred E. Neuman also appears on the following non-MAD records: Sick Magazine - Sick #2, on the back cover (33 1/3 rpm), Man - Slow Motion (33 1/3), Kermit Shafer - For Those That Have Everything (33 1/3), 7 Places To Hang A Hat - Bub Thomas, on back cover (33 1/3 rpm), Pete Myers - Mad Daddy (45 rpm), Jake & Th' Stiffs (45 rpm), and the German record Al Newman - It's A Gas / Let's Do The Fink (45 rpm). Warren Baker’s Little Band released a reel-to-reel titled Stereo for Hillbillies; Alfred appears on the box. The two Spies appear on The Boardwalkers - Spy vs. Spy (45 rpm).
During December 2001 this item appeared (actual posting) on eBay. It is unknown if it was produced for MAD or if it was a "home-made" record: A very unusual 10 inch 78 RPM one-of-a-kind Acetate recorded in the Mad Magazine tradition (Backwards) tracking INSIDE OUT instead of the normal OUTSIDE-IN as most records are recorded. Side one is "MEET THE STAFF OF MAD MAGAZINE", Side two is "SHE'S GOT A NOSE JOB". Both of these recordings were available with special issues of Mad Magazine in the late 1950's on cardboard records which came with a Mad Magazine. These recordings however, are Studio Quality Acetates and playable on any manual record player.
The "record" Throw Mama From The Train A Knish - Don't Leave Her Hungry Behind by Pinky Lee appeared in auction during 2000 as a MAD record, as it has Alfred E. Neuman graphics and the word Potrzebie across the top. Someone had scanned in the record labels from Worst From MAD #1 and pasted it onto a 45 rpm. Other "records", all from the same issue, not to purchase include: Hannibal Crossed The Alps - But I Can't Get Around You by Louis Prima, You Go To My Head by Toscanini, Slaughter On 10th Avenue by Kate Smith, and The Little Dutch Mill On Blueberry Hill Near The Hollywood Freeway Blues by "Fats" Domino. All of these labels state "A Subsidiary of MAD Magazine"
* How many MAD calendars were produced?
There were 10 calendars produced: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1993.For 1996, "35th Anniversary Commemorative Calendar" and a 1997 calendar. Page a day calendars were released for 2001 and 2002. Mad also published an Eternal Calendar for promotional purposes. The 1996 calendar was also a stapled in premium to the fanzine The MAD Panic #37. A poster featuring the classic Mingo Alfred E. Neuman was produced for 1988. This calendar was released from Bi-Rite.
German calendars were released for 1977, 1978, and 2001. An Australian calendar was released for 1982. A Finnish calendar was released for 1991.
* What promotional cards exist from the Lime Rock series?
There are 36 different promotional cards. From the first series, the promo cards are numbered 1-6. There are 18 different promo cards from this series. The cards come in three different types: no stamp, stamped with "Inside Trader Member", and stamped with "Inside Trader". From the second series, the cards are numbered 7-10. There are 12 promo cards with the same differences as the first series. The Spy vs. Spy promo cards are numbered P1-P4. None of the 4 cards are stamped. The final series cards are numbered F1 and F2. Neither card is stamped.
Lime Rock released uncut promo sheets of the unstamped type for the first two series and the Spy vs. Spy.
What was the name of the MAD movie?
MAD’s answer to National Lampoon’s Vacation was Up The Academy, released in 1980. The movie was so bad Bill Gaines paid to have the MAD logo and references removed from future releases and advertisements. The actor Ron Leibman also demanded that his name not be used in connection with the film.
Jerry Toliver was the first driver and left to race the WWF Funny Car. Dale Creasy is the current driver. A total of 6 Mad Funny Cars have seen action. There was three body designs while Toliver drove the car: A big Alfred face on the hood, a Spy vs. Spy theme, and an all black with a yellow MAD logo (used as a temporary body). Creasy also has three body designs: Alfred with cross-bones on hood, the MAD Ugly car, and the Vote MAD car.
What are good reference books about MAD’s history?
- Collectibly MAD by Grant Geissman – ISBN 0-878-16202-X
- Completely MAD by Maria Reidelbach – ISBN 0-316-73891-3
- Good Days and MAD by Dick DeBartolo – ISBN 1-560-25077-1
- The MAD World of William M. Gaines by Frank Jacobs – ISBN 0-818-40054-4
- My Life as a Cartoonist by Harvey Kurtzman – ISBN 0-671-63453-4
- MAD Cover to Cover - ISBN 0-823-01684-6
* What are the current MAD fanzines or newsletters?
The MAD Panic – For subscription information contact: Ed Norris, 91 Kelly Dr, Lancaster MA 01523 or email to [email protected]. (First published March 1990)
The Journal of MADness – For subscription information contact: John Hett,44743 Brookside, Plymouth MI 48170 or email to [email protected] (First published November 1997)
What were the previous MAD fanzines or newsletters?
- MAD Freaks USA by Ron Labbe – 6 issues from Summer 1980 to Fall 1981
- MADzine by Don Cook – 13 issues from November 1983 to March 1985
- MADlog by Jerry Moore – 13 issues from March 1997 to January 1999 (Numbers 1-9 were reprinted into a single publication)
When did Alfred E. Neuman first appear in MAD?
Alfred E. Neuman’s first appearance was on the cover of The MAD Reader paperback book, released December 1954. He next appeared on the cover of MAD #21, March 1955. Alfred E. Neuman became the cornerstone for MAD starting with issue #30, December 1956.
When did Alfred E. Neuman get his name?
Alfred E. Neuman’s name first was attached to him in issue #24 as the answer to the Photoquiz, even though none of the multiple-choose answers were Alfred E. Neuman. The name stuck with issue #30, which is the classic Alfred E. Neuman for President drawing by Norman Mingo. Harvey Kurtzman used the name Alfred L. Neuman in an pre-MAD John Wayne comic.
What were his other names in MAD?
Alfred E. Neuman had previous names of Melvin Coznowski (#24) and Mel Haney (#25 and 28).
What is the earliest image of Alfred E. Neuman?
This is a tough one because different people can see or not see his likeness in early images. Also many of the early images are not dated. Most collectors will agree that the earliest dated image that is definitely Alfred E. Neuman is from the Atmore’s Mince Meat Plum Pudding ad dating from 1895. The ad can be found in the Illustrated London News (the New York City edition).
Are the following images of characters Alfred E. Neuman?
None of the following are considered to be early Alfred E. Neuman images:
- The Yellow Kid
- The Hampden Handsome Waiter (Hampden Brewing Company)
- Howdy Doody.
The following people helped by providing information for this FAQ: Bernd Engel, Grant Geissman, Dick Hanchette, John Hett, Tim Johnson, Charles Kochman, Michael Lerner, Ricky Long, Nick Meglin, Mario Mueller, Manu Pärssinen, Mike Slaubaugh, Rich Thomas, DJ Williams.
