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ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MAD
Information courtesy of Leigh
Harrison
Horwitz Publications purchased the license to produce MAD in Australia in 1978. But the first MAD actually printed in Australia was not until December 1980. The first four Australian MADs were not numbered. The decision had to be made by Horwitz Publications whether Australian MAD would continue the numbering of the U.S. MAD or begin it�s own (presumably from No. 1!). A decision was not made available to Australian readers until the fifth issue. On the front of the magazine there was "No. 223" � Australia was following the U.S. numbers. Hence the first issue of Australian MAD was No. 219. This first issue was almost exactly the same as U.S. MAD No. 219.
The first Australian MAD to have a different cover to the U.S. was not until No. 224 in 1981. The cover art was by Dave Emerson and depicted Alfred holding a cake (with a not-so-well-hidden metal file) outside of a prison cell. The content format of the modern day Australian MAD is fairly similar between each issue. For a regular issue, there is almost always an original Australian cover. The Australian Mad continues to be published today. You may visit the Horwitz web site for more information and subscription info at http://www.horwitz.com.au/ and the Mad section of their site at http://www.horwitz.com.au/MAD.html.
