Mad (magazine)

Mad
Cover of the August 2017 issue
Editor, executive editorHarvey Kurtzman (1952–1956)
Al Feldstein (1956–1985)
Nick Meglin (1984–2004)
John Ficarra (1984–2018)
Bill Morrison (2018–2019)
CategoriesSatirical magazine
FrequencyBimonthly
Circulation140,000 (as of 2017)[1]
First issueOctober/November, 1952 (1952) (original magazine)
June 2018 (June 2018) (reboot)
Final issueApril 2018 (April 2018) (original magazine)
CompanyIndependent (1952–1963)
Kinney Parking Company (1963–1966)
Kinney National Company (1966–1972)
Warner Communications (1972–1990)
Time Warner (1990–2001, 2003–2018)
AOL Time Warner (2001–2003)
WarnerMedia (2018–2022)
Warner Bros. Discovery (2022–present)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Websitemadmagazine.com
ISSN0024-9319
OCLC265037357

Mad (stylized as MAD) is an American humor magazine first published in 1952. It was founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines,[2] launched as a comic book series before it became a magazine. It was widely imitated and influential, affecting satirical media, as well as the cultural landscape of the 20th century, with editor Al Feldstein increasing readership to more than two million during its 1973–1974 circulation peak.[3]

The magazine, which is the last surviving title from the EC Comics line, publishes satire on all aspects of life and popular culture, politics, entertainment, and public figures. Its format includes TV and movie parodies, and satire articles about everyday occurrences that are changed to seem humorous. Mad's mascot, Alfred E. Neuman, is usually on the cover, with his face replacing that of a celebrity or character who is being lampooned.

From 1952 to 2018, Mad published 550 regular magazine issues, as well as scores of reprint "Specials", original-material paperbacks, reprint compilation books and other print projects. After AT&T acquired Time Warner in June 2018, Mad ended newsstand distribution, continuing in comic-book stores and via subscription.

  1. ^ Socolow, Michael J. (May 20, 2018). "How Mad Magazine made America think straight [op-ed]". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference newsa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Winn, Marie (January 25, 1981). "What Became of Childhood Innocence?". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2011.