In the early '70s (Jr High, High School) my brother subscribed to Mad Magazine, and I enjoyed them secondhand.
Horrifying Cliches was a recurring section in where they took a common phrase and turned their cartoonists loose on it.
If there is a visual equivalent to 'ear worm' these often would qualify.
For those who may be unfamiliar, here's an example:
July 05, 2025, 08:16 AM
Johnny 3eagles
Yes! On the horns of a dilemma. Can't find a copy.
If you're goin' through hell, keep on going. Don't slow down. If you're scared don't show it. You might get out before the devil even knows you're there.
NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER
July 05, 2025, 08:30 AM
pace40
In the 60's...Mom thought MAD was too risqué, Dad used to buy them for me. Hell, they were laying around my dentist's office.
Many a good argument overheard because of that.
____________ Pace
July 05, 2025, 08:42 AM
oddball
I loved MAD Magazine, subscribed to it for a couple of years in the early 70s. My favorites were artist Don Martin, "The Lighter Side of..." and of course Mort Drucker and his satire of movies.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
Originally posted by oddball: I loved MAD Magazine, subscribed to it for a couple of years in the early 70s. My favorites were artist Don Martin, "The Lighter Side of..." and of course Mort Drucker and his satire of movies.
My favorite artwork of his was the parody of the 1967 Bonnie & Clyde movie. The last page (unfortunately I can't find it anywhere, hence the image above) depicts the characters as Nazis. The longer you look at it, the more little details and touches come out, even the tattooed human skin lampshade.
I loved the Don Martin cartoons.
And Sergio Aragones. This is one of his "The Shadow Knows" cartoons.
He also did "A Mad Look at ___", as well as the little cartoons in the page margins.This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,
July 06, 2025, 09:14 PM
Rey HRH
Nope. sorry. I don't remember those. I do remember the fold up back covers and the spy versus spy cartoons.
I remember one and it may have been against Nixon. Something like, "You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time..." and you fold it and it's Nixon saying, "But, now, here's where I'll prove Lincoln wrong!"
"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
July 07, 2025, 12:47 AM
egregore
quote:
I do remember the fold up back covers ...
"Here we go with another ridiculous Mad Fold-In!" Al Jaffee did those. He died a few years ago, aged 102. He continued to work until 99, including some 50 years at Mad.
July 07, 2025, 06:48 AM
Bassamatic
"Buy this magazine or we will shoot this dog"
.....never marry a woman who is mean to your waitress.
July 07, 2025, 12:42 PM
mr kablammo
quote:
Originally posted by Bassamatic: "Buy this magazine or we will shoot this dog"
That was National Lampoon but maybe Mad also did that cover.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye". The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, pilot and author, lost on mission, July 1944, Med Theatre.
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July 07, 2025, 02:36 PM
Calif Phil
Loved reading Mad magazine as a kid, was in the bookstore last week and saw a new Mad magazine, I know it's just rehashed old stuff, but was all set to buy it until I saw the $14.99 price tag.
July 07, 2025, 05:14 PM
Schmelby
What? Me worry?
July 08, 2025, 06:17 AM
egregore
Here is a typical "Fold-In".
If you fold it in you'll see Peanuts comic characters and the caption will read "Good Grief!" How anybody can even think this up, let alone draw it, blows my mind.
July 08, 2025, 08:30 PM
Bassamatic
quote:
Originally posted by mr kablammo:
quote:
Originally posted by Bassamatic: "Buy this magazine or we will shoot this dog"
That was National Lampoon but maybe Mad also did that cover.
Yes...you are absolutely right. They were both good mags.
.....never marry a woman who is mean to your waitress.
Al Jaffee did those. He died a few years ago, aged 102. He continued to work until 99, including some 50 years at Mad.
