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Archie "From Here to Eternity" parodies; 3-D comic spoof; nudity panels
MAD was known for their clever novelty covers, from this early example, designed to look like Reader’s Digest or some other milquetoast 50’s publication, the staff at MAD couldn’t contain their satire to the interior of the book for long. The early comedic cover illustrations quickly gave way to a variety of experimental covers, from copying the look of a school notebook to the infamous fold in back covers, responsible for many surviving issues being in lower grades, MAD was forever stretching the limitations of what could be done with comics, and later, magazines. But this is one of the earliest incidences of using the format of comics as a form of parody, lampooning the look of a “normal” periodical of the era. The trend would culminate with the inclusion of Alfred E. Neuman taking part in every cover for decades, appearing in everything from 60s psychedelia to 80s sci-fi films. This book is another of the important early issues that signaled the staying power MAD would have once the book hit its stride. Targets in this issue include Archie, 3-D comics, “From Here to Eternity,” and much more.