RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Comic Books A question about MAD Magazine....

I was recently in the grocery story, picking up the neccessities of life (beer, porkrinds, bean and bacon soup, and saltines) when, as I passed the magazine rack, I took notice of the latest issue of Mad Magazine...

Now...I haven't read Mad in ages...I used to be a devoted reader in junior high, and I still have many of the early paperbacks laying around somewheres (I lucked into a collection of the 10 Mad paperbacks a few years ago at a yardsale for a steal, in almost perfect condition), but haven't picked up the magazine itself on a regular basis in quite some time. I think the last "current" issue I bought was around 1989, when they did the parody of the first "Batman" flick....

(CRACKED Magazine...on the other hand...I follow from time to time...for some odd reason I've always enjoyed their second rate form of humor)

Well..anyways, I'm flipping thru the current issue, and came to a startling surprise...

When did MAD start taking on advertisers? I always thought that it was the unwritten law of the late William Gaines that MAD would never do so, because without advertising MAD's humor could be kept objective.

Just curious.....

Hmmm....I can't really answer that question but I'll let you know that Butter is a big fan of Mad so maybe she knows.To me....Mad has lost a lot these days(not in its quality really but in its artists with the passing of Don Martin & others)..really,I only check it out for the Sergio Aragones stuff(his Episode II stuff in the latest issue was wayyy better than the movie...lol)

I was supriced when i saw the advertisments for the first time. I didnt like it. It started in march 2001 with the adding of color also.
this is what they said about it:

MAD
Editors note

As you may know, MAD has been an inovator in the magazine industry and now, beggining with this very issue you hold in your hands, we offer two exciting new concepts that are sure to revolutionize the magazine bussiness: color and advertising. Thats right, for the first time in history, a major publication will offer full color editorial pages and advertisement from important international companies. We are sure it's only matter of time before other publications will do what they always done --- follow our bold lead and offer their own color pages and advertisments. but you reader will be able to tell your friends that you saw MAD do it first.
the editors

Gaines must be rolling over in his grave right about now....