Mad #24

(July 1955)

Headache? Cold Misery? (Table of Contents: 1)

Bofforin / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Synopsis

Phony ad for Bofforin pain reliever.

Reprints

• in Mad for Keeps (Crown Publishers, 1958 series) (July 1958)
• in Mad about the Fifties (Little, Brown, 1997 series) (1997) [from inside front cover]
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Parody of Bufferin ad. Inside front cover.
Script credit identified in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4.

Extremely Important Message from the Editors (Table of Contents: 2)

comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Harvey Kurtzman

Inks

Harvey Kurtzman

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

Message is, "Please Buy This Magazine."

Reprints

• in Mad (Thorpe & Porter, 1959 series) #1 ([October 1959])
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

She Wanted to Drown Her Troubles (Table of Contents: 3)

Gluggle! / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Wally Wood

Inks

Wally Wood

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Characters

Jane Outsell

Synopsis

Phony ad for movie "Gluggle!"

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Parody of ad for movie "Underwater!" Also mentions movie credits for: Howard Huge; Eli Lectric; Manny Tshark; Myrtle Turtle; Eben Tide; Ty Dalwave.
Script credit identified in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4.

Contents (Table of Contents: 4)

table of contents / 1 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

? (photo)

Inks

? (photo)

Letters

typeset

Characters

Roger Price; Bernard Shir-Cliff; Ernie Kovacs; Ira Wallach

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Includes a brief summary of contents with photos of some contributors. Layout appears similar to Playboy table of contents pages.

I Dreamed I Walked down 5th Avenue in My Ironmaidenfit (Table of Contents: 5)

Ironmaidenfit / comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Synopsis

Phony ad for Ironmaidenfit bras.

Reprints

• in Mad for Keeps (Crown Publishers, 1958 series) (July 1958)
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Parody of Maidenform bra ad.

Letters Dept. (Table of Contents: 6)

Letters Dept. / letters page / 1 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

various

Inks

various

Letters

typeset

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Art is excerpts from previous issues.
Script credit confirmed in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4.

Are You Ever Lovely to Love? (Table of Contents: 7)

MMboy / comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Synopsis

Phony ad for MMBoy Cream Deodorant.

Reprints

• in Mad for Keeps (Crown Publishers, 1958 series) (July 1958)
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Is a Trip to the Moon Possible? (Table of Contents: 8)

Science Dept. / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Wally Wood

Inks

Wally Wood

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Dr. X Fline Saucer; Captain Buck Roger; Melvin Cowznowski; Commander Zork Argh

Synopsis

A humorous look at the problems and joys of travel to the moon.

Reprints

• in Mad for Keeps (Crown Publishers, 1958 series) (July 1958)
• in Mad (BSV - Williams, 1967 series) #9 (1968)
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Report from Russia (Table of Contents: 9)

News Dept. / text article / 1 page (report information)

Script

Hans Christian Andersen

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Letters

?; typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Tel-Tapper-Phoner; Watchbug

Synopsis

A supposed look into Russian thought...in Russian (Cyrillic script).

Reprints

• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #5 (24331) (January 1975) [illustration only], #25283 [5] (June 1976)
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Includes a propaganda cartoon, "This Is a Tel-Tapper-Phoner," which is reprinted in Brothers Mad, The. The Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection, may indicate the text is actually a story by the Danish author, written in Russian.

Out of the Frying Pan and into the Soup (Table of Contents: 10)

Literature Dept. / text story / 3 pages (report information)

Script

I. Wallach (credited as Ira Wallach)

Pencils

Bernie Krigstein (signed)

Inks

Bernie Krigstein (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody; humor

Characters

Ernest Heminghaw [Pappa]; Private First Class; Pierre; Mignonette; a driver

Synopsis

A tangled story of a retired army private and his granddaughter.

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Billed as, "The first part of a ½ part novel." Author listed as "Eli Wallach" in issue but "Totally MAD" CD collection lists as "Ira Wallach," same as a story in issue #26.

Wrestling (Table of Contents: 11)

Sports Dept. / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody; humor

Characters

Kid Kindyouth; Offensive Herman; Art Rottencore; Reggie Spoilsport; Tom Strongheart; Dick Stoutfellow; Yukon Klondike; Antonio Rockingchair; Gomez Addams (cameo); Morticia Addams (cameo); Pugsley Addams (cameo); Frankenstein's monster (cameo)

Synopsis

A humorous look at professional wrestling matches, using all the stereotypes in the sport.

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #1 (1958)
• in Mad (BSV - Williams, 1967 series) #8 (1968)
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Comics Digest (Table of Contents: 12)

Newspaper Comics Dept.; Brunette; Little Orphan Melvin; Smilin' Melvin; Lil' Ab'r; Dick Tracing; Popcorn; Manduck the Magician / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters

?

Genre

satire-parody

Characters

Brunette; Dogwood; Punjoke; Little Orphan Melvin; Daddy Peacebucks; Little Melvin Rooney; Smilin' Melvin; Upwind Johnson; Lil' Ab'r; Mammy Jokeum; Dick Tracing; Chief; Junior; Popcorn kids; Manduck the Magician; Loathar

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #1 (1958) [retitled]
• in The Brothers Mad (Ballantine Books, 1958 series) #5 (U2105) (December 1963), #5 (U2105) (December 1963), #5 (U2105) (December 1963), #5 (U2105) (December 1963), #5 (U2105) (December 1963), #5 (U2105) (December 1963), #5 (U2105) (December 1963) [Parody of newspaper comic Blondie.], #5 (24331) (January 1975), #5 (24331) (January 1975), #5 (24331) (January 1975), #25283 [5] (June 1976), #25283 [5] (June 1976), #25283 [5] (June 1976)
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Single strip parodies of newspaper comics: Blondie; Little Orphan Annie; Smilin' Jack; Lil' Abner; Dick Tracy; Peanuts; Mandrake the Magician. Title from contents page.

Classy Crimes #138: Who Put the Strichnine in Mrs. Murphy's Husband? (Table of Contents: 13)

Crime Dept. / text story / 3 pages (report information)

Script

Bernard Shir-Cliff

Pencils

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor; crime; satire-parody

Characters

Dr. Milo Quackenbush; Francis L. Guteberger; Alfred L. Neuman; Seamus Murphy; Voona Murphy; Vasily Vaselodovich Orang-outang; Fothergill; Rosencrantz

Synopsis

Detective Francis L. Guteberger investigates the murder of Seamus Murphy.

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Alfred L. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman, whose picture also appears with no name.

Anyone Can Build This Coffee Table (Table of Contents: 14)

Do It Yourself Dept. / comic story / 3 pages (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody; drama

Synopsis

Bogus instructions on how to build a coffee table complete with a potted plant sitting on the table.

Reprints

• in Mad for Keeps (Crown Publishers, 1958 series) (July 1958)
• in Mad about the Fifties (Little, Brown, 1997 series) (1997)
• in Mad for Decades (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2007 series) (2007)
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Is This Your Life? (Table of Contents: 15)

TV Dept. / T.V. Dept. / Television Dept. / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Bill Elder

Inks

Bill Elder

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody; humor

Characters

Raoul Phedwards; Melvin Furd; Shiloh Culpepper; Sabrina Voom; Sheldon Scrounge; Alfred L. Neuman; Brunhilda Furd; Furd children; Furd's mother; Furd's father; Furd's sister; Furd's brother; Lone Ranger (cameo); Snap (cameo); Crackle (cameo); Pop (cameo); Santa Claus (cameo); Smith Brothers (cameo); Quaker Oats Man (cameo); Edward R. Murrow (cameo); Winston Churchill (cameo); Joe McCarthy (cameo); Harry Truman (cameo); Liberace (cameo); Abraham Lincoln (cameo); Bing Crosby (cameo); Bob Hope (cameo); Marlon Brando (cameo); Marilyn Monroe (cameo); Joe Friday (cameo); Aunt Jemima (cameo); Arthur Godfrey (cameo); Jackie Gleason (cameo); Douglas MacArthur (cameo); Groucho Marx (cameo); Donald Duck (cameo); Dean Martin (cameo); Prince Albert (in a can, cameo); others (cameo);

Synopsis

Melvin Furd is nearly killed during the show, which features family, friends, enemies and someone he doesn't even know.

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Parody of tv show "This Is Your Life." Alfred L. Neuman bears no physical resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman.

Tom Swifft and His Electric Ping Pong Ball (Table of Contents: 16)

Classics Dept. / text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Ernie Kovacs (credited as Victor Applesauce)

Pencils

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Tom Swifft; Professor Harding; Six-Torso [Ramona Popkin]

Synopsis

Tom's invention is stolen by a Russian spy.

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

A Guide for Future Job Hunters (Table of Contents: 17)

Education Dept. / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Harvey Kurtzman

Inks

Harvey Kurtzman

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

A series of phony graphs explaining employment statistics.

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Script and art credits identified in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4.

How to Get the Job You Want by Thinking Positively and Also Get Ahead by Learning My Five Rules That Will Give You a New and Unbelievable Positive Personality and Help You Achieve Success (Table of Contents: 18)

Education Dept. / text article / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Roger Price

Pencils

Harvey Kurtzman

Inks

Harvey Kurtzman

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

Five foolish rules for building a positive personality for yourself.

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Includes one illustration.
Art credits identified in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4.

Vera's Cruz (Table of Contents: 19)

Movie Dept. / Movies Dept. / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Jack Davis (signed)

Inks

Jack Davis (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody; humor

Characters

Burt Lambaster; Gary Chickencooper; Seezer Romeo; Emperor Maxamillion; Denice Parcel; Melvin Cowznowski; Sarita Vavavoom

Synopsis

Two men sign on to guard a gold and guns shipment, but are also out to steal it for themselves.

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

A parody of the movie "Veracruz."

If You Suffer Pain (Table of Contents: 20)

Anasprin / comic story / 0.11 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Harvey Kurtzman

Inks

Harvey Kurtzman

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Characters

Melvin Coznowski [Alfred E. Neuman]

Synopsis

Phony ad for Anasprin.

Reprints

• in Son of Mad (New American Library, 1959 series) #S1701 (October 1959)
• in Son of Mad (Warner Books, 1974 series) #7 (88-760) (January 1979)
• in The Son of Mad (ibooks, 2003 series) (August 2003)
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Parody of both Anacin and aspirin ads. Character is unamed.
Script and art credits identified in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4.

When the Talk Turns to Books Do You Find Yourself Saying: "Hoo Hah?" (Table of Contents: 21) (Expand) /

The MAD Reader / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.11 page (report information)

Pictoquiz (Table of Contents: 22)

Puzzle Dept. / activity / 1.45 pages (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Jack Davis

Inks

Jack Davis

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Alfred E. Neuman; Wanda Furd

Synopsis

A quiz where none of the answers makes sense.

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Alfred E. Neuman is name given to several celebrities pictured, one of which is actually him (although it was not officially his name as yet).

Are You Walking Around like a Human Question Mark? (Table of Contents: 23)

Rubbaban / comic story / 0.33 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Bill Elder

Inks

Bill Elder

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Synopsis

Phony ad for Rubbaban women's foundation garments.

Reprints

• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Script credit identified in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4.

In These Danger Periods Your Skin "Dies" a Little (Table of Contents: 24)

Pund's Cold Cream / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Jack Davis

Inks

Jack Davis

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Characters

Camenbert, Duchess of Fromage

Synopsis

Phony ad for Pund's Cold Cream.

Reprints

• in Mad (Thorpe & Porter, 1959 series) #1 ([October 1959])
• in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4 (2012 [January 2013])

Indexer Notes

Parody of Pond's Cold Cream ad.
Script credit identified in The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #4.

Never Before a Bandage That Sticks like This! (Table of Contents: 25)

Bind-Aig / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks

Bill Elder (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Synopsis

Phony ad for Bind-Aig adhesive bandages.

Reprints

• in Mad for Keeps (Crown Publishers, 1958 series) (July 1958)

Indexer Notes

Parody of Band-Aid ad. On inside back cover.

When I'm Eating Jell-y I Wish I Were a Human Being (Table of Contents: 26)

Jell-y / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Harvey Kurtzman

Pencils

Bill Elder (signed)

Inks

Bill Elder (signed)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Synopsis

Phony ad for Jell-y dessert.

Indexer Notes

Parody of Jell-O ad. On back cover.