Mad #30
(November-December 1956)

EC, 1952 Series
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Volume
1
Price
0.25 USD
Pages
52
Indicia Frequency
Bi-monthly
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
E.C. Publications Inc.
Editing
Al Feldstein (credited as Albert B. Feldstein) (editor)

Issue Notes

First issue with modern Mad trademark Alfred E. Neuman, last issue with Kurtzman / Elder frame.

Alfred E. Neuman Says "What - Me Worry?" (Table of Contents)

Alfred E. Neuman / cover / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
Norman Mingo (signed); Harvey Kurtzman (frame, signed); Bill Elder (frame, signed)
Inks
Norman Mingo (signed); Harvey Kurtzman (frame, signed); Bill Elder (frame, signed)
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Characters
Alfred E. Neuman; elephant; donkey
Synopsis
Alfred is billed as a write-in candidate for president.
Reprints

B. F. Goodnrich Autoless - Because You Don't Need a Car, Just Tires (Table of Contents: 1)

B. F. Goodnrich Carsaver Tires / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Reed Crandall (signed)
Inks
Reed Crandall (signed)
Letters
typeset

Genre
satire-parody
Synopsis
Phony ad for tires from B. F. Goodnrich that don't need a car.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Parody of ad for B. F. Goodrich Tires. Script credit per info from Al Feldstein in the book Al Feldstein: The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Departments (Table of Contents: 2)

Vital Features / table of contents / 1 page (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
various
Inks
various
Letters
typeset

Genre
non-fiction
Synopsis
Art is excerpts from this issue. Quote under the masthead is from Abraham Lincoln.

Indexer Notes

First issue with a Department title for marginal text. Script credit per info from Al Feldstein in the book Al Feldstein: The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Elvis Pelvis (Table of Contents: 3)

Mass Hysteria Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Jack Davis
Inks
Jack Davis
Letters
typeset

Genre
satire-parody
Characters
Elvis Pelvis
Synopsis
Satirical look at various facets of Elvis Presley's style.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per info from Al Feldstein in the book Al Feldstein: The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Don't Sell Yourself Short! (Table of Contents: 4) (Expand) /

Elevators / advertisement / 0.22 page (report information)

Now... In Full color! (Table of Contents: 5) (Expand) /

Alfred E. Neuman / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.11 page (report information)

Random Samplings of Reader Mail (Table of Contents: 6)

Letters Dept. / letters page / 1.67 pages (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
typeset

Synopsis
Letters, mostly commenting on issue #29.

Indexer Notes

Art is excerpts from issue #29. Letters from Arnold Ferris; John Mahon; Richard Hagan; Gerald Rose; Tom Louis; Charles Forbisher; Walter Goober III; Herbie Dicker; Dave DeSilver; Michael Dworkin; Ken Schaber: Sam Cornell; Joseph Salas; Jeremy Millett; Doug Vance; Josef Trotsakov; Howard Landstrom; Dale Harris; Phil Shaw; William Zeckendorf; William Levitt; Walter Vaux; Steve Winchell and Hugh Cotterall.

Gunsmoked (Table of Contents: 7)

Western Dept. / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Jack Davis (signed)
Inks
Jack Davis (signed)
Letters
typeset

Genre
satire-parody; western-frontier
Characters
Madd Dillinger; Gambler Dan; Blacksmith Sam; Chestnut; Doc; Kiddie; Mayor Melvin
Synopsis
Quick recap of typical plots from the show.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Parody of tv show "Gunsmoke." Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Alfred E. Neuman Answers Your Questions (Table of Contents: 8)

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

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Don Martin (signed)
Inks
Don Martin (signed)
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Synopsis
Advice for a man who loves both his wife and taxidermy, but whose wife hates his taxidermy.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

The Manly Art of Self Defense (Table of Contents: 9)

Collector's Dept.: Rare Old Mayhem / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script
Edmund E. Price (original); ? (abridged captions)
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
typeset
Editing
Harvey Kurtzman

Genre
humor
Synopsis
Excerpts from a treatise on The Manly Art of Self Defense by Edmund E. Price, published 1867, with illustrations and new captions.

Indexer Notes

Illustrations may not be from the original text and do not necessarily describe the text they are shown with. The original text was not humorous; this feature is added by the new abridged captions. This story was inventory edited by Harvey Kurtzman. Info per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Scenes We'd Like To See: The Gladiator and the Empress (Table of Contents: 10)

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

Script
Phil Interlandi
Pencils
Phil Interlandi (signed)
Inks
Phil Interlandi (signed)
Letters
typeset

Genre
satire-parody; humor
Synopsis
A man is thrown into the gladiatorial ring and defeats a better armed opponent...but loses to a lion.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

MAD Builds a More Civilized Mouse Trap (Table of Contents: 11)

Beat-A-Path Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Jack Davis (signed)
Inks
Jack Davis (signed)
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Synopsis
Several supposedly civilized ways to trap and kill mice.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein. Self-references this article with a mouse reading it.

Motorist Beware! (Table of Contents: 12)

Fair Warning Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Bob Clarke (signed)
Inks
Bob Clarke (signed)
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Synopsis
Describes the escalating efforts of police to patrol highways unnoticed, including several of the latest unmarked vehicles.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein. "Totally MAD" CD collection incorrectly credited Herb Goldstein.

MAD Establishes an... Old Comic-Strip Characters' Home (Table of Contents: 13)

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

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Wally Wood (signed)
Inks
Wally Wood (signed)
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Characters
Little Nemo; Flip; Felix the Clown; Chief Wahoo; The Squirrel Cage Hitchhiker; Barnaby; Mr. O'Malley; Flyin' Jenny; Batman [Bruce Wayne]; Robin [Dick Grayson]; Brute Gentry; Ace Drummond; Tailspin Tommy; Barney Baxter; Peter Piltdown; Charlie; Min-nie; Shadrach the Hermit; The Spirit; Ebony; Commissioner Dolan; Scorchy Smith; Desperate Desmond; Hairbreadth Harry; Dickie Dare; Sappo; Professor Whottaschnozzle; Bunky; Fagon; The Family Upstairs; Doc Yak; The Bear; Silly Millie; Benny; Buster Brown; Tige the Bulldog; Just Kids; Grandpop; Baby; Mr. Branner the Policeman; Dinglehoofer; Dinglehoofer's Dog; Count Screwloose; Crazy Dog; Skeets; Skippy; Sooky; The Pussycat Princess; Mr. Jack; Krazy Kat; Ignatz Mouse; Offisa Pupp; Little Jimmy; The Kewpies; Rocky Mason; Mr.; Mrs.; Charlie Chan; The Nebbs; Desper't Ambrose; Pop [S'Matter Pop]; Pop [That's My Pop]; Son [That's My Pop]; The Timid Soul; Mama; Cedric; Pa; Don Winslow; Sgt. Pat; Pinky; Irish; Jimmy Dugan; Raymond; Puddinhead; the Reg'lar Fellers; Pop; Jerry on the Job; Daisybelle; Miss Fury; Toots; Casper; Alphonse; Gaston; Betty; Lester De Pester; Foxy Grandpa; Happy Hooligan; Maud the Mule; Panhandle Pete; The Yellow Kid; Napoleon, Uncle Elby; Clarence; Jane Arden; Apple Mary [Mary Worth]; Popeye's Goons; Homer Hoopee; Harold Teen; Pop; Shadow; Ming The Merciless; Brad; Dad; Abie the Agent; Aunt Eppie Hogg; Mickey McGuire; Pop Wortle; Flytrap Finnegan; The Skipper; Suitcase Simpson; The Powerful Katrinka; The Dwarf; The Terrible-Tempered Mr. Bang; The Toonerville Folks; Jet Scott; Beyond Mars characters
Synopsis
Discusses the idea of a retirement home of no-longer published comic strip characters, with a pinup of characters and numbered key.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein. Characters drawn in their original styles.

Bowling (Table of Contents: 14)

Sports Dept. / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script
Nick Meglin (idea); Al Feldstein (script)
Pencils
Jack Davis (signed)
Inks
Jack Davis
Letters
typeset

Genre
satire-parody; humor
Characters
John L. Lewis; Tommy Manville; Osgood Z'Beard
Synopsis
Shows the scoring, style tips, psychological underpinnings, and problems of bowling.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein. "Totally MAD" CD collection incorrectly credited Nick Meglin with script.

Collegiate Whimsey (Table of Contents: 15)

College Dept. / comic story / 3 pages (report information)

Script
Doug Rice (credited as Rice); Bill Davis; Parks; Ilnicki; Jerry Lee; Kent; Thomas
Pencils
Doug Rice (credited as Rice); Bill Davis; Parks; Ilnicki; Jerry Lee; Kent; Thomas
Inks
Doug Rice (credited as Rice); Bill Davis; Parks; Ilnicki; Jerry Lee; Kent; Thomas
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Characters
Galahad
Synopsis
Gag cartoons from the following college publications: Iowa State Green Gander; Harvard Lampoon; Stanford Chaparral; Florida Smoke Signals; Cornell Widow; Minnesota Daily; Michigan Gargoyle; California Pelican; U.C.L.A. Scop
Reprints
  • US in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #1 (1958) [Pitchers And Poachers strip from U.C.L.A. Scop only]
  • from Iowa State Green Gander (?) xxxx-xx-xx

    from Harvard Lampoon (?) xxxx-xx-xx

    from Stanford Chaparral (?) xxxx-xx-xx

    from Florida Smoke Signals (?) xxxx-xx-xx

    from Cornell Widow (?) xxxx-xx-xx

    from Minnesota Daily (?) xxxx-xx-xx

    from Michigan Gargoyle (?) xxxx-xx-xx

    from California Pelican (?) xxxx-xx-xx

    from U.C.L.A. Scop (?) xxxx-xx-xx

Indexer Notes

These are gag cartoons from college publications.

Not all contributors are identified by a signature. Some credits from "Totally MAD" CD collection. According to Al Feldstein this was inventory. Info from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Morbid Dick (Table of Contents: 16)

Movie Dept. / Movies Dept. / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Wally Wood
Inks
Wally Wood
Letters
typeset

Genre
satire-parody; humor
Characters
Captain Aslob [Legory Peck]; Fishmeal [Richard Basehearted]; Queeg-Queeg; Father Maplesyrup [Osome Bells]; Morbid Dick; Mr. Starstruck [Lee O'Genn]
Synopsis
Tells the tale of the ill-fated voyage of the Peckwad in a vain attempt to kill the white whale.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Parody of movie "Moby Dick." Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Alfred E. Neuman Answers Your Questions (Table of Contents: 17)

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

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Don Martin (signed)
Inks
Don Martin (signed)
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Synopsis
Advice to a man whose girlfriend's father threatens that the man will only marry his daughter over his dead body.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

A Medal for Horatius (Table of Contents: 18)

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

Script
W. Hall (credited as W. C. Hall)
Pencils
Wally Wood
Inks
Wally Wood
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Synopsis
Series of mock memos from Roman Military regarding heroic action of one Gaius Gaius Horatius, showing how politics trumps truth.

Indexer Notes

Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection. Inventory story.

What's Happened to the... Pulp Magazines? (Table of Contents: 19)

Literature Dept. / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script
James Blish
Pencils
Bill Elder (signed)
Inks
Bill Elder (signed)
Letters
typeset
Editing
Harvey Kurtzman

Genre
satire-parody; humor
Characters
Fenwick; "Red" Herring; Maren
Synopsis
Various genres of pulp stories are all given the same treatment, showing underlying similarity.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

This was an inventory story. Info per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein. Final page includes four phony ads: "Make Money", "Learn To Draw", "Mental Science", and "Monuments."

A Saw Screams at Midnight (Table of Contents: 20)

Band-Aid Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script
C. Reiner (credited as Carl Reiner)
Pencils
? (photo)
Inks
? (photo)
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Characters
Carl Reiner
Synopsis
Techniques for using a band saw.

Indexer Notes

Inventory story.

MAD Merit Badges (Table of Contents: 21)

Awards Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Jack Davis
Inks
Jack Davis
Letters
typeset

Genre
satire-parody; humor
Synopsis
Scout-type merit badges for everyday lazy, loutish clods.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Walt Dizzy Presents Dizzyland (Table of Contents: 22)

TV Dept. / T.V. Dept. / Television Dept. / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Wally Wood
Inks
Wally Wood
Letters
typeset

Genre
satire-parody; humor
Characters
Walt Dizzy; unnamed fairy; Jimmy Dood; Ozgood Zeiss; Sigismund Sponk; Davy Crawcutt; Mike Finque; Walt Dizzy's animated characters
Synopsis
Behind the scenes look at the 5 worlds of Dizzyland: Tomorrowsland, Frontrearland, Adventuresland, Fantasticland, Moneyland.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein. Animated characters are not named but include: Pluto, Pinnochio; Big Bad Wolf; Thumper; Dumbo; birds and mice from Sleeping Beauty; Morty Mouse; Ferdie Mouse; Bambi; Jimminy Cricket; Nana; Donald Duck; Mickey Mouse; Brer Bear; Brer Rabbit; one of Three Little Pigs; Lady; Tramp; Grumpy; Sleepy; Dopey; Doc; Happy; Sneezy; Fox; Mr. Toad.

Alfred E. Neuman Answers Your Questions (Table of Contents: 23)

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

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Don Martin (signed)
Inks
Don Martin (signed)
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Synopsis
Advice for a girl who's being stalked by a boy.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Vital Items You Can Buy for a Quarter (Table of Contents: 24) (Expand) /

Mad Magazine / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[Marginal Thinking] (Table of Contents: 25)

Nobody Asked Us, But - Dept. / text article / 0 pages (report information)

Script
Arnie Rosen; Coleman Jacoby
Letters
typeset

Genre
humor
Synopsis
One sentence observations on pop culture.
Reprints

Indexer Notes

In margins of 20 pages of the magazine. Copyright 1955 by Variety.

[untitled] (Table of Contents: 26)

Alfred E. Neuman / illustration / 1 page (report information)

Script
Al Feldstein
Pencils
Norman Mingo (signed); Harvey Kurtzman (frame, signed); Bill Elder (frame, signed); Jack David (background figures, signed)
Inks
Norman Mingo (signed); Harvey Kurtzman (frame, signed); Bill Elder (frame, signed); Jack David (background figures, signed)
Colors
?

Genre
humor
Characters
Alfred E. Neuman; Pogo; Liberace; Jerry Lewis; Dean Martin; Mona Lisa; Edward R. Murrow; Groucho Marks; Lone Ranger; Mad Hatter; Robert E. Lee; Jackie Gleason; Mickey Mantle; Steve Allen; Ed Sullivan; Dick Tracy; Elvis Presley; Mickey Mouse; Melvin Cowznofski; Little Orphan Annie; Smilin' Jack; Phil Silvers; Nikita Kruschev; Popeye

Indexer Notes

View of front cover scene from behind Alfred, as if frame is drawn on front of a piece of glass, looking at an audience. Additional characters appear that indexer did not recognize. Melvin Cowznofski is the older drawing of Alfred E. Neuman as identified in some earlier issues of Mad. Script credit per Al Feldstein, from the book Feldstein:The Mad Life and Fantastic Art of Al Feldstein.

Editing
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
  1. 0. Alfred E. Neuman Says "What - Me Worry?"
    Alfred E. Neuman
  2. 1. B. F. Goodnrich Autoless - Because You Don't Need a Car, Just Tires
    B. F. Goodnrich Carsaver Tires
  3. 2. Departments
    Vital Features
  4. 3. Elvis Pelvis
    Mass Hysteria Dept.
  5. 4. Don't Sell Yourself Short!
    Elevators
  6. 5. Now... In Full color!
    Alfred E. Neuman
  7. 6. Random Samplings of Reader Mail
    Letters Dept.
  8. 7. Gunsmoked
    Western Dept.
  9. 8. Alfred E. Neuman Answers Your Questions
    Advice Dept.
  10. 9. The Manly Art of Self Defense
    Collector's Dept.: Rare Old Mayhem
  11. 10. Scenes We'd Like To See: The Gladiator and the Empress
    Hollywood Dept.
  12. 11. MAD Builds a More Civilized Mouse Trap
    Beat-A-Path Dept.
  13. 12. Motorist Beware!
    Fair Warning Dept.
  14. 13. MAD Establishes an... Old Comic-Strip Characters' Home
    Nostalgia Dept.
  15. 14. Bowling
    Sports Dept.
  16. 15. Collegiate Whimsey
    College Dept.
  17. 16. Morbid Dick
    Movie Dept. / Movies Dept.
  18. 17. Alfred E. Neuman Answers Your Questions
    Advice Dept.
  19. 18. A Medal for Horatius
    History Dept.
  20. 19. What's Happened to the... Pulp Magazines?
    Literature Dept.
  21. 20. A Saw Screams at Midnight
    Band-Aid Dept.
  22. 21. MAD Merit Badges
    Awards Dept.
  23. 22. Walt Dizzy Presents Dizzyland
    TV Dept. / T.V. Dept. / Television Dept.
  24. 23. Alfred E. Neuman Answers Your Questions
    Advice Dept.
  25. 24. Vital Items You Can Buy for a Quarter
    Mad Magazine
  26. 25. [Marginal Thinking]
    Nobody Asked Us, But - Dept.
  27. 26. [untitled]
    Alfred E. Neuman
This issue was modified by, among others
  • Katie
  • mcomics
  • Chris Boyko
  • Nick Caputo
  • Hector G. DueƱas G.
  • Gregory Fischer
  • Merlin Haas
  • Katy Hayhurst
  • Donald Dale Milne
  • Mike Nielsen
  • Jim Van Dore
  • Jim Walls