Mad #38

(March 1958)

The Story Behind the Cover (Table of Contents: 1)

J. Fred Muggs / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

? (photo)

Inks

? (photo)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

J. Fred Muggs

Synopsis

Photos of the artist at work and claims to be the first magazine cover ever painted by a chimpanzee.

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover.

Departments (Table of Contents: 2)

Vital Features / foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

various

Inks

various

Letters

typeset

Genre

non-fiction

Indexer Notes

Art is excerpts from this issue. First masthead quote by Alfred E. Neuman. Lists Frank Jacobs, Tom Koch, Albert Meglin, E. Nelson Bridwell, Paul Krassner, and Paul Laikin as writers and Nick Megliola for ideas, but unknown for which articles.

Wha' for...Sports Cars (Table of Contents: 3)

Bumper Crop Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Dave Berg

Pencils

Bob Clarke (signed)

Inks

Bob Clarke (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

Things sports cars can do that normal-size cars cannot.

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)
• in Fighting Mad (ibooks, 2004 series) (August 2004)

Indexer Notes

Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

These Eight Great Americans... (Table of Contents: 4)

Mad Magazine / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.33 page (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Synopsis

House ad for subscriptions to MAD.

Only a Few Left! (Table of Contents: 5)

Alfred E. Neuman / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.17 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Norman Mingo (painting)

Inks

Norman Mingo (painting)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Alfred E. Neuman

Synopsis

House ad for pinups suitable for framing.

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

Letters Dept. / letters page / 1.1 pages (report information)

Script

Al Feldstein; Bob Foster; John Cruz

Pencils

various; ? (photo)

Inks

various; ? (photo)

Letters

typeset

Characters

Prince Charles of England

Synopsis

Letters of comment, mostly about issue #37. Identifies the MAD staff members who posed for Winsten ad in issue #37. The letters were written by Lawrence Bruce Ashin, Dan Duryea, Clifton Bean, George French, Myron Bloom; Barbara S., J. Vogdes, Daniel Tillmanns, J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Skolnik, Bill Sullivan, Richard Stratton, Thadeus Gontarski, Dick Manlin, Guy Berry, Roy Russell, Charles Myers, and Harry Wallace.

Indexer Notes

Art is excerpts from issue #37, except for photo of Prince Charles.

Statement of Ownership (Table of Contents: 7)

statement of ownership / 0.07 page (report information)

Script

Bill Gaines

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Publisher: William M. Gaines; Editor: Albert B. Feldstein; Owner: E.C. Publications, Inc. [William M. Gaines; V. E. McAdie; J. K. Gaines].

For September, 1957.

Why Be Obscure? (Table of Contents: 8)

MAD Jewelry / promo (ad from the publisher) / 0.33 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Carl Klein (photo); Romeo Serry (photo touchup)

Inks

Carl Klein (photo); Romeo Serry (photo touchup)

Letters

typeset

Characters

Alfred E. Neuman

Synopsis

House ad for Alfred E. Neuman jewelry designed by Astrahan of NY.

MAD's Revised New Up-to-Date Alphabet Book (Table of Contents: 9)

Now Johnny Can Read Dept. / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Bob Clarke (signed)

Inks

Bob Clarke (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

A rhyming alphabet using modern culture items, pastimes, and people.

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)

Mike Malice Interviews Mother Goose (Table of Contents: 10)

Mike Fright Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Dave Berg

Pencils

Mort Drucker

Inks

Mort Drucker

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Characters

Mike Malice; Mother Goose

Synopsis

Mike interviews Mother Goose in his hard-hitting style, but gets no answers.

Reprints

• in The Worst from MAD (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)

Indexer Notes

Parody of Mike Wallace tv interviews. Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

Blood, Guts, a Roscoe & You (Table of Contents: 11)

The "Eyes" Have It Dept. / comic story / 3 pages (report information)

Script

Tom Koch (credited as Mickey Spitoon) (sourced)

Pencils

George Woodbridge (signed)

Inks

George Woodbridge (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Mike Chisel; Sexina; Diane Wilkinson

Synopsis

Mike is hired for a case but solves nothing, as the pictures show what really happened versus the typical detective novel text.

Reprints

• in Fighting Mad (ibooks, 2004 series) (August 2004)

Outstanding Americans: Arthur A. Freen (Table of Contents: 12)

Unsung Heroes Dept. / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Don Martin (signed)

Pencils

Don Martin (signed); ? (photo)

Inks

Don Martin (signed); ? (photo)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Arthur A. Freen

Synopsis

After a series of disastrous automotive inventions beginning in 1934, Arthur invents the Ford Edsel in 1957.

Reprints

• in The Worst from MAD (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)
• in The Ides of Mad (New American Library, 1961 series) #S1914 (March 1961) [reformatted], #D2384 (October 1963)

Indexer Notes

Labeled as The First In A Series. Last panel includes a photo.

Strangely Believe It! (Table of Contents: 13)

Ernie Kovacs Dept. / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Ernie Kovacs (credited)

Pencils

Wally Wood

Inks

Wally Wood

Letters

Wally Wood

Genre

satire-parody; humor

Characters

Ernie Kovacs; Armand K. Frechette; Arthur K. Limbish

Synopsis

A parody of Ripley's Believe It Or Not.

Reprints

• in Mad for Decades (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2007 series) (2007)

Indexer Notes

Armand looks like Ernie Kovacs.

Crazy Mixed-Up Mismatched Matchbook Covers (Table of Contents: 14)

Close Cover Before Reading Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Frank Jacobs

Pencils

Bob Clarke (signed)

Inks

Bob Clarke (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Alfred E. Neuman

Synopsis

Matchbook covers whose front and back do not match, supposedly produced by Alfred when he worked for a matchbook company.

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)

Indexer Notes

Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

MAD Invitations (Table of Contents: 15)

R.S.V.P. Dept. / text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Laikin

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

Phony invitations to improbable celebrity social events.

Indexer Notes

Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

Nobody Has Any Fun at Parties (Table of Contents: 16)

Likewise I'm Sure Dept. / comic story / 3 pages (report information)

Script

Frank Jacobs

Pencils

Wally Wood

Inks

Wally Wood

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Harry; Sadie

Synopsis

A party that never gets going because the guests spend all night introducing themselves to each other.

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)
• in Fighting Mad (ibooks, 2004 series) (August 2004)

Indexer Notes

Nearly all guests are celebrities, though unnamed. Harry and Sadie resemble Dagwood and Blondie Bumstead. Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

Baby Sitting May Ruin Our Nation! (Table of Contents: 17)

The Patter of Big Feet Dept. / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

Script

Dave Berg (signed)

Pencils

Dave Berg (signed)

Inks

Dave Berg (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

Details what could happen if crime syndicates take over baby sitting and advises parents to just stay home.

Strangely Believe It! (Table of Contents: 18)

Ernie Kovacs Dept. / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Ernie Kovacs (credited)

Pencils

Wally Wood

Inks

Wally Wood

Letters

Wally Wood

Genre

satire-parody; humor

Characters

Ernie Kovacs; Elizabeth Donahue Forsney; George Jones

Synopsis

Parody of Ripley's Believe It Or Not.

MAD Wallpaper (Table of Contents: 19)

Inferior Decoration Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Al Meglin

Pencils

Bob Clarke (signed)

Inks

Bob Clarke (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

Ideas for wallpapers with purpose instead of decoration.

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)
• in Fighting Mad (ibooks, 2004 series) (August 2004)

How Neurotic Are You? (Table of Contents: 20)

Sick, Sick, Sick Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Laikin

Pencils

George Woodbridge

Inks

George Woodbridge

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

Quiz to see if you suffer from common pop culture neuroses.

Reprints

• in The Worst from MAD (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)
• in Mad about the Fifties (Little, Brown, 1997 series) (1997)
• in Fighting Mad (ibooks, 2004 series) (August 2004)
• in Mad for Decades (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2007 series) (2007)

Indexer Notes

Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

MAD Looks at Endorsements (Table of Contents: 21)

Money Talks Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Frank Jacobs

Pencils

Bob Clarke (signed)

Inks

Bob Clarke (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody; humor

Characters

Mickey Mantle; Jayne Mansfield; King Ibn Saud; Elvis Presley; Nikita Krushchev; Rin Tin Tin; Alfred E. Neuman

Synopsis

Phony ads showing how little connection there often is between a celebrity and the product they endorse.

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)
• in The Ides of Mad (New American Library, 1961 series) #S1914 (March 1961) [reformatted], #D2384 (October 1963)

The National Bannister Sliding Contests (Table of Contents: 22)

Bob & Ray Dept. / comic story / 3 pages (report information)

Script

Bob Elliott (credited); Ray Goulding (credited)

Pencils

Mort Drucker (signed)

Inks

Mort Drucker (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Characters

Bob Elliott; Ray Goulding; Wally Ballew; Speed Harley

Synopsis

An interview from the site of the contest, where we watch several contestants crash through the floor at the end of the bannister.

TV Scenes We'd Like to See (Table of Contents: 23)

TV Dept. / T.V. Dept. / Television Dept. / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

E. Nelson Bridwell

Pencils

Joe Orlando (signed)

Inks

Joe Orlando (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody; humor

Characters

Joe Friday; Ed; Ed Sullivan; Alfred E. Neuman; Bennett Cerf; John Daly; The Lone Ranger; Tonto; Melvin Cowznofski; Ralph Edwards; Michael Anthony; Mike Todd; Elizabeth Taylor

Synopsis

Scenes from the following tv shows with unusual outcomes: Dragnet; $64,000 Question; Ed Sullivan Show; What's My Line; The Lone Ranger; This Is Your Life!; If You Had A Million.

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)
• in Fighting Mad (ibooks, 2004 series) (August 2004)

Indexer Notes

Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

Bitter Homes and Gardens (Table of Contents: 24)

The House That Jerk Built Dept. / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Tom Koch

Pencils

Wally Wood

Inks

Wally Wood

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody; humor

Characters

Durwood Burnstore; Boodie Burnstore; Emil Diefendorfer; Dr. Whitney Pfluger; Hiram Pitnik; Buford Sternwallow; Alfred E. Neuman

Synopsis

Satire of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, with articles on home remodeling and tips for the handyman.

Reprints

• in The Worst from MAD (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)
• in Mad about the Fifties (Little, Brown, 1997 series) (1997)
• in Fighting Mad (ibooks, 2004 series) (August 2004)
• in Mad for Decades (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2007 series) (2007)

In A Field of Daisies (Table of Contents: 25)

Don Martin Dept. / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

Don Martin (signed)

Pencils

Don Martin (signed)

Inks

Don Martin (signed)

Genre

humor

Synopsis

Two men walking through a field discover on oversized flower, which one of them has somehow connected to a gag spray bulb.

Reprints

• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)

Vilecream Grooms the Self-Loving (Table of Contents: 26)

Vilecream / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Kelly Freas (signed)

Inks

Kelly Freas (signed)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Synopsis

Phony ad for Vilecream hair cream.

Reprints

• in The Worst from MAD (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)

Indexer Notes

Parody of Brylcreem ad.

MAD Definitions (Table of Contents: 27)

Marginal Thinking Dept. / text article / 0 pages (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

humor

Synopsis

Redefined word definitions.

Reprints

• in The Worst from MAD (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)
• in More Trash from Mad (EC, 1958 series) #2 (1959)

Indexer Notes

In margins of 23 pages of the issue.

New Kind of Cigar Even Fills Itself By Itself - With Ink (Table of Contents: 28)

Barker 61 Capillary Cigar / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Kelly Freas (signed) (painting)

Inks

Kelly Freas (signed) (painting)

Colors

Kelly Freas (signed) (painting)

Letters

typeset

Genre

satire-parody

Synopsis

Phony ad for cigar.

Reprints

• in Mad about the Fifties (Little, Brown, 1997 series) (1997) [back cover]

Indexer Notes

Parody of ad for Parker self-filling pen. Character is clearly Ernie Kovacs but there is a disclaimer that it is a look-alike. Back cover.