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This is the official Press release from April coinciding with MAD Magazine's 45 birthday.
NEW YORK, April 1, 1997 -- Coinciding with its 45th Anniversary, MAD Magazine is relaunching today, announced co-editors Nick Meglin and John Ficarra. The "new, unimproved" MAD will debut with a distinctive new cover look, new characters, new contributors and an even edgier attitude that reaches unprecedented levels of stupidity and bad taste. The new cover design features an ornate border of sight gags commenting on the latest fads, trends and current events. "The new logo is similar to the former one, but is slanted . . . to reflect MAD's new slant on humor," said MAD's PR firm, desperate to make it sound significant. The infamous "What Me Worry?" kid, Alfred E. Neuman (conveniently and suspiciously also celebrating his birthday on April 1) will continue to spoil the covers of the magazine. New writers and artists added to the "Usual Gang of Idiots" include former Rolling Stone cartoonist of the year Peter Kuper; Girltalk editor Peggy Doody; cartoonist Bill Wray; award-winning illustrator R.J. Matson; Anthony "Uppercut" Barbieri; former Home Improvement writer B.K Taylor; and artists Kevin Pope and Timothy Shamey. "Some of the faces and names at MAD may have changed, but it remains the undisputed 'must read' humor magazine that stimulates the mind, challenges the imagination and, most importantly, makes you laugh," commented Sadie Blane, cleaning lady at 1700 Broadway, MAD's headquarters. "MAD Magazine has managed to carve out a lasting niche in American pop culture," said MAD's founder, the deceased, but inexplicably still talkative, William M. Gaines. "The magazine will continue to take no survivors, while providing controversial observations on pop culture," he continued. Several new features join the classic group of MAD creations. First, there's Monroe, the ongoing story of a hopelessly angst-ridden pre-pubescent teen, illustrated by Bill Wray and written by Anthony Barbieri. The Melvin & Jenkins Guides To. . . demonstrate, by example, the right ways and the wrong ways to get through life. In the premiere installment, on Personal Fitness: "Jenkins begins a new training regiment by taking it slowly to avoid injury. Melvin still pees blood from the time his friends bet him he couldn't lift the washing machine!" The feature is illustrated by Kevin Pope and written by Desmond Devlin. Spy vs. Spy will continue to present the ridiculous adventures of the Black and White Spies as they chase each other across MAD's pages. But the stories will now unfold with an updated air-brushed look provided by the deft hand of artist Peter Kuper. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article MAD Magazine's 45 Anniversary in Comic Books is owned by Robert Smithers. Permission to republish MAD Magazine's 45 Anniversary in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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