GENRE: YA Magazine for BoysTitle: MAD Magazine
Editorial Staff: Charlie Kadau, John Ficarra and Joe Raoila
Bibliographic Information:
Publisher: DC Comics
Universal Magazine Code (UMC): 8446
Website: http://www.dccomics.com/mad/
Grades 9 and up
Reading Level: 6 and up
Reader’s Annotation:
Universal Magazine Code (UMC): 8446
Website: http://www.dccomics.com/mad/
Grades 9 and up
Reading Level: 6 and up
Reader’s Annotation:
A satirical magazine for everyone, but is listed as “one of the top ten hottest magazines for boys by http://www.laietyzine.com/, this magazine has been influencing and making boys laugh since 1952 and is still going strong!
Plot Summary:
Mad Magazine is an irreverent look at America, and all of its cultural problems and newsworthy issues. It still features Alfred E. Newman, the “face” of the magazine since 1955. If a story is in front of the public and MAD can makes it controversial, it will be in this magazine. The May issue is quite interesting: the cover features the iconic Newman wearing a T-shirt that reads “I heart Obama” with the letters “ed” added after the heart. It is political satire at its best, and is still one of the favorite magazines of teen boys. The May issues features a spoof of the Big Bang Theory, a “critique” of Avatar, and a lot of humorous put-downs of "newsworthy” items like Tiger Woods and Toyota.
Critical Analysis:
MAD is America’s longest running humor magazine. But it is NOT for everyone, especially young adults whose parents want to keep them unexposed to the news of the day, including the bad or sexually-oriented news (like the Tiger Woods scandal). MAD’s content continues to push the envelope. This “edge” is why so many teen boys continue to read it. MAD is true satire, with all its faults—and an important part of the American Pop Culture. It is generally not for school libraries, although public libraries do (and should) carry it.
About the Staff:
Editorial Staff: Charlie Kadau, John Ficarra and Joe Raoila
Contributing Writers and Artists who have written over 150 articles for the magazine:
Writers:
Dick DeBartolo
Desmond Devlin
Stan Hart
Frank Jacobs
Tom Koch
Arnie Kogen
Larry Siegel
Lou Silverstone
Mike Snider
Writer-Artists:
Sergio Aragones
Dave Berg
John Caldwell
Don Edwing
Al Jaffee
Don Martin
Paul Peter Porges
Antonio ProhÃas
Artists:
Bob Clarke
Paul Coker
Jack Davis
Mort Drucker
Jack Rickard
Angelo Torres
Wally Wood
George Woodbridge
Booktalking Ideas:
Not applicable.
Challenge Issues:
It is satire and it does not bar any content, so some parents might find it offensive for their teen boys—even though the teen boys are probably devouring it anyway.
Why I chose this magazine:
MAD Magazine has been a favorite of boys since it began in 1952. Most of the writers and artists are men. It is a classic, and although I would not choose it for my school library, it is an important addition to the public library. MAD has affected the American culture and is iconic. It is one of the nation’s longest-running humor magazines.
Cover image courtesy of:
http://www.dccomics.com/mad/?action=on_the_stands&i=14378
Plot Summary:
Mad Magazine is an irreverent look at America, and all of its cultural problems and newsworthy issues. It still features Alfred E. Newman, the “face” of the magazine since 1955. If a story is in front of the public and MAD can makes it controversial, it will be in this magazine. The May issue is quite interesting: the cover features the iconic Newman wearing a T-shirt that reads “I heart Obama” with the letters “ed” added after the heart. It is political satire at its best, and is still one of the favorite magazines of teen boys. The May issues features a spoof of the Big Bang Theory, a “critique” of Avatar, and a lot of humorous put-downs of "newsworthy” items like Tiger Woods and Toyota.
Critical Analysis:
MAD is America’s longest running humor magazine. But it is NOT for everyone, especially young adults whose parents want to keep them unexposed to the news of the day, including the bad or sexually-oriented news (like the Tiger Woods scandal). MAD’s content continues to push the envelope. This “edge” is why so many teen boys continue to read it. MAD is true satire, with all its faults—and an important part of the American Pop Culture. It is generally not for school libraries, although public libraries do (and should) carry it.
About the Staff:
Editorial Staff: Charlie Kadau, John Ficarra and Joe Raoila
Contributing Writers and Artists who have written over 150 articles for the magazine:
Writers:
Dick DeBartolo
Desmond Devlin
Stan Hart
Frank Jacobs
Tom Koch
Arnie Kogen
Larry Siegel
Lou Silverstone
Mike Snider
Writer-Artists:
Sergio Aragones
Dave Berg
John Caldwell
Don Edwing
Al Jaffee
Don Martin
Paul Peter Porges
Antonio ProhÃas
Artists:
Bob Clarke
Paul Coker
Jack Davis
Mort Drucker
Jack Rickard
Angelo Torres
Wally Wood
George Woodbridge
Booktalking Ideas:
Not applicable.
Challenge Issues:
It is satire and it does not bar any content, so some parents might find it offensive for their teen boys—even though the teen boys are probably devouring it anyway.
Why I chose this magazine:
MAD Magazine has been a favorite of boys since it began in 1952. Most of the writers and artists are men. It is a classic, and although I would not choose it for my school library, it is an important addition to the public library. MAD has affected the American culture and is iconic. It is one of the nation’s longest-running humor magazines.
Cover image courtesy of:
http://www.dccomics.com/mad/?action=on_the_stands&i=14378
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