u/SketchIwerks

- Tales calculated to drive you MAD #1 Summer 1997 Special

- MAD #1 2024 Facsimile

- MAD #1 San Diego Comic Con 2026 Facsimile Exclusive Edition

I got it for $10 (cheap!) at my local comic book store, along with other comics included in this haul.

You get this for free during your time at San Diego Comic Con this week. However, there are already eBay listings for the comic from $13 to $75.

The cover uses art from "Supermarkets" originally from MAD #19 - January 1955, with art by Jack Davis.

Just like last time, I want to pretend to be what could be featured in the upcoming issue of MAD Magazine. What new stuff do I want to see, and what reprints would they use? Keep in mind that this is only for fun, and it's an opinion piece.

[NEW MATERIAL]

- Bleechrooms (Movie satire of Backrooms)

- Your girlfriend's obsession with Arizona (Inde Navarrette is of Tucson descent, so why take that fact and turn it into a gag? What does your girlfriend really love about The Grand Canyon State?)

- Original narrative humor stories (similar to the Potrzibie Comics or the more recent comics like "If Wishes were like Horses" or "Pigeon drop")

- MAD's survival guide for Panphobians (Scared of almost everything around you? MAD has your back, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose on how to be protected from everything, even yourself.)

- Alfred E. Neuman visits the Criterion Closet

[REPRINTED MATERIAL]

- Horror movies based on Everyday Disasters (Frank Jacobs/Mike Snider & Jack Richard, MAD #217 - September 1980)

- Hex! (Harvey Kurtzman & Jack Davis, MAD #2 - Dec. 1952/Jan. 1953)

- Horrifying Clichés (May Sakami & Paul Coker, Jr., MAD #170 - October 1974)

- The Shinner (Larry Siegel & Angelo Torres, MAD #221 - March 1981)

What do you think of this?

RESEARCH: madcoversite.com

The 2026 DC Comics Booth at San Diego Comic Con celebrates the influential era of MAD Magazine, launched in 1952, which transformed satire under Harvey Kurtzman and the "Usual Gang of Idiots." According to a DC Comics press release, this will be part of the decade-by-decade celebration of their publishing legacy as the head of their 100th Anniversary in 2035. This year will be a 1950s theme, with MAD Magazine being part of it.

"MAD offered readers a sharp, hilarious lens on entertainment, politics, and popular culture, leaving a lasting mark on generations of creators and fans."

People attending SDCC will enjoy a 1950s-themed Daily Planet newsstand and receive a free facsimile of MAD Magazine #1, featuring classic ads and a signature-friendly blank cover. What do you think of this?

Taken from DC Connect #74, June 2026, we received a preview of what would be a holiday issue, with the new content still ongoing.

The placeholder cover is done by Kelly Freas (MAD #44).

Just for fun, I want to predict what's going to be featured for the upcoming 600th issue of MAD Magazine. What new items do I want to see, and what reprints would they use for this special occasion? Keep in mind, this is all very wishful thinking and most likely not going to happen. And it's only my opinion.

50% of the new issue will feature new content, not just from the original gang of idiots, but also brand-new idiots. Here's what I think the new stuff would be:

• Sergio Aragones' Yet Another MAD look at MAD

• Original narrative humor stories (similar to the Potrzibie Comics or the more recent comics like "If Wishes were like Horses" or "Pigeon drop")

• A Movie satire of K-pop Demon Hunters (Not even a year and they still keep going up up up, so it's not too late for MAD to spoof on their overhyped success.)

• What-a-bummer on the mount (the current situation of the WBD-Paramount Skydance merger from the magazine's point of view)

• New takes on "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions" & "The Lighter Side."

• The Wisenheim Museum: Harvey Kurtzman (I think it's long overdue)

•Monroe and... today (I honestly wondered what Monroe is doing right now? What happened after his last adventure in 2010?)

Now this leaves the other 50% with just the reprints. I carefully, and randomly, hand-pick some classic articles that they could use for this special occasion. Including the "best" of MAD about DC the issue is going to feature:

• 3-Dimensions! (Harvey Kurtzman & Wally Wood, MAD #12, June 1954)

• Absolute Cash-in (Tom Taylor & Bruno Redondo, MAD about DC, June 2026)

• Great Art Masterpieces and what they would be saying today (Adam Rust, MAD #500, June 2009)

• MAD's Puzzle Page (Al Jaffee & Mort Drucker, MAD #100, September 1966)

• A MAD look at Comic shops (Sergio Aragones, MAD about DC, June 2026)

• One day at the Park (Don Martin, MAD #137, September 1970)

• The Five People you meet at Comic Cons (Tini Howard & Mattie Lubchansky, MAD about DC, June 2026)

• Similar "MAD"-type comic book titles (Harvey Kurtzman & Wally Wood, MAD #17, November 1954)

• Starchie Reconstituted/Riverdull (Ian Boothby & Tom Richmond, MAD #1, June 2018)

• Superman: Humanity is the Real Kryptonite (Gerry Duggan & Tony Moore, MAD about DC, June 2026)

The 600th issue of MAD Magazine will be out for subscribers and at your local comic book store on June 17, 2026. What do you think? What do you want to see in the upcoming issue?