Got a question? Before you post it on our message boards or ask the MAD editors, you might find the answer you're looking for right here!
Let's start with the question we get most...
I have gum stuck in a shag carpet, is there any way to get it out?
A surefire way to remove gum from a shag carpet is to simply cut a huge circle out of the rug. Make sure the part you cut out has the offending gum stuck in it. Place a sofa or large chair over the cut-out piece. You can cover smaller holes with a MAD Fold-In, or anything drawn by John Caldwell.
Where did Alfred E. Neuman come from? When did he first appear in MAD?
No one's exactly sure where Alfred came from, although illustrations of a grinning gap-toothed boy similar to Alfred have been traced back to at least the 1800s. Other Alfred-like images kicked around for years in various ads, postcards and even other magazines, before first appearing in early issues of MAD. At first, Alfred was a character with several different names (including Mel Haney, Melvin Coznowski and the What-Me Worry? kid) who simply appeared in the background of different articles, but in issue #29 (September, 1956) he was stuck with the name Alfred E. Neuman and one issue later, Alfred made his first full-color appearance on the cover in a portrait drawn by Norman Mingo.
If you'd like to know more, we suggest that you read Maria Reidelbach's Completely MAD, a book that traces the history of MAD. But first we suggest that you call the publisher and beg them to put the book back in print! (In the meantime, you can check your local used bookstore to see if they have a copy.)
How much is MAD #1 worth?
MAD #1, the comic, can be worth a considerable amount of money based on the condition it's in.
We have heard of some idiots paying $7,000 for a copy of MAD #1 in mint condition. (However, if YOU own a copy of MAD #1 in mint condition, we feel it's worth only about $20, but we'll be big sports and buy it from you for $50! But be sure to contact us directly! Do not look up the value in the Robert M. Overstreet Comic Book Guide!
How can I find out what my MAD collection is worth? Is there someone there who could tell me?
You should consult a comic book guide. People regularly buy and sell MADs on the internet, and people have bought rare copies of MAD at online auction sites.
There is a price guide for MAD merchandise in the book Collectibly MAD by Grant Geissman. This highly collectible book is currently out of print, but might be available at used book stores.
Sorry, but there's no one on the MAD staff who can appraise your collection. (We're more into Hummel Figurines).
I have a copy of MAD where the logo is spelled "MAAD." I heard that it's rare and worth a lot of money.
Is it really valuable, or did you guys put "MAAD" on the cover on purpose and then just start a rumor that the issue was rare in response to a letter some moron wrote to you?
You're talking about issue #355, dated March 1997. Think about it: We're a humor magazine. We try to put funny things on our cover. That issue with the misspelled logo says, in big letters, PROOFREADER WANTED. What's your guess? Our guess is that the issue is worth about $3,000 (assuming you can find some sucker to pay it)!
Can you make any sense — any sense at all — of Ben Affleck's career?
No.
Does MAD sell old copies of the magazine and Specials?
People think we stock every issue of MAD in our offices, but we don't. We don't have the space, and if we did, the staff would steal all the valuable issues and we'd be paying high Manhattan rent for a lot of empty space!
Does MAD buy freelance material?
So, you want to make big bucks and earn the respect and admiration of your friends, family and neighbors, eh? Then go to medical school and do something with your life!
But if you'd like to waste your time and effort and become a member of The Usual Gang of Idiots, then, yes, you may want to try selling to MAD. But before you dash off your brilliant ideas, make sure you know what we're looking for by reading our Writer's Guidelines! Or, if you're an artist, check out our Artist's Guidelines.
Can I take a tour of MAD Magazine?
Yes, you can. But because of our location, you should be wearing high boots, and carrying the standard snakebite kit. No, we don't have snakes here at 1700 Broadway, but the staff bites!
If I come to MAD, will I be able to meet the MAD artists and writers?
Before you make a special trip to MAD, we should tell you that it's rare for any of the MAD artists or writers to be here at the office. Almost all of them work at their own studios, and although occasionally one of them drops by to mooch a free lunch, they mostly send their work via fax or mail. (Truthfully, that's how we keep our expenses down. By keeping them off premises, we don't have to worry about them stealing office supplies, making long distance phone calls or dropping water balloons out of the window!)
If the artists and writers aren't there, who IS?
The regular editorial and design staff of MAD consists of just 13 people, and about half of them regularly abuse the sick day policy. However, if you want to be able to say "I visited the MAD offices," come on by. (If you're bringing sweets, please visit on a Wednesday. That's usually the day MAD's Maddest Writer, Dick DeBartolo, is in, and he'll autograph just about anything in exchange for homemade baked goods!)
What's a typical day at MAD like?
It's, like, eight hours, with an hour for lunch.
No, I mean, is working at MAD wild and wacky, with people wearing funny hats, and having food fights, and doing all sorts of crazy, weird things?
No, you're thinking of our sister publication, Time.
My newsstand never seems to stock MAD. How can I get a subscription?
Simple. Click here.
Okay, I subscribed, but now I'm having trouble with my subscription, what should I do?
Complain out loud. If that doesn't work, try bitching and moaning out loud. Actually, if you have a question about your MAD subscription, please e-mail it to madmagazinewebcs@palmcoastd.com.
You can also reach Customer Service if you Click here.
Please DO NOT write, phone, fax or e-mail our New York office! We're too stupid to help you there.
What does the "IND" in the MAD logo stand for?
It's the acronym for the MAD motto: "Stupidity Is Timeless." Duh!
One last question: Who is Max Korn? His name seems to appear quite a few times in MAD.
At last, the secret of Max Korn can be revealed! To learn the meaning of this mysterious name,
click here.
No one's exactly sure where Alfred came from, although illustrations of a grinning gap-toothed boy similar to Alfred have been traced back to at least the 1800s. Other Alfred-like images kicked around for years in various ads, postcards and even other magazines, before first appearing in early issues of MAD. At first, Alfred was a character with several different names (including Mel Haney, Melvin Coznowski and the What-Me Worry? kid) who simply appeared in the background of different articles, but in issue #29 (September, 1956) he was stuck with the name Alfred E. Neuman and one issue later, Alfred made his first full-color appearance on the cover in a portrait drawn by Norman Mingo.
If you'd like to know more, we suggest that you read Maria Reidelbach's Completely MAD, a book that traces the history of MAD. But first we suggest that you call the publisher and beg them to put the book back in print! (In the meantime, you can check your local used bookstore to see if they have a copy.)
We have heard of some idiots paying $7,000 for a copy of MAD #1 in mint condition. (However, if YOU own a copy of MAD #1 in mint condition, we feel it's worth only about $20, but we'll be big sports and buy it from you for $50! But be sure to contact us directly! Do not look up the value in the Robert M. Overstreet Comic Book Guide!
Is it really valuable, or did you guys put "MAAD" on the cover on purpose and then just start a rumor that the issue was rare in response to a letter some moron wrote to you?
