The MAD Files

Celebrate the wildest and most rebellious magazine in American history with *The MAD Files*, a collection of 26 essays and comics from top contributors like Roz Chast, Jonathan Lethem, and Grady Hendrix.

Long before *Saturday Night Live*, Letterman’s sarcasm, Colbert’s wit, *The Simpsons*, or internet memes, there was MAD magazine.

Debuting in the 1950s, MAD was a staple of American childhoods, joyfully mocking societal norms and becoming the most outrageous and subversive satire magazine in the country. Its influence paved the way for underground comix, zines, and humor that would shape movies, television, and the internet.

Curated by David Mikics, this book honors MAD’s legacy and the creative minds behind its irreverent humor. The collection dives into the magazine’s cultural, artistic, and personal significance through a variety of insightful and humorous essays and comics.

Art Spiegelman recalls how, as the child of immigrant parents, MAD was his window into American culture. Roz Chast describes her instant connection to the magazine, calling it "love at first sight," realizing there were others who shared her view of the absurdity of the world. David Hajdu and Grady Hendrix explore the brilliance of MAD’s movie parodies, while Liel Leibovitz examines the Jewish roots of the magazine’s humor, and Rachel Shteir highlights the often overlooked contributions of MAD’s women artists.

Several essays also pay tribute to the legendary creators who made MAD iconic: Mort Drucker, Harvey Kurtzman, Al Jaffee, Antonio Prohias, and Will Elder. Whether you're a lifelong fan or discovering MAD for the first time, *The MAD Files* offers a rich exploration of America's greatest satire magazine.