3 ms·

MAD magazine's downfall really accelerated after they introduced paid advertisements.

• stephancoral 13y ago
  Personally I think the downward trajectory began in the mid eighties. I remember buying the first issue that had advertisements in it (#402) and wondering what took so long. That being said, even its downward trajectory still had some absolutely golden moments. I really enjoyed "Monroe" - it had a great underground comix feel
  • omilu 13y ago
    My only experience with mad is during the 80s, I thought it was great, 90s era or beyond not so much. I still have my collection which I reread on occasion, still funny still brilliant. I find it weird that stand up comedy from the 80s, can age so poorly, I mean absolutely not funny at all today. But old txt files and written stuff maintains its relevance.
• gillianseed 13y ago
  Here in sweden MAD stopped publication around 2000-2001 iirc, citing that 'the real world is now crazier than mad magazine, so it's time to stop'. In reality it was due to poor sales I'm sure. Anyway as someone who grew up with the wonderful weird humour of Mad and the wonderful wacky art from guys like Don Martin, Mort Drucker (I remember the Mad movie parodies better than I remember the actual movies), Jack Davies etc, I feel sad to hear that it seems to have lost it's once great appeal. Actually I just recalled an exchange from the Mad spoof on Return of the Jedi, went something like this (when I read it so many moons ago it was in swedish, don't know how it relates to the original english version): Darth Vader: the rebuilding of the death star is taking too long, you will have to work faster. Officer: But we are already working 14 hours a day! Darth Vader: You'll need to double your efforts. Officer: And work 28 hours a day? Darth Vader: I'm a sadist, not a mathematician. This is Mad magazine to me.