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Issue: Mad #8
Publication Date: December 1953
 
Disclose Detail
Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating:
Publisher: FlagEC
Indicia Publisher: Educational Comics Inc.
On Sale Date: 09/01/1953
Volume: 1
Pages: 36
ISBN: none
UPC/EAN: none
Price: $0.10 USD
Indicia Frequency:
Content Items: 18 (10 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s):  
Disclose Notes:  
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Disclose Format
Publication Type: Comic Book
Color: color (#1-23, 400-550); color cover with black & white interior (#24-399)
Dimensions: standard Golden Age US (#1-23); magazine size (#24 onward)
Paper Stock: glossy cover
Binding: saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: Was Ongoing Series
Format Notes:  
Disclose Images3
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 

Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 

Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Assets1
 
 
[untitled]

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
Marie Severin ? (coding for separations)
Subject Matter
We're looking for a monster, Ma'm!
Reprinting
FlagMad about the Fifties #[nn] [Standard Edition] published January 1997
as Mad comic book covers [Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)]
FlagTales Calculated to Drive You Mad #3 published January 1998
as Mad No. 8] [Frankenstein Cover [Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)]
 
Miscellaneous
1
Marie Severin addressed on at least two occasions the coloring of art created or edited by Harvey Kurtzman. In remarks published in 1995, she said “Kurtzman colored his own art, especially on covers.” And in response to a 1986 question about Kurtzman and MAD covers, she said “Now I might have interpreted, but I don’t remember. I think he did every one of them. I might have helped out with some production or something, but it’s all Harvey” (Ringgenberg 2016, 88).
_________
References:

Cassell, Dewey, with Aaron Sultan. 2012. “The Artists of EC Comics” (reprinting Severin 1995). In Marie Severin: The Mirthful Mistress of Comics. 46–47. Raleigh: TwoMorrows Publishing.

Ringgenberg, Steven. 2016. “Marie Severin.” In The Comics Journal Library Vol. 10: The EC Artists Part 2, edited by Michael Dean, 84–95. Seattle: Fantagraphics Books.

Ringgenberg, Steven. [2016] 2018. “An Interview with Marie Severin.” The Comics Journal, September 5. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.tcj.com/an-interview-with-marie-severin.

Severin, Marie (John Province, transcriber [uncredited]). 1995. “Mostly about Color.” In CFA-APA 36, January.
So What? So You, Too, Can Join the E.C. Fan-Addict Club!

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
E.C. Fan-Addict Club
Inside front cover. E.C. Fan-Addict Club membership ad.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Inside front cover.
Frank N. Stein!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous
Baron Francesco Napoleon Stein; Bumble; Melvin; Sherman; the monster
A parody of The Frankenstein horror comics and films.
Reprinting
FlagUtterly Mad #4 published October 1956
as Frank N. Stein! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagUtterly Mad #4 published December 1963
as Frank N. Stein! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagTales Calculated to Drive You Mad #3 published January 1998
as Frank N. Stein! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
 
Miscellaneous
8
The monster has Adolph Hitler's face.
Lone Stranger Rides Again!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, western
Lone Stranger; Pronto [Chief Wonga]; Ookabollwonga tribe
The Lone Stranger learns of Pronto's secret identity.
Reprinting
FlagThe Bedside Mad #S1647 published April 1959
as Lone Stranger Rides Again! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagThe Bedside Mad #D2316 published February 1964
as Lone Stranger Rides Again! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagThe Bedside Mad #P3520 published January 1969
as Lone Stranger Rides Again! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagMad Special [Mad Super Special] #18 published January 1975
as Lone Stranger Rides Again! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagThe Bedside Mad #6 (88-893) published April 1979
as Lone Stranger Rides Again! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagTales Calculated to Drive You Mad #3 published January 1998
as Lone Stranger Rides Again! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
 
Miscellaneous
7
A parody of the Lone Ranger and Tonto.
We at E.C. are Proudest of Our Science-Fiction Magazines!

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?; typeset
Subject Matter
science fiction
E.C. comics
House ad for Weird Fantasy #22.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
0.5
Left side of page.
Operation Under-the-Ground [Chapter II]

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Subject Matter
humorous
Five Fingers Jones; the Chief
Five Fingers makes his way to Moscow.
Reprinting
FlagTales Calculated to Drive You Mad #3 published January 1998
as Operation Under-the-Ground (Chapter 2) [Text Story on Interior Page(s)]
 
Miscellaneous
1
Right side of page and left side of facing page.

Script: Sources vary. De Fuccio credit is from The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #2. Kitchen and Buhle assert that “Harvey Kurtzman wrote every word from front to back” of this issue (2009, 83).
_________
Reference:

Kitchen, Denis, and Paul Buhle. 2009. The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics. New York: Abrams ComicArts.
[untitled]

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
?
typeset
Subject Matter
historical
Educational Comics, Inc.
Ad for Picture Stories From the Bible Complete New Testament Edition, Picture Stories from the Bible Complete Old Testament Edition, Picture Stories From Science #2, and Picture Stories from World History #2.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
0.5
Right side of page.
[untitled]

Letters Page  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Letters of comments from John Hurt of Elgin, Oregon; Ronald Ketterer of Reading, Pennsylania; Harry Mitchell; Bobby Percy of Auburn, Alabama; Rose Sultan of New York City; Bill Wiesenbach of Pensacola, Florida; Atascaedro Union High school; Chucks Hancox; Howard Griffith; and David Allessio of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Script and colors credits from The Mad Archives (DC, 2002 series) #2.
Collectors' Item Dept.

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous
You will notice how this chair fits you when you sit...
A man tries a new chair.
Reprinting
FlagJeanie Comics #22 published November 1948
 
Miscellaneous
1
The first panel contains text lacking in the original publication noting that this and the following 5 pages are reprints.

Marie Severin’s statement that “[Harvey] Kurtzman colored his own art, especially on covers” (see Indexer Notes for this issue’s cover) suggests that Kurtzman colored stories that he drew, albeit perhaps less consistently than he colored his cover art.
[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous
Come, my friend--
A man shows off his new fireplace.
Reprinting
FlagMargie Comics #43 published October 1948
 
Miscellaneous
1
Marie Severin’s statement that “[Harvey] Kurtzman colored his own art, especially on covers” (see Indexer Notes for this issue’s cover) suggests that Kurtzman colored stories that he drew, albeit perhaps less consistently than he colored his cover art.
[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous
I think I'll listen to the radio!
A man doesn't like the sound of radio news.
Reprinting
FlagGay Comics #34 published October 1948
was [untitled] [Story on Interior Page(s)]
 
Miscellaneous
1
Marie Severin’s statement that “[Harvey] Kurtzman colored his own art, especially on covers” (see Indexer Notes for this issue’s cover) suggests that Kurtzman colored stories that he drew, albeit perhaps less consistently than he colored his cover art.
[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous
I'm hungry!
A man tries to eat breakfast cereal.
Reprinting
FlagPatsy Walker #22 published May 1949
 
Miscellaneous
1
Marie Severin’s statement that “[Harvey] Kurtzman colored his own art, especially on covers” (see Indexer Notes for this issue’s cover) suggests that Kurtzman colored stories that he drew, albeit perhaps less consistently than he colored his cover art.
[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous
I'm going to the movies!
A man makes too much noise at a movie.
Reprinting
FlagMargie Comics #43 published October 1948
 
Miscellaneous
1
Marie Severin’s statement that “[Harvey] Kurtzman colored his own art, especially on covers” (see Indexer Notes for this issue’s cover) suggests that Kurtzman colored stories that he drew, albeit perhaps less consistently than he colored his cover art.
[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous
Oh joyeux!
A man tries out a magic hat.
Reprinting
FlagJoker Comics #35 published January 1949
 
Miscellaneous
1
Marie Severin’s statement that “[Harvey] Kurtzman colored his own art, especially on covers” (see Indexer Notes for this issue’s cover) suggests that Kurtzman colored stories that he drew, albeit perhaps less consistently than he colored his cover art.
Bat Boy and Rubin!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous
Bat Boy; Rubin; the Fleagle Gang; the Flurgle Gang
Bat Boy and Rubin eliminate the gangs in Cosmopolis, but the killer is still at large.
Reprinting
FlagInside Mad #124 published November 1955
as Bat Boy and Rubin! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagMad about the Fifties #[nn] [Standard Edition] published January 1997
as Bat Boy and Rubin! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagTales Calculated to Drive You Mad #3 published January 1998
as Bat Boy and Rubin! [Story on Interior Page(s)]
 
Miscellaneous
7
A parody of Batman and Robin comics. May be first use of word "furshlugginer" in MAD.
Flash!

Advertisement  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
?
?; typeset
?
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
An ad for Ideal Company watches, jewelry, and other items.
The New Way To Enjoy Sports, Movies, Plays, Television

Advertisement  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
typeset
Subject Matter
An ad for International Binocular Company Spektoscopes.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Inside back cover.
Now You Can Fly a Real Jet Plane!

Advertisement  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
?
typeset
Subject Matter
An ad for Jetex model plane.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Back cover.

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