MONSTER SCI-FI WEEK (DAY 2)

SUPER-SCIENCE FICTION

June 1959

Headline Publications, Inc.

Editor: W.W. Scott

Cover: Kelly Freas

Writer: Russell Thompson

Illustrator: Ed Emsh

TERROR OF THE UNDEAD CORPSES

WHAT, ME SCARY? (PART 2)

WHAT, ME SCARY? (PART 1)

You've no doubt seen the image shown below -- an impressive cover by the renown science fiction artist, Kelly Freas, for the 59th issue of MAD (December 1960). This humorous Halloween cover has been plastered all over the internet for years. You'll notice that at the top the title reads "Special Halloween Issue". Anyone who has looked at the interior of this issue will immediately notice there are no Halloween articles in it -- no ghost, no goblins, no parodies, no nuthin'.

So what's the deal? The secret to the mystery can again be found on the cover. Notice the date? It's December! In what should have Alfred E. Neuman spoofing Santa Claus, we have him pictured as the Headless Horseman. Well, I believe the switch on holiday iconography was obviously intended, so the jokes on us!

On the other hand, the December 2019 issue of MAD -- the first part of which is posted here today -- contains plenty of jolly, jovial -- and occasionally quite humorous -- monster fun. It is the 10th issue of the renumbered series after DC Comics bought the title and summarily turned it into a heap of political rant rags. This issue, thankfully, has little politics and lots of monsters. Plus, it sports a super Jason Edmiston cover, albeit a little gross -- but when it comes to MAD, sometimes that's the point, isn't it?