MAD #438 GOES AFTER COMICS WITH TOP CREATORS

**MattBrady** · 12-05-2003, 06:27 PM

While MAD Magazine has poked fun at, mocked, and outright lambasted comic books in the past, in the upcoming issue #438, MAD goes after comics again, but this time, with the help of a handful of top comics creators, such as Frank Miller, Jim Lee, John Byrne, and more.

DC’s release for the issue reads:

An incredible array of top comic book artists join MAD Magazine's "Usual Gang of Idiots" in January's issue #438. This issue features an exclusive variant cover by Bruce Timm that will be available only to the direct market.

"The League of Rejected Super-Heroes" features spectacular new artwork by Arthur Adams, Michael Allred, John Byrne, J. Scott Campbell, Dave Gibbons, Jim Lee, Frank Miller, and John Romita, Jr. In addition, this issue is topped by Timm's painted cover, which showcases the assembled might of MAD's super-hero rejects.

"When we received the script from writer Jeff Kruse we thought it would be a great idea to have it illustrated by legendary comic book artists," said MAD Editor John Ficarra. "We just hope their work appearing in MAD doesn't totally destroy their careers they way it has so many of our other contributors."

"I'm sure I don't have to point out how rare it is to have such a stellar lineup of talent in one place," says Bob Wayne, DC's VP > -> Sales & Marketing. "When word about this issue gets out, readers are going to want it, so we urge retailers to increase their orders on it now."

The MAD Magazine #438 Direct Market Edition (NOV030288) is available for advance reorder and is scheduled to arrive in stores on January 7 with a cover price of $3.50 U.S. (Cheap!)

As a courtesy to retailers, DC also offers the MAD Magazine #438 Newsstand Edition (SEP035220). This edition features a non-super-hero cover by Drew Friedman. The MAD Magazine #438 Newsstand Edition has an order increase cut-off date of December 10 and is scheduled to arrive in stores on January 7 with a cover price of $3.50 U.S. (Also cheap!)

OM · 12-05-2003, 06:37 PM

...What? No Oliver Coipel art for this one? :-P :-P

Tom Daylight · 12-05-2003, 06:43 PM

Isn't John Romita Jr supposed to be exclusive to Marvel?

Am I the only one having problems loading the Miller picture...

**MattBrady** · 12-05-2003, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fetsur
Am I the only one having problems loading the Miller picture...

no...I am too. Hang on.

There ya go.

MattB

Tom Daylight · 12-05-2003, 06:49 PM

Dave_Garcia · 12-05-2003, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fetsur
Isn't John Romita Jr supposed to be exclusive to Marvel?

Am I the only one having problems loading the Miller picture...

He can't be that exclusive, there was an interview with Jim Valentino earlier today talking about an upcoming Romita book through Image.

Often times, of course, exclusive is a qualified term. Mark Millar is exclusive, but he's doing books through other publishers (his deal just states that he has to produce a certain amount of books per month), Bendis is exclusive, but Powers is through Image, Simone is exclusive but she'll still be doing the Simpsons, and so on.

OM · 12-05-2003, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
no...I am too. Hang on.

...Worked fine for me. My co-workers up here got a laugh out of both of them.

riotgear · 12-05-2003, 07:47 PM

Could the "I" on Infringement's shield stand for "Image"?

ReaperFett · 12-05-2003, 08:31 PM

Romita Jr is exclusive barring user-owned. Like Bendis.

farwell3d · 12-05-2003, 08:46 PM

Well, all I was going to point is that most exclusive deals only include work for hire, and not creator owned work... I.E. Bendis with Powers (or if he ever decides to do a follow up to his ONI work)

Zadillo · 12-05-2003, 09:05 PM

Hrmm, I was going to make some sarcastic comment about seeing this before when it was called DK2, but maybe I shouldn't....

-Zadillo

12-05-2003, 09:55 PM

VALIANT characters get no respect, no respect at all. They can't even get mocked in MAD.

I'll just pretend that the visor on the Lee pic is Solar's.

There, it's Solar's...

Fazhoul · 12-05-2003, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OM
...What? No Oliver Coipel art for this one? :-P :-P

The cover SPECIFICALLY says "Illustrated by Comics Greats".

WebHobbit · 12-05-2003, 11:00 PM

This looks pretty good. I'll have to search for this one.

OcCaM · 12-06-2003, 04:15 AM

Haven't bought a Mad Magazine in a couple decades but I can't resist Art Adam's artwork. I'll just rip out any pages containing artwork by Scott Campbell and ESP. Mike Allred one of the blandest artists out there! Yeh I said it so there! :P

Too bad there is no Copiel artwork in there, I just know OM would buy it in a heartbeat! :P

Tom Daylight · 12-06-2003, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave_Garcia
He can't be that exclusive, there was an interview with Jim Valentino earlier today talking about an upcoming Romita book through Image.

It was supposed to be done through Marvel though, until they took away his right to put out a creator-owned project through them. I suppose that in the course of doing that Marvel gave him permission to do it with Image.

musclebound · 12-06-2003, 04:09 PM

I haven't picked up an issue of MAD for decades. Used to get them all the time for .35 cents "cheap". Well, it's 10X more now, damn, but that makes me feel the weight of the years...oooh drama, must...stop...must.. Anyway, looking forward to this bunch of hoo-hah in Jan 2004.

Richard Werder · 12-06-2003, 10:15 PM

Isn't John Byrne the guy who bemoans the lack of respect given to comics characters and here he is, MOCKING them in MAD magazine?
Hypocrite.

Zadillo · 12-06-2003, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Richard Werder
Isn't John Byrne the guy who bemoans the lack of respect given to comics characters and here he is, MOCKING them in MAD magazine?
Hypocrite.

Ermm...... I would assume that when Byrne is talking about the lack of respect given to comics characters, that is probably independent from good natured ribbing and parodying and satrizing of them in something like MAD Magazine.

I hardly would think it makes him a hypocrite to take part in something like this......

-Zadillo

IanZL · 12-07-2003, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zadillo
Ermm...... I would assume that when Byrne is talking about the lack of respect given to comics characters, that is probably independent from good natured ribbing and parodying and satrizing of them in something like MAD Magazine.

I hardly would think it makes him a hypocrite to take part in something like this......

-Zadillo

I'm going to go with hypocrit, he said he was rewritting the parts of TRUE BRIT (the one written by John Cleese (more or less)) because at times it mocked super-heroes.

Royal Nonesuch · 12-07-2003, 04:03 AM

On the other hand, John Byrne also did some issues of What The...?!, so I'm guessing this is going to go under the "good-natured ribbing" category.

from the gutter · 12-07-2003, 10:23 AM

This is so friggin cool. I am an advid MAD reader and have been getting MAD since I was 4 and well actually younger since my dad would let me get my toddler hands on his MADs when I was 3. Im lucky I learned to read at an extremely young age so I could rot my mind with this drivel. (no I couldnt read at 3). You should all go to www.madmumblings.com its the best MAD site out there. DC used to run the best MAD site, since MAD is owned by DC but then they changed the format of their board and we all went over to madmumblings because it keeps the spirit of the old format alive, but only because if it isnt broke DONT FIX IT!! Thats my opinion on the matter at least. There are MAD writers and artists that come to the board all the time, great interviews and alot more. I know this is a shameless plug for something i dont even run but who cares! Its MAD! My name on the site is "I am a clod!". MAD also has a book called MAD About Super-Heroes, that features alot of the articles that they did on Super-Heroes. With a cover by Alex Ross. Apparently there is a new trade out also that covers there articles on comic strips. I think it just came out! In Feb. MAD about the Oscars is going to be coming out. At least I think thats the name. Also every month MAD comes out then they put out MAD color classics twice a year, and my favorite because it has Dave Berg's (R.I.P.) A Lighter Side, MAD XL which is 100 pages of pure MAD trash. It comes out 6 times a year, I think its 6 maybe 7 or 8, but Im pretty sure its 6. Im glad Newsarama decided to do a piece on MAD has been around for a LOOONNGGG time, and im sure John Byrne respects the satire of MAD magazine and would not see this as a step backwards. You have to have a sense of humor. Have a good day and go Blech! yourselves.

WebHobbit · 12-07-2003, 10:59 AM

Did Mad "lose the newstand" too? I haven't seen one in a while around here (Evansville, Indiana).

from the gutter · 12-07-2003, 11:12 AM

NOO MAD is on the Newstand everymonth with there MAD MAGAZINE title, the MAIN TITLE!! Its there EVERYMONTH! I dont know about the newstand you are going to though. Maybe it sells out, despite the fact that people here aren't reading it, it is doing very well. I see it at every grocery store and chain retail like Wal-Mart and Target that I go to. I saw it at the newstands in DC and New York when I was there recently also.

WebHobbit · 12-07-2003, 11:29 AM

I'll have to look closer when I go out today.