Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #27
Published April 1956
Cover Price 0.25 USD
Pages 60
Editing Harvey Kurtzman
Notes Many other people in the drawing the indexer did not recognize. The frame around the drawing is NOT the same as in issues #24-#26.

Cover Details - "1956"

Characters Alfred E. Neuman; General Douglas MacArthur; Thomas Dewey; Harry Truman; Adlai Stevenson; Mao Tse-tung; Nikita Kruschev; Mickey Mouse; Davy Crockett; J. Fred Muggs; Joe McCarthy; Richard Nixon; Marilyn Monroe; Jane Russell; Winston Churchill; Queen Elizabeth II; Casey Stengle
Synopsis The new 1956 baby walks into the mess remaining from previous years, with Alfred ready to trip him.
Genre humor
Pencils Jack Davis (signed); Harvey Kurtzman (frame, signed); Bill Elder (frame, signed)
Inks Jack Davis (signed); Harvey Kurtzman (frame, signed); Bill Elder (frame, signed)
Notes Many other people in the drawing the indexer did not recognize. The frame around the drawing is NOT the same as in issues #24-#26.
Reprinted in MAD (EC, 1952 series) #41 [How To Put Out An Imitation of MAD]

1 page Marlbrando Tattoo Needles story "The Filter Doesn't Get Between You and The Tattoo"

Synopsis Phony ad for Marlbrando Tattoo Needles with filtered ink.
Genre satire
Pencils Bill Elder (signed)
Inks Bill Elder (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Parody of Marlboro Cigarette ad. Inside front cover.

1 page Table of Contents foreword, introduction, preface, afterword "Contents"

Characters Abe Burrows
Genre fact
Script Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Pencils ? (photo); Bill Elder
Inks ? (photo); Bill Elder
Letters typeset
Notes Includes a brief summary of contents with excerpts of art from this issue.

2 page Newspaper Comics Dept.; Little Orphan Melvin; Mett and Juff; Li'l Ab'r; R. Morgan MD; Starchie; Poopeye story "Cartoon Digest"

Characters Little Orphan Melvin; Punjoke; Sandle; Daddy Peacebudks; Mett; Juff; Mickey Rodent; R. Morgan; Starchie; Bottleneck; Harold Toon; Shadrack; Poopeye; Marlon Branflakes
Synopsis Typical comic strips.
Genre satire
Pencils Bill Elder (signed)
Inks Bill Elder (signed)
Notes Parodies of strips: Little Orphan Annie; Mutt and Jeff; Li'l Abner; Rex Morgan MD; Archie; Popeye.
Reprinted in Son Of Mad (Ballantine Books, 1959 series) #S1701

2 page Beautydreamy Matresses story "Why Settle For Others When Beautydreamy Balances Drinking Glasses!"

Synopsis Phony ad for Beautydreamy Matresses.
Genre satire
Pencils Bill Elder (signed)
Inks Bill Elder (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Parody of ad for Beautyrest Matresses.
Reprinted in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn]

1 page Letters Dept. letters page "Letters Dept."

Script Harvey Kurtzman; E. Nelson Bridwell
Pencils various
Inks various
Letters typeset
Notes Art is various excerpts from previous issue and a few more samples of possible Alfred E. Neuman predecessors. One letter from E. Nelson Bridwell of Oklahoma City, OK.

Half page Inside MAD promo (ad from the publisher) "Inside MAD"

Pencils ? (photo)
Inks ? (photo)
Letters typeset
Notes House ad for 3rd MAD paperback.

Half page text article "Statement of Ownership"

Genre fact
Script Lyle Stuart
Letters typeset
Notes Editor: Harvey Kurtzman; Managing Editor: John Putnam; Business Manager: Lyle Stuart; Publisher: William M. Gaines; Owner: E. C. Publications, Inc. [William M. Gaines; J. K. Gaines; V. E. MacAdie]

Half page Bogen Hi-Fidelity equipment advertisement "How You Can Be A Member of The Bogen Hi-Fi Set At Moderate Cost"

Synopsis Ad for high fidelity audio equipment from the David Bogen Co., Inc.
Pencils ? (photo)
Inks ? (photo)
Letters typeset

1 page Hollywood Dept. story "Scenes We'd Like To See: The Marshall Who Got Outdrawn"

Synopsis The marshall goes out to a gunfight over the objections of several girlfriends...and is outdrawn and shot.
Genre gags
Pencils Phil Interlandi (signed)
Inks Phil Interlandi (signed)

7 page Education Dept. story "How To Be Smart"

Synopsis Shows many things you can do to look smart.
Genre humor
Pencils Wally Wood (signed)
Inks Wally Wood (signed)
Letters typeset
Reprinted in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn]; Son Of Mad (Ballantine Books, 1959 series) #S1701

4 page Music Dept. text story "A Sea Chanty"

Synopsis Lyrics and music for a song about sailing on the Nancy Brown.
Genre humor
Script Abe Burrows
Pencils Russ Heath
Inks Russ Heath
Letters typeset
Notes Short blurb at the end advertising the "Abe Burrows Songbook."

7 page TV Dept. story "The Ed Suvillan Show"

Characters Ed Suvillan; Phil Soundflinger; Charlie Mahoney; Ookabolaconga tribe; Sultan Taj Mahal; Alfred L. Neuman; Wes Yeast
Synopsis A typical night on the show, with a ventriloquist, a foreign act, and a comic. Article ends with a mock judicial order from Judge Alfred E. Neuman.
Genre satire
Pencils Bill Elder [as Will Elder]
Inks Bill Elder [as Will Elder]
Letters typeset
Reprinted in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn]

4 page Ice Cream Dept. text story "Uninterrupted Melody"

Characters Stan Freberg; F. C. Barr; Dave Green; Joe; Good Humorous Men; Harris; Jones; Mother Goose
Synopsis A short play of a mutiny among the Good Humorous Men, when they can't stand any longer the music their trucks play.
Genre humor
Script Stan Freberg
Pencils Wally Wood (signed)
Inks Wally Wood (signed)
Letters typeset

3 page Nature Dept. story "A Lad And A Lion"

Characters Gedney L. Burp; Tommy Burp; Lassie
Synopsis Story showing that lions will be lions, not pets.
Genre satire
Script Al Jaffee
Pencils Jack Davis (signed)
Inks Jack Davis (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

2 page Science Dept. story "Safety Features"

Synopsis Article shows how all the new auto safety features are optional equipment, and all the cosmetic features are standard.
Genre humor
Script Al Jaffee
Pencils Al Jaffee
Inks Al Jaffee
Letters typeset

1 page Hollywood Dept. story "Scenes We'd Like To See: The Musketeer Who Failed To Get The Girl"

Synopsis The musketeer successfully battles dozens of the villain's men, but is run through by the villain.
Genre satire
Pencils Phil Interlandi (signed)
Inks Phil Interlandi (signed)

3 page Roger Price Dept. text article "The Brave Dogs"

Synopsis Roger describes a new sport/art he has invented, Dog Kicking, which has its roots in bull fighting.
Genre humor
Script Roger Price
Pencils Roger Price
Inks Roger Price
Letters typeset

5 page Movie Dept. story "Ulysses"

Characters Ulysses [Kirk Doubtless]; Penelope [Silvano Lasagno]; Circe [Silvano Lasagno]; Nausicaa [Rossana Pizzeria]; Cyclops [Umberto Scallopini]; Telemachus
Synopsis A brief summary of major scenes from the movie, with a surprise ending.
Genre satire
Pencils Wally Wood (signed)
Inks Wally Wood (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Parody of the movie "Ulysses."

3 page Radio & TV Dept. text story "Nightwatch"

Characters Ben Jones; Jed Brown; Dunday
Synopsis Jones and Dunday keep arresting their captainm, Jed Brown.
Genre satire
Script Arnold Hayne
Pencils Bill Elder (signed)
Inks Bill Elder (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Parody of tv show "Dragnet."

1 page Hollywood Dept. story "Scenes We'd Like To See: The Woodsman Who Failed To Save The Girl"

Synopsis A woodsman tries to save a girl going over a waterfall in a canoe, but can't reach her and she goes over.
Genre satire
Pencils Phil Interlandi (signed)
Inks Phil Interlandi (signed)
Reprinted in More Trash From MAD (EC, 1958 series) #1

3 page Collector's Dept. story "Rare Old Cartoons"

Synopsis A man accuses his dog of defecating in the house, but when he tries to clean it up he discovers it is a snake and is bitten.
Genre humor
Script Caran d' Ache [Emmanuel Poiré]
Pencils Caran d' Ache [Emmanuel Poiré]
Inks Caran d' Ache [Emmanuel Poiré]
Letters typeset
Notes Old cartoon from French artist who lived 1858-1909.

4 page Sports Dept. story "Football"

Characters Rockwell Hedo; Hector Swineherd; Stuyvesant Oxe; Freddy Lippsitt; Irving Hambutt; Salvatore Kelly; Pincus McCarthy; Bentley J. Funff; Dzordz Dzizzy; Guy Wojskgnkski; Hoggy Carmichael
Synopsis Highlighting the problems poorer schools have with their football teams.
Genre humor
Script Al Jaffee
Pencils Jack Davis (signed)
Inks Jack Davis (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

1 page Hollywood Dept. story "Scenes We'd Like To See: The Fighter Who Didn't Rally"

Synopsis The fighter rallies one last time after receiving some good news ringside, but is knocked out anyway.
Genre satire
Pencils Phil Interlandi (signed)
Inks Phil Interlandi (signed)
Letters ty
Reprinted in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn]; in More Trash From MAD (EC, 1958 series) #1

1 page Alfred E. Neuman promo (ad from the publisher) "Alfred E. Neuman"

Characters Alfred E. Neuman
Synopsis House ad for drawing of Alfred, suitable for framing.
Letters typeset
Notes This is a reproduction of a historical drawing of the character, and is not identified as Alfred.

1 page Beer story "Beer Belongs - Enjoy It!"

Synopsis Phony ad for the "Foundation To Encourage Excess - The Beverage of Moderation."
Genre satire
Pencils Bill Elder [as William Elder]
Inks Bill Elder [as William Elder]
Letters typeset
Notes Parody of an ad for United States Brewers Foundation. Back cover.
Reprinted in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn]