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

Issue Details

Issue #34
Published August 1957
Cover Price 0.25 USD
Pages 52
Editing Albert B. Feldstein

Cover Details - "Alfred Fireworks Display"

Characters Alfred E. Neuman
Genre humor
Pencils Norman Mingo (painted, signed)
Inks Norman Mingo (painted, signed)
Colors Norman Mingo (painted, signed)

1 page Mad Magazine promo (ad from the publisher) "We're Looking For People With Ability To Draw"

Characters George Washington; Alfred E. Neuman; Wally Wood ?
Synopsis House ad for MAD Magazine subscriptions.
Pencils Wallace Wood (signed)
Inks Wallace Wood (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Parody of Famous Artist's Schools ad featuring Norman Rockwell.

1 page Vital Features foreword, introduction, preface, afterword "Departments"

Genre fact
Pencils various
Inks various
Letters typeset
Notes Art is excerpts from this issue. Masthead quote is from Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). Lists Frank Jacobs, E. Nelson Bridwell, and Paul Laikin as writers and Nick Megliola for ideas, but unknown for which articles.

2 page Ye Olde Heraldry Dept. story "MAD Coats of Arms"

Synopsis Proposed coats of arms for current celebrities.
Genre satire
Script Frank Jacobs
Pencils Kelly Freas
Inks Kelly Freas
Letters typeset
Notes Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.
Reprinted in Worst From MAD (EC, 1958 Series) #1

Half page MAD books promo (ad from the publisher) "Now...MAD Pocket-Sized Books Fight Misery Four Ways"

Synopsis House ad for MAD paperback books.
Pencils Bill Elder
Inks Bill Elder
Letters typeset
Notes Art is figures excerpted from previous issues.

Half page Alfred E. Neuman promo (ad from the publisher) "Now! In Full Color"

Characters Alfred E. Neuman
Synopsis House ad for pinups suitable for framing.
Pencils Norman Mingo; Wally Wood
Inks Norman Mingo; Wally Wood
Letters typeset

1 page Letters Dept. letters page Random Samplings of "Reader Mail"

Synopsis Letters of comment, mostly about issue #33.
Script Albert B. Feldstein; David McCord; Ralph Marcom; Dandy Jim Lightfoot; Jim Humphries; Mel Rosch; Herb Savage; Sandra Glaver; Mike Hanner; Jim Robinson; Gene Autry; Tonto; Czech Poydence; Sammy Crisafulli; Don Durwood; Jim Reynolds; Sandy Nelson; Wally Kurstan; John Runcie; Harley Lond; Ed Schwartz; Jim Briggs; Stan Ginden; James Stephens; a school superintendent; Bob Mason; Marion Davison; Vince Schommer; Emory Todd; Ted Thompson
Pencils various
Inks various
Letters typeset
Notes Art is excerpts from issue #33.

4 page Oh, Promise Me Dept. story "Wedding Album"

Characters Wally Balloo
Synopsis Typical wedding pictures contrasted with pictures of the same couple six months later.
Genre humor
Pencils Wally Wood [as Wally Balloo]
Inks Wally Wood [as Wally Balloo]
Letters typeset
Reprinted in More Trash From MAD (EC, 1958 series) #1

2 page Soft-Sell Advertising Dept. story "Future TV Ad"

Synopsis Phony ad storyboard for KLM Airlines.
Genre satire
Script Don Martin (signed)
Pencils Don Martin (signed)
Inks Don Martin (signed)
Letters typeset
Reprinted in Worst From MAD (EC, 1958 Series) #1

3 page Bob & Ray Dept. story "Mr. Science"

Characters Mr. Science; Jimmy; Bob Elliott; Ray Goulding
Synopsis Mr. Science performs a simple experiment with a light bulb and nearly burns down the studio.
Genre humor
Script Bob Elliott; Ray Goulding
Pencils Mort Drucker
Inks Mort Drucker
Letters typeset
Reprinted in More Trash From MAD (EC, 1958 series) #1

2 page Healthy Competition Dept. story "$ucce$$ $tory"

Characters Edgar J. Frimp; Edgar's father; Thelma Hendershot; Melvin Frimp; Selma Frimp; Percy Frimp
Synopsis Story of Edgar's rise to the presidency of a corporation.
Genre humor
Script Frank Jacobs
Pencils George Woodbridge (signed)
Inks George Woodbridge (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

3 page Kindly Remain Seated Dept. story "Future Drive-Ins"

Synopsis Ideas for foolish future drive-in facilities based on the success of drive-in banks, food, and movies.
Genre satire
Pencils Bob Clarke (signed)
Inks Bob Clarke (signed)
Letters typeset
Reprinted in More Trash From MAD (EC, 1958 series) #1

4 page Shooting The Grand Rapids Dept. story "Modern Furniture"

Characters Dave Berg
Synopsis A review of the "advantages" of modern furniture.
Genre humor
Script Dave Berg ?
Pencils Dave Berg (signed)
Inks Dave Berg (signed)
Letters typeset
Reprinted in More Trash From MAD (EC, 1958 series) #1

2 page Fido-Re-Mi Dept. text article "The Mad Dog's Shopping Mart"

Synopsis Items from a catalog for dogs.
Genre satire
Script Frank Jacobs
Pencils Mort Drucker (signed)
Inks Mort Drucker (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.

3 page Out of Left Field Dept. text article "Baseball Is Ruining Our Children"

Characters Irving Smedley; Sidney Finster; Melvin Cowznofski
Synopsis Parody of the findings of Dr. Wertham regarding comic books, where nearly every juvenile delinquent has been found to have played or watched baseball.
Genre satire
Script ? [as Frederick Werthless, M.D.]
Pencils Wally Wood
Inks Wally Wood
Letters typeset
Reprinted in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn]; in Worst From MAD (EC, 1958 Series) #1

1 page Hollywood Dept. story "Scenes We'd Like To See: The Man On The Ledge"

Synopsis Man is ready to jump from a high building ledge but changes mind when his baby is brought to the window...then slips and falls anyway on baby's rattle.
Genre satire
Pencils Joe Orlando (signed)
Inks Joe Orlando (signed)
Reprinted in Worst From MAD (EC, 1958 Series) #1

2 page College Dept. story "Collegiate Whimsey"

Synopsis Gag cartoons from the following college publications: Harvard Lampoon; California Pelican; UW Columns; Stanford Chaparral; MIT Voodoo; USC Wampus; Penn State Froth; Jester.
Genre humor
Script various; Kuren; Strong; Skip
Pencils various; Kuren; Strong; Skip
Inks various; Kuren; Strong; Skip
Letters typeset
Notes Not all contributors are identified by a signature.

3 page Comparrison Proves Cept. story "Products For TV Commercials, Inc."

Synopsis Offerings from a company that makes products and props used as "Brand X" to compare to advertised products on tv.
Genre satire
Script E. Nelson Bridwell
Pencils Bob Clarke (signed)
Inks Bob Clarke (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Products compared to include: Halo Shampoo; Nash Rambler Autos; Bufferin; Goodrich Tires; Clorets Breath Mints; Arrid Deodorant; Remington Shavers; Rolaids Antacid; Bristol-Myers medicines; Anahist medicine. Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.
Reprinted in Worst From MAD (EC, 1958 Series) #1

4 page Orson Bean Dept. story Orson Bean's "The Two Chinese Fellas Who Go To An American Restaurant" Routine

Characters Orson Bean
Synopsis Illustrated comedy routine that reverses cliches about Chinese restaurants and people.
Genre humor
Script Orson Bean
Pencils Wally Wood (signed)
Inks Wally Wood (signed)
Letters typeset
Reprinted in More Trash From MAD (EC, 1958 series) #1

2 page Little Squirt Dept. story "The Spitball Contest"

Synopsis An unusual ending to a spitball contest.
Genre humor
Script Don Martin (signed)
Pencils Don Martin (signed)
Inks Don Martin (signed)
Letters typeset
Reprinted in Worst From MAD (EC, 1958 Series) #1

5 page Go Ax The Ol' Cable Dept. story "TV Guise"

Characters Edward R. Murrow; Irving Furd; Alfred E. Neuman; Bob Clarke
Synopsis Parody of TV Guide Magazine, with articles, ads and phony tv listings.
Genre satire
Script Paul Laikin
Pencils Bob Clarke (signed)
Inks Bob Clarke (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Writer credit from "Totally MAD" CD collection.
Reprinted in Worst From MAD (EC, 1958 Series) #1

2 page Seeing Is Believing Dept. story "MAD's Picture-Phone Backdrops"

Synopsis Ideas for backdrops so that when you answer the picture-phone of the future, you can still lie to people about where you are.
Genre humor
Pencils George Woodbridge (signed)
Inks George Woodbridge (signed)
Letters typeset
Reprinted in Worst From MAD (EC, 1958 Series) #1

1 page Hollywood Dept. story "Scenes We'd Like To See: The Last Minute Pardon"

Synopsis A pardon arrives at the prison just a little too late to save a man on death row.
Genre satire
Pencils Joe Orlando (signed)
Inks Joe Orlando (signed)
Letters typeset
Reprinted in More Trash From MAD (EC, 1958 series) #1

1 page MAD Jewelry promo (ad from the publisher) "Look Mad! Feel Mad! Be Mad!"

Characters Alfred E. Neuman
Synopsis House ad for Alfred E. Neuman jewelry designed by Astrahan of NY.
Pencils Carl Klein (photo); Romeo Serry (photo touchup); Jack Davis
Inks Carl Klein (photo); Romeo Serry (photo touchup); Jack Davis
Letters typeset
Notes Small character at bottom of ad is by Jack Davis, an excerpt from some previous issue. Inside back cover.

MAD Observations Dept. text article "Meaningless Musings While Munching Miltown"

Synopsis Goofy statements of the type that later appear as Alfred E. Neuman quotes under the magazine's masthead.
Genre humor
Letters typeset
Notes Appear on 25 different pages of the issue.
Reprinted in More Trash From MAD (EC, 1958 series) #1 [portions]; in Worst From MAD (EC, 1958 Series) #1 [portions]

1 page story "MAD Picture Postcards"

Synopsis Three fake postcards of world scenery.
Genre humor
Pencils Bob Clarke (signed)
Inks Bob Clarke (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes Back cover.