Reviews for Inside Mad: Mad Reader, Volume 3

The average rating for Inside Mad: Mad Reader, Volume 3 based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-03-16 00:00:00 Denise Wiggins Not my favorite Mad material, but still amusing.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-12-10 00:00:00 Rene Hernandez (Warning! This review will likely be difficult to follow if you're younger than 55 or 60, so all you Old Farts out there, read on!) Another in the "recently found" MAD magazine compilations from the 1950's, which to my mind was the heyday of MAD. Almost every panel has "wacky stuff" going on in the background that one has to inspect carefully to "get" the jokes. While this is still true in contemporary issues of MAD, it isn't as ubiquitous as back then. Also, the magazine had much more of an edge than it does now. Also, the old MAD seemed to have more in common with the old "Smoky Stover" comics than the contemporary MAD. For instance, such MAD phrases as "portrziebie" and almost all of Don Martin's sound effects are more than equaled by "foo" and "notary sojac," along with ubiquitous sight gags and puns, again in almost every panel. (hey, this doesn't mean I don't like the current format; the magazine still pokes fun at movies, institutions and self-important celebrities with glee; I pick up a copy whenever I see it in the grocery store, so I'm still a loyal fan!) All that said, the content of this book consists of "Mickey Rodent" (an unappealing, egotistic, bewhiskered version of Mickey Mouse); "Smilin' Melvin" (a takeoff on the ace-pilot strip "Smilin' Jack"); "Howdy Doodit" (a hilarious takeoff on "Howdy Doody" and all those other kids' shows); "The Katchanhammer Kids" (goof on "The Katzenjammer Kids," complete with almost incomprehensible German-accent dialog); "Shermlock Shomes" (Sherlock Holmes, of course); and "Bad Boy and Rubin" (Batman and Robin), along with parodies of current ads, as well as a "backword" by Stan Freberg, one of the most celebrated comedians/satirists of the day. Great fun, rediscovering these gems! Five stars!