The importance of Mad Magazine is likely lost on many since it’s an older institution, but without it, we wouldn’t have a lot of the stand-up comics, late-night talk shows, and movies we’ve come to love. That’s partly why Mad About DC is so special, because many of comics’ best creators are coming together for an April Fools issue for a series that hasn’t had this much talent involved in, well, maybe ever? It’s also a no-brainer, led by guest editor Chip Zdarsky, as DC Comics gets to lampoon itself at a time when DC Comics is more popular than ever.
Over 61 pieces of content, Mad About DC is a laugh riot, a mix of peculiar ideas, and a fun way to experience short-form comic tales from a lot of creators who mostly stick to monthly comics storytelling. In this way, it ends up becoming a read for laughs, but also a means to see creators you know and love stretch their creative muscles. Nothing here is Shakespeare, certainly, but it’s a creativity-rich read that is truly unique.
If you’re unfamiliar with Mad Magazine, reading this book might shock you. If you are familiar, you’ll know stories will poke fun at characters, but also fans, creators, Hollywood celebrities, and even some politics. Overall it’s a good mix, with most stories lasting a page, but a few going a bit longer. That makes a lot of the gags one-note, but that doesn’t mean a few aren’t dense.
After introductions, the first comic is a one-pager by Tini Howard and Mattie Lubchamsky, poking fun at different types of fans who visit comic creators’ tables at conventions. It’s a loving series of disses that ends well. After that, Mark Waid and Ty Templeton have Harley Quinn and Ambush Bug meet for the first time in a simple yet effective one-page strip. Then, in a two-page layout, Jim Zub and Ramon Perez have Guy Gardner fight the Spy vs. Spy guys, with some clever twists thrown in. As you can tell, every story is different in some way, making sure the read is never boring.
What a goof.
Credit: DC Comics
A few recurring elements are Zdarsky’s one-page diagram-style spoofs, such as cross-sections of different types of comic creators and how their brains function. In another, he spoofs different types of Kryptonite with a good build-up to diarrhea jokes, and in another, he reveals a comic convention utility belt that’s about as ridiculous as it sounds.
Superhero fans have plenty here to enjoy, especially Absolute fans. Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo reteam for a new Absolute universe villain we’ve yet to see before, and it’s equal parts extreme and hilarious. Scott Snyder and James Harren have a lot of fun with a new recruit who was punted in Absolute Batman #6. In another, Scott Aukerman and Mitch Gerads team up for a different version of Batman that plays into the fear origins of the bat suit, resulting in a hilarious eight-panel page. Kyle Starks writes and draws “Dial ‘H’ For Hero Fails,” which has tons of fun with different, absolutely ridiculous superheroes. And in what might have been my biggest laugh, Andrew Wheeler and Stephen Byrne do a house ad that plays into DC Comics’ gimmick of calling in.
Another excellent story that had me laughing out loud was a Wonder Woman tale by Joanne Starer and Joe Quinones. Not only is it a gorgeous three-page tale, but there are tons of humor, be it Hippolyta making a “dirt baby” or Cheetah getting tied up with Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth, since she’s a cat that likes to play with string.
There are many more tales, but honestly, there’s no need to belabor the point. This book is well worth a read if you’re a fan of comics culture and superheroes. Mad About DC #1 is a packed, high-energy tribute to the legacy of MAD that doubles as a playground for some of comics’ biggest creators. With over 60 pieces of content, the issue delivers a constant stream of jokes, parodies, and absurd concepts that keep the reading experience fresh from start to finish. Not every gag lands, and some bits are intentionally shallow, but the sheer variety and creative freedom on display make it hard not to enjoy. It is a reminder of how vital MAD’s influence has been, while proving there is still plenty of room for this kind of irreverent humor in modern comics.
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