Fans of the art of MAD shouldn’t miss the first comprehensive museum exhibition of MAD art, on display from June 8 through October 27 at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Even people who dislike the art of MAD art should see the exhibit to learn why they’re wrong..
Room after room is densely packed with beautiful originals from the classic years of MAD.
Collectors of MAD art joined with MAD artists and writers to assemble many of the greatest hits, providing a rare opportunity to see decades of quality art as it should be seen. Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Wally Wood, Paul Coker Jr., Don Martin, Frank Frazetta, Mort Drucker, Sergio Aragones up through Herman Mejia, Drew Friedman, Chris Payne, Sam Viviano, Tom Richmond and Richard Williams… they’re all here.
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| That’s a page from the classic Superduperman in the upper left corner |
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| One of my favorite Wally Wood stories |
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| An entire room full of Mort Drucker originals! |
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| Comparing the two paintings side by side is an education |
Years ago, the dedicated followers of MAD grew up to become corporate CEOs, civic leaders, internationally renowned directors, hedge fund billionaires, great scientists, doctors and lawyers. Wherever life took them, they still carried the germ of MAD within them. Today MAD fans walk the most prestigious halls of power while MAD itself remained a childhood artifact, poorly printed on crummy paper. It is long overdue for MAD to be honored with prestigious surroundings, such as the Norman Rockwell Museum.
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Full disclosure: I served as an advisor on this exhibit, which was co-curated by Stephanie Plunkett and Steve Brodner.