I’ve always enjoyed MAD Magazine, especially those published in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Sadly MAD no longer created new art, only reprints.
MAD’s usual bunch of idiots produced some of the finest film and TV parodies of all time.
And what better movie to make fun of than Star Wars and to poke fun at than TV’s Star Trek?
In the issue # 186 Star Trek parody readers revisit the original Star Trek actors now ten years later.
They’ve all aged, put on weight and came to the realization that they would forever be identified with their TV characters. Some would never emerge form its shadow and effectively ended their acting career in anything beside star trek.
In issue #196 Star Wars faired little better. MAD pulled no punches as it pointed out just how simplistic the original film was.
Mort Drucker drew the Star Trek parody-as a musical and Harry North provided the art for the Star Wars humor adaptation.
In my opinion the late Mort Drucker was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, caricature artist to have ever lived. His ability to capture famous people’s likenesses was astounding.
In MAD #166 Drucker uses his considerable talent to parody the original Star Trek TV series in a delightful musical sendoff.
In the parody the original Star Trek cast has reunited and shows their age and stymied careers.
Other features include MAD artists and writers making fun of a Book of Records, Packager of The Year, Changing Family Attitudes, Infractions and a Mary Tyler Moore TV spin-off jab.
Lest the science fiction community feel slighted MAD also takes a well-intended poke in the ribs to the original Star Wars film.
To my knowledge this is one of the first illustrated parodies of the film. Other features include a Three’s Company putdown, a look at Public Services, a visit to Modern High Schools and Recent Best-Seller send up.
Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
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