Unused MAD cover concept art

I painted this back when Teletubbies were first making a big splash on TV. It just so happened that my oldest daughter loved watching them at the time so I had to endure all the ridiculous cooing etc... I'm glad everyone in my household is into SpongeBob these days. That I like!

Al Feldstein, MAD magazine editor at "Alfred We Hardly Knew Thee" museum exhibit from 1-23-2008

One of the greatest gifts I have gotten as a cartoonist and a publisher are the many incredible people I've met and friendships I've made over the years. In Jan '08 I finally got to meet 2 of my longtime friends John Hett (The Journal of MADness) and Marty Hirchak (Pop Art Funnies) in Michigan for John's "Alfred We Hardly Knew Thee", a museum exhibition of Alfred E. Neuman and his past.

What made this event very special for me was to not only be able to meet Al Feldstein but to hang out with him and experience that day with other MAD fans like John and Doug Gilford (The MAD cover site - check the Cool links area on this Blog). After John gave us all a tour of the exhibit the day culminated in a lecture and question and answer session with Mr. Feldstein on his over 30 year career at MAD.

The above picture is of myself, Al Feldstein, John Hett and Doug Gilford posing in front of one of the few remaining "Muffler Men" AKA Alfred E. Neuman who at one time dotted the countryside. This one had been cut in half many years earlier and lived in a store of some sort.

Alfred E. Neuman Gallery

I've loved MAD magazine since I was 10 years old so when I found out that there was an actual magazine with slick covers dedicated to nothing but MAD magazine I was psyched. The Journal of MADness is John Hett's brainchild and debuted in Nov '97. To date there have been 18 single magazine sized issues (stay tuned as a Journal of MADness trade paperback is in the works containing brand new interviews). With covers by the super talented Kent Gamble (CRAZY/CRACKED/MADpanic etc...), interviews with UGOI, articles on fandom and collectibles this magazine truly had the whole package. In early 1998 I subscribed and immediately started to contribute. The following images are just some of the many Alfreds I have drawn over the years.

This painting is from the cover to #8.5 from June 2000.