Author:
Title: MAD No. 2
Place Published:
Publisher:EC [Indicia: Educational Comics Inc.]
Date Published: December, 1952-January, 1953
Description: CGC certified: VF- (7.5). Off-white to white pages. Grader notes: Light creasing to cover; light spine stress lines to cover; very light tears to cover.

CGC Census: 262 graded copies (250 Universal, 2 Qualified, 2 Signature, 8 Restored).

GPAnalysis: A 7.5 sold for $900 in 3/23.

Credits: Cover: Harvey Kurtzman. Scripts: Harvey Kurtzman. Art: Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Davis, John Severin, Wally Wood, Bill Elder.Jack Davis Trifecta: Jack Davis's three best subjects – humor, sports and horror – all factor into his classic cover illustration, which also boasts an Old Witch cameo.

"With MAD #2, Kurtzman began using the same storytelling approach as the first issue in the opening story 'Hex!,' a tale of a baseball player who comes to believe he is hexed by an old crone in the stands (EC's Old Witch in a supporting role). The rest of the issue shows Kurtzman settling down and thinking a bit more about what he was doing.

"'That [storytelling] form didn't intrigue me too much and that's one reason why MAD evolved into something different [Kurtzman said]. It's a very easy form to follow because... it leans on clichés. An artist is respected more for inventing or creating something of his own, whereas an entertainer can create moods without inventing. For satire you must create.'" – Bill Schelly, Harvey Kurtzman: The Man Who Created MAD and Revolutionized Humor in America. Fantagraphics: 2015, p. 228.______________________________________________________________

A limited edition of ten hardcover catalogues is available, in addition to a few dozen softcovers. Fun reference, great keepsake, fully illustrated, chockablock with obscure facts, gags, bon mots. Softcovers are $40, deluxe hardcovers with dust jackets and limitation plates are $200. These books always go fast so don't delay. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Consignments welcome for PBA's Summer 2024 Comic Book sale. Top prices for Pre-Code Horror, Golden Age, Silver Age, original art and ephemera. Find out why PBA is the new fan-fave of funnybook fiends. "This is some of the best commentary I've yet seen on the quality of the content of comic books... Priceless." – R. Crumb. Send inquiries to ivan@pbagalleries.com.

Coming Soon: The DC Universe Collection Part 3: The Golden Age (August 2024) and Weird Tales and Amazing Stories: The PBA Pulp Sale (September 2024). Contact ivan@pbagalleries.com to get on the notifications list.