Mad #275 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Comic-Con Issue - December 1987

The first "Comic-Con" was held in San Diego in 1970 with 300 attendees.  The San Diego Comic-Con was an outgrowth of the Detroit Triple Fan Fair that was held in Michigan from 1965 to 1978.  Attendance estimates for recent comic-cons in San Diego range from 120,000 to 130,000.  However, these events have now become multi-media fan fests dominated by the superhero motion picture business.  With a double splash-page, Mad's Sergio Aragones did a great job of capturing the essence of the comic book conventions of the 1980s ("A Mad Peek Behind the Scenes at a Comic Book Convention").  Many of the Mad staffer can be found in the Aragones drawing.  Dick DeBartolo and others are signing autographs.  Alfred E. Neuman is in line for the costume competition.  Editor Meglin is carrying his tennis racket.  Publisher Gaines, Editor Ficarra (with duck on head), Don Martin, Al Jaffee and others are just entering the showroom.  And, Artist/Writer Aragones (self-portrait) is drawing Groo but the comic nerds are more interested in the bikini-clad lady.  I attended the San Diego Comic-Con with my son a few times in the 1990s.  I was initially shocked by the amount of money they wanted for the comic books that I did not keep.

On the index page, Publisher Gaines warns readers that there are two pages of advertising in the issue.  But it is all just another Dick DeBartolo joke.  The ads will come when the corporate suits take charge.  For many, many years, Mad had the laudable reputation of a magazine that did not accept advertisements other than those for it's own products.  However, early issues (Mad #28 & #29) had "Real Advertisements" for such as "Silly Putty," "Viking Pipe Gift Set," books and records. [JAM 8/14/2011]

Departments:
Murphy's Bore - Beverly Hills Slop, Too
Weight And See - Drama on Page 9
Putting Down the Volume - The Mad Decibel Scale
Appendance for Your Thoughts - The Body Perfect
Flip, Flop, Quiz, Quiz - Mad's Home Version of Jeopardy
All Jaffee - Low Tech Inventions for Everyday Needs
Creatures from a Hack Buffoon - Your Pet Knows
Dick - The Mad Merchandise Mart
Frank on a Roll - The Ballad of Dr. Ruth
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Better Shred Than Dead - The Ollie North Coloring Book
Sergio Aragones - A Mad Peek Behind the Scenes at a Comic Book Convention
Chat's All, Folks! - Mad's Guide To Talk Show Hosts
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
We Thought the Good Fright - It's Scary to Think That
Alley Oops! - Drama on Page 42
Teacher's Pests - Head of the Crass
Preview to a Kill - The Mad Movie Critic's Pledge

Fold-In - Fur Coat