Mad #326 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Format Change Issue - March/April 1994

With the passing of Bill Gaines, the DC owners continue to exert their influence on the product.  The cover of issue number 326 shows the names of two months for the first time.  This is an obvious indication that ownership wants Mad to become a monthly publication just like most others instead of "... monthly except April, June, August and November ..." as it had been for nearly 40 years.  The second change is on the index page where articles are now listed by order of appearance instead of alphabetically by department name (which never made any sense).  The right-hand article teaser boxes have been replaced by 22 random drawings that one supposes are found somewhere inside.  I applaud the page numbering order change but still prefer the general look of the index of my youth.

The best article of the issue is "Right Now!" written by Mike Snider.  His 12 spleen-venting truths are right on the money.  I also enjoyed the excellent drawings by Angelo Torres in "When Today's Controversial Issues Totally Invade the Comics."  However, I am always a sucker for comic strip parodies.  [JAM 5/9/2012]

Tom Bunk's dentist has a Swiss army knife.

Departments:
Your Guest Is As Good As Mine - The Mad Guide to Doing Well/Not Doing Well on TV Talk Shows
Tales From the Duck Side - The Intrepid Informer's Indictment; The Goofy Galapagos Goon-Squad
And the Winners Aren't - New Grammy Award Categories We'd Like to See
I Can't Believe It's Not Better - Just When You Think It Can't Get Any Worse
Eventing Our Spleen - Right Now!
They're the Disease And We're the Curator - When the Smithsonian Opens an Advertising Wing
Serge-In General - A Mad Look at Gambling
Excerpt Marks the Spot - Barbara Brandon's "Where I'm Coming From"
Opportunities Knocked - The New American Dream Career Path Chart
A Penny Craved Is a Penny Yearned - It's a Recession, It's a Depression
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
Device Age - What If Technology Invaded History?
Adhere Today, Gone Tomorrow - What Does It Say About Playing by the Rules When
Pain's World - The Masochist's Workout
Strips Teased - When Today's Controversial Issues Totally Invade the Comics
A High Price Toupee - Miscue 911

Fold-In - Gun