Mad #351 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Joe Camel Issue - November 1996

Writer Mike Snider contributed the latest Mad attack on Big Tobacco with "The Tobacco Industry's Secret Marketing Plans for Attracting Young Smokers."  This is another fine article that brings the truth to young readers.  Bob Clarke's drawings of Joe Camel and other unlikely cigarette hucksters are excellent.  Another clever article in the issue is "New Toys That Prepare Kids for Their Crummy Job Futures" also written by Snider.  This one would have been even better if the toys had been created as actual models as Al Jaffee did for Mad #76 ("If Kids Designed Their Own Xmas Toys").  The third fine life lesson in the issue is Al Jaffee's Fold-In {"What Proposed Merger is the Federal Government Moving Quickly to Block?") - an early appeal for marriage equality.  As usual, Senator Jesse Helms occupies a prominent position for Jaffee's scorn. [JAM 4/16/2013]

Saddam Hussein breaks into the "U.S. Army Poison Gas Depot" (page 6); Charlie Brown, Sparky, Smokey, Hat-Cat, Kermit, Babar, et al. join the young smokers club (page 10); the black spy had a hot dog in his tank (page 18); Clinton and Dole are puppets (page 22); Dr. Kevorkian is preparing for Arnold's prostate exam (page 42).

Departments:
The Birdbrains of Alcatraz - The Crock
The Pot Shot Heard 'Round the World - Mad Salutes Baseball Then and Now
Nicoteeny Boppers - The Tobacco Industry's Secret Marketing Plans for Attracting Young Smokers
We Bring You Fleetings - The ABC's of 15 Minutes of Fame
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
Hump Roast - The Hunchback and Note the Dame
Mattel It Like It Is - New Toys That Prepare Kids for Their Crummy Job Futures
Serge-In General - A Mad Look at Halloween
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Put a Grid on It - Mad's Futile Flowcharts
New Kid on the Chopping Block - Guess Who Has No Seniority
Witless Protection Program - Disgracer
Tales From the Duck Side - The Exquisite Exorcism Experience

Fold-In - Gay Marriage