Mad #357 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Same Sex Issue - May 1997

Always ahead of the field with controversial subjects, the cover of Mad #357 by C.F. Payne shows the unlikely wedding couple, Howard Stern and Dennis Rodman.  While President Bill Clinton was still espousing his "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gay individuals in the military, Mad was acknowledging the reality of a large section of the population.  John Caldwell wrote and drew the main same sex article ("Mad's Etiquette Guide to Same Sex Weddings").  Although Caldwell repeated several standard gay stereotype jokes, this issue marked the beginning of Mad's recognition of gay equality.  Barry Liebmann added one same sex joke ("Alternative Lifestyle Appreciation") in "A Mad Modern Report Card".

This issue of Mad was the first to be published without Dave Berg drawing since 1957 (Mad #34).  Berg's contributor streak ended after 334 consecutive issues.  Although Berg was absent, Roger Kaputnik's doctor appeared in "The People vs. Larry Fylth".  [JAM 5/16/2013]

Look for Mad editor Nick Meglin in "MAD-sterpiece Theatre Presents: Sportsdunk."

Departments:
A Star Is Porn - The People vs. Larry Fylth
White On! - Homeboy's Life
Queerly Beloved - Mad's Etiquette Guide to Same-Sex Weddings
Defects of Life - Product Recalls You May Have Missed
The Schmucks Stop Here - Melvin & Jenkins' Guide to World Travel
When the Schtick Hits the Fan - Mad-sterpiece Theatre Presents: Sportsdunk
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
The Grades of Wrath - A Mad Modern Report Card
Faith, Hope And Parody - The Mad World of Religion
The Babble of the Sexes - Mad's Male/Female Dictionary of the English Language
Abridged Too Far - Best-Sellers Cut Down to Size
Angster's Paradise - Monroe & ... Mother Nature
Information Superhighway Robbery - A Message from Sleaze Case, Chairman and CEO of America Onhold
Serge-In General - A Mad Look at Going Out
A Poke in the Eisner - Walt Disney Visits His Studio Today
Tales From the Duck Side - Dummy & Dummier

Fold-In - Sexual Harassment