Mad #359 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Cheap Gimmick Issue - July 1997

For the first time, Mad published a regular issue with multiple covers.  Collectors were required to spend $10.00 to see the words "CHEAP GIMMICK" on four covers drawn by Mort Drucker (with border by Paul Coker).  The covers complemented the Drucker drawings for the Mad parody of Batman and Robin ("Buttman & Rubbin'").  Covers show (!) Batman with Alf as Mr. Freeze; (2) Mr. Freeze with Alf as Robin; (3) Robin with Alf as Batgirl; and (4) Batgirl with Alf as Batman.  In the parody, our heroes defeat "Frostbite" and "Poison I.V." but George Clooney's Buttman decide to replace Rubbin' with the appropriately-name Butt-Head.

Of special note in this issue is Russ Cooper's lambasting of Joe Eszterhas and his awful screenplays ("The Joe Eszterhas School for Sleazy, No-Talent Screenwriting Hacks!").  [JAM 5/27/2013]

Beavis is studying a chessboard and Butt-Head is reading Proust in "Behind the Scenes at MTV".

Departments:
Icing on the Cape - Buttman & Rubbin"
In-Stall Humor - The Graffiti in the Microsoft Bathroom
Leave It to Beavis - Behind the Scenes at MTV
The Trojan Course - Condom Buying for Dummies
Angster's Paradise - Monroe & ... The County Fair
An Embarrassment of Richard's - Was It the Miles?
Feminine Hijinx - A Day in the Life of a Single Career Girl in the Big City
The Schmucks Stop Here - Melvin & Jenkins Guide to Pet Ownership
Another Stine Mess - Goosebumps Horror Stories That Would Really Scare Kids
Serge-In General - A Mad Look at Freaking Out
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Tales From the Duck Side - Altered Snakes
Basest Instinct - The Joe Eszterhas School for Sleazy, No-Talent Screenwriting Hacks!
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
The King of Appall Media - Private Putz
Grieving Las Vegas - Mad's Celebrity Cause-of-Death Betting Odds

Fold-In - Beggar's Cup