Mad #382 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Really Dead Superman Issue - June 1999

Superman died in 1992 after an epic battle with a dude named Doomsday.  DC milked this storyline for several years and 30-40 issues depending on who is counting.  I remember when Superman was invulnerable and could only be weakened by kryptonite (pieces of the exploded planet, Krypton).  Although he seemed to encounter some kryptonite in every issue, he was never in danger of losing his life.  However, it seems that nothing is sacred when you have the need to sell comic books.  Writer Barry Liebmann shares my disdain for these gimmick comic stories.  In "If Truth in Advertising Laws Applied to Comic Book Previews", Liebmann six of the Superman parody titles including "The Newer Than New Adventures of Superman" and "The 'Honest, Superman Is Still Dead (We Really Mean It This Time)' Special".  The article was superbly drawn by Amanda Conner who had made her debut in Mad #378 ("Upcoming Movies Based on Comic Books").  My favorite is the cover for "Wonder Woman #250".

In addition to Superman et al., Mad readers were treated to six more great pages of drawings by Mort Drucker ("NYPD Re-Do").  Note the wanted poster for Osama bin Laden on page six. [JAM 8/25/2013]

Departments:
They Get by with a Little Help from Their Franz - NYPD Re-Do
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
Angster's Paradise - Monroe & ... Las Vegas, Part II
Serge-In General - A Mad Look at Rollerjam
Humor in a Junkular Vein - Jalopy Shopper
Snap Cackle Pop - One Fine Day at the Chiropractors' Convention
Babes in Boyland - The Female Basketball Association 1999 Preview
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Mock-A-Doodle Doo - The Mad People Watcher's Guide to a Cockfight [fake department]
Living Mel is the Best Revenge - Playback
Let's Go to the Video Tips - So You Want to be a Big-Time Network TV Sports Director!
Feminine Hijinx - Summertime with the Single Career Girl in the Big City
Pulp Nonfiction - If Truth in Advertising Laws Applied to Comic Book Previews
Grieving Las Vegas - Mad's Celebrity Cause-of-Death Betting Odds

Fold-In - Payoff