Mad #385 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Phantom Menace Issue - September 1999

In response to the demand of Star Wars fans, George Lucas released "Episode I" (The Phantom Menace) sixteen years after his original trilogy was completed.  Episode I became a prequel because it was judged not to be as entertaining as Episodes IV-VI.  After being exposed to the banter of Jar Jar Binks and the acting style of Hayden Christensen (Episodes II & III), most movie critics will agree that Lucas made the right choice.  The editors devoted 18 pages of Mad #385 to Star Wars jokes if you count whatever Monroe was doing (I don't).  The opening seven-page parody of the movie by Dick DeBartolo and Mort Drucker ("Star Bores: Epic Load I - The Fandumb Megamess") is well-crafted as expected.  Mr. Drucker through in several muppets and film aliens to keep Yoda et al. company.  Sergio Aragones outdid himself with seven pages of "A Mad Look At ..." split between the "Hype" and the movie.  The eleven jokes in the latter portion are the best every drawn by Aragones. 

Lost in space is the best parody of the issue: "Warner Bros. Studio Stores Unofficial Catalog" by Scott Maiko, Scott Bricher and several others.  This clever collection of cartoon tie-ins is not far from the truth and could equally be applied to Disney Stores, etc.  Read every one of Maiko's intros.  His words are right on the money.  My favorite catalog items are the "Tweety Smoke Detector", the "Wizard of Oz Corn on the Cob Skewers" and all of the "Collectible Cremation Urns".  [JAM 10/21/2013]

Departments:
Sith Happens - Star Bores: Epic Load I - The Fandumb Megamess
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Serge-In General - A Mad Look at Episode I - The Phantom Menace Hype; A Mad Look at The Phantom Menace
Angster's Paradise - Monroe & ... The Midnight Movie
What's Up - Schlock! - Warner Bros. Studio Stores Unofficial Catalog
Tales From the Duck Side - Gigglin's Island
A Triple Plague - A Mad's Guide to Telling the Difference Between Pro Wrestling, Jerry Springer and Politics
This Gland Is Your Gland - What Your Urologist Says ... What He Really Means [Fake Department]
Abridged Too Far - Mad's Best-Sellers Cut Down to Size
Bad-Verse Reactions - When Other Celebrities Jump on the Poetry Bandwagon
Ignorance Is Kiss - Detroit Rock Sissies
Grieving Las Vegas - Mad's Celebrity Cause-of-Death Betting Odds

Fold-In - Pokemon