Mad #251 (Albert Feldstein) - Another Star Blecch Issue - December 1984

The love affair between the Star Trek series and the Mad editors continues.  In this issue, the editors sent Arnie Kogen, Mort Drucker and Don Martin on "The Search For Spock."  Kogen suggested that there must be pall bearers in space and that the Trek gang belonged on "The Planet of the Sequels" (with Superman, James Bond, Indiana Jones, Darth Vader, R2D2 and Jaws).  Drucker explored the various moods of the crew and depicted the Kingkong (not Klingon) Warbird as a good place to hang laundry when "off duty."  Martin found a parking problem in space and a previously unknown weapon of the Klingon warbird.  A significant part of the space sagas by Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991) was their sense of humor.  I am certain that the Star Trek creators and cast truly enjoyed the Mad treatment. [JAM 3/19/2011]

Al Jaffee's "Airline Safety Instructions" include the Japanese translation - "rotsa ruck;" Superman, an ape and a horse are among the airline passengers on page 21; the teacher's parents are the models for American Gothic painted by Grant Wood (1891-1942) in "Web*Star."

Departments:
A Trivial Pursuit - Star Blecch III - The Search for Plot
Nursery Whines - Baby Talk Exposed
Dropped Dead - The TV Prime Time Graveyard
Our Natural Blastime - Mad's Baseball Owner of the Year
Crashing Bore - A Mad Look at Airline Safety Instructions
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Positive Winking - Ain't It Great!
Humor at Warped Speed - Don Martin Looks at "Star Trek III"
Rip, Please! - Mad's Modern Believe It Or Nuts!
From Bad to Voice - When Every Device "Talks"
No Rest for the Leery - Only in the Middle of the Night
"Where's the Thief?" - The Criminals' Yellow Pages
Wee Shall Overcome - Web*Star
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy

Fold-In - Personal Computer