Mad #265 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Garbage Pail Issue - September 1986

Art Spiegelman, the acclaimed author of the graphic-novel Maus, created the Garbage Pail Kids trading cards for Topps in 1985.  The cards were parodies of the popular Cabbage Patch Dolls that became a fad in the early 1980s.  Mad's parody of the parody consisted of the cover drawing by Richard Williams of "Nauseating Neuman" and the nine "Garbage Pail Adults" drawn by Kurtzman and Elder on the back cover.  No writing credits were given,  The "adult" cards were apparently the result of a brainstorming session by the editors.  The parody targets were George Steinbrenner (1930-2010), Prince, Ayatollah Khomeini (1902-1989), Ed Meese, Jesse Helms (1921-2008), Muammar Kaddafi, P.W. Botha (1916-2006), Yasir Arafat (1929-2004) and John McEnroe - all popular foils of the day. 

Frank Jacobs wrote the best parody of the issue ("The Reagan") in the style of Edgar Allan Poe.  President Reagan has generally been treated with kid-gloves by the Mad gang compared to their all-time favorite, Richard Nixon.  Jacobs set the record straight regarding Reaganomics, space missiles and Central America.  Mike Snider added a comment ("The Reagan Rule"): "High-level members of the U.S. government  are PROHIBITED from simply 'making up' facts to support their positions" in his article: "Other Much Needed Rules Named for the Irksome People Who Inspired Them." [JAM 7/14/2011]

Look for Dagwood Bumstead in "How To Pick Up Guys."

Departments:
Knock on Woody - Henna and Her Sickos
VcRx - Video Maladies
Jeering Them On - The Mad Sports Fan Hate Book
Great Crystal Balls of Fire - Mad's Rock Music Predictions
Dick - Follow Up Report on Progress
Fe-Lines - Cat Thoughts
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
Road Scholar - Are You a Good Driver?
Departing Shots - At the Bedside Part I; At the Bedside Part II
Rich Man, Poe Man - The Reagan
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Don Martin - Don Martin Looks at Weddings; At the Wedding of Fred Hemmes
The Karate Kidding - Home Fu!
Blame Dropping - Other Much-Needed Rules Name for the Irksome People Who Inspired Them
Sergio Aragones - A Mad Look at Ms. Liberty
Hobosexual - Clown and Lout in Beverly Hills
Working Off the (Comic) Books - If Super Heroes Needed Extra Money
Women's Glib - How To Pick Up Guys

Fold-In - Rock Fan