Mad #319 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Manak's Spy vs. Spy - June 1993

Veteran comic artist and writer, David Manak became the Prohias replacement for this issue and through 1997.  Manak is best known for Sonic the Hedgehog, Sabrina and various Star Wars titles.  Once again, the Mad editors failed to give an artist credit for Spy vs. Spy.  The issue also featured the first of two appearances by David Anson Russo ("Mad Concert Maze") with a very complex double-splash-page that has surprisingly few jokes within it.  It was also interesting to read Mad's first use of the phrase: "weapons of mass destruction" in Stan Hart's "Blunder Siege" movie parody.  [JAM 4/8/2012]

Look for the Mad staff, Tintin, Mickey Mouse and Alfred E. Neuman in "Pick Up Lines to Use in Less Than Sterling Situations."  Also, it was good to see Popeye and Bogie in "Blunder Siege."

Departments:
Humor in a Coppola Vein - Drek-ula
Behind the Donate Ball - Unsuccessful Obligations We'd Like to See Some Celebrities Agree To
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Tricks Are for Kidding - Duck Edwing's Twisted World of Magic and Illusion
The Generation Crap - Having "Baby Boomers" for Parents Means
When Beast Meets Jest - Practical Joke Items for the Pet Hater
Funny Is the Route of All Evil - The Mad Concert Maze
A Man for All Seizin's - Blunder Siege
Flipping Through the Rolo-Dreaks - A TV News Editor's "Experts to Call in a Pinch"
Hitting the Singles Barbs - Pick Up Lines to Use in Less Than Sterling Situations
The Ploys of Summer - Baseball's Most Important Spring Training Drills
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
Clause And Defects - Contractual Obligations We'd Like to See Some Celebrities Agree to
Serge-In General - A Mad Look at the Bible
Frank on a Roll - We're the Stars of the Balls Game
In, Damned Spot! - What's Hot with the Blue Dot

Fold-In - Marlin