Mad #379 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Yo-yo Issue - March 1999

The yo-yo was invented in Greece in 500 B.C.  It made its first appearance in Mad #1 in "GANEFS!" drawn by Will Elder.  The yo-yo continued to be a popular sight gag (chicken fat) in the early issues of Mad along with the black-bomb, the eight-ball and false teeth.  This important cultural icon remained in the background until it burst upon the cover of Mad #379 with a rather young version of Alfred E. Neuman as drawn by Drew Struzan making his first and only (to date) appearance in Mad.  Struzan is a noted artist famous for his movie posters, album covers and book covers.  Inside the yo-yo was featured in jokes by John Caldwell and Duck Edwing.  Al Jaffee drew the Edwing ideas.  The best of the yo-yo jokes are the simple tricks by Edwing and Barbie's wrecking ball by Caldwell.  The Ken Starr prosecution of Mr. Rogers ("The Special Prosecutor's Report ...") was also a good idea but it did run along a bit too far.  Two pages would have been enough. [JAM 8/4/2013]

Departments:
Opposites Attacked - Kharma & Dreg
Crossing the Channel Surfers - Mad's TV Expert Quiz
Angster's Paradise - Monroe & ... The Man
Daughter World - Mad Tags Along on a Typical Date with Chelsea Clinton
Spinning Is the Only Thing - The Mad World of Yo-Yos Parts I, II and III
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
Living off the Fad of the Land -Mad-sterpiece Theater Presents: The Home Schlocking Network's "Beanie Baby Hour"
Disc-Claimers - Even Yet Still More Badly Needed Warning Labels for Rock Albums
Altered Egos - More Mad Morphs
The Irrational Inquirer - The Special Prosecutor's Report on Mr. Rogers
Stick a Fork in Them, They're Duncan - What to do with Your Yo-Yo When the Fad Dies
frank on a Roll - The Late Night Spree of Saul Devere
Adam's Ribbed - Whattabore
Serge-In General - A Mad Look at Parades
Grieving Las Vegas - Mad's Celebrity Cause-of Death Betting Odds

Fold-In - Gay Bashing