Mad #412 (Nick Meglin and John Ficarra) - Special Harry Potter Issue - December 2001

Author J.K. Rowling sold 450 million copies of the seven Harry Potter books.  Then, the seven books were made into eight blockbuster movies that grossed $7.7 billion worldwide.  For the second issue after the terrorist attacks, the Mad editors chose Harry Potter as a safe subject for this "Special" issue.  Mort Drucker drew the cover and six pages for Desmond Devlin's mild parody ("Harry Plodder and the Sorry-Ass Story").  Sergio Aragones added "A Mad Look at Harry Potter".  And, author Rowling was the subject of "Mad's Celebrity Cause-of-Death Betting Odds".  Writer Mike Snider concluded that Rowling would not be worrying "about impact of Christian Fundamentalist" bans on book sales.  All staff members carefully avoided any controversial political subjects.  Dave Croatto wrote some tame jokes that we had already heard for "President George W. Bush: The First 6 Months".  Al Jaffee took the cue as well, directing his fold-in joke at Michael Jackson instead of his usual political target.  Monroe kissed his cousin.  The editors devoted the first Letters page to a special message and four patriotic letters (without the usual joke responses) that all basically asked the question: "Is it OK to be funny again?"  And Mad readers everywhere replied: "Yes, please!"  If you let them make us lose our sense of humor, then they win.  [JAM 3/2/2014]

Color Pages:  31 of 56 pages (55%)
Humorous Content: 47 of 56 pages (84%)

Departments:
They're Off to be the Wizards - Harry Plodder and the Sorry-Ass Story
Getting to Personnel - The Mad Etiquette Guide for Modern Workplace Romances
Joke And Dagger - Spy vs. Spy
Read My Slips - President George Bush - The First 6 Months
Rage Against the Cash Machine - ATM Safety Rules That Banks Should Post
Rage Against the Nautilus Machine - You May Want to Re-think Your Gym Choice If
Get an Afterlife! - The Ugghers
All Jaffee - Mad's Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions Special Law Enforcement Edition
Tonight Court - The Jay Leno Class Action Lawsuit
Berg's-Eye View - The Lighter Side
The Pins of the Father - If the Vatican Had a Bowling Team  [fake department]
Angster's Paradise - Monroe & ... Thanksgiving
Bang the Conundrum Slowly - The Mysterious Mysteries of Televised Sports
Serge-In General - A Mad Look at Harry Potter
Grieving Las Vegas - Mad's Celebrity Cause-of-Death Betting Odds  [J.K. Rowling]

Fold-In - Doctors