Antonio Prohías

Antonio Prohías was a Cuban-American cartoonist best known as the creator of *Spy vs. Spy*, the wordless, black-and-white satire of Cold War espionage that became a staple of *Mad* magazine. Born on January 17, 1921, in Cuba, he began his career as a political cartoonist in Havana, where his sharp wit and distinctive ink style earned him a following. After Fidel Castro’s rise to power, Prohías fled to the United States in 1960. He brought with him a portfolio of his work, which led to an introduction at *Mad*, where editor Al Feldstein immediately recognized his talent. Prohías debuted *Spy vs. Spy* in 1961, and the strip—featuring the endless, silent battles between a black-clad and a white-clad spy—ran until his retirement in 1987. His clean, expressive linework and clever visual gags defined the feature, which he wrote, drew, and lettered entirely himself. Prohías worked primarily with *Mad* and its specials, contributing to dozens of issues over three decades. He died on February 24, 1998, in Miami. Though he never received major industry awards, his creation remains one of *Mad*’s most enduring and recognizable features, influencing generations of cartoonists and readers.