Mad #136

In this satirical gem from Mad #136, Alfred E. Neuman appears in a series of whimsical, exaggerated guises, each marking the fictional passing of a fading American tradition—from drive-in theaters to rotary dial phones—presented as mock obituaries in the magazine’s signature deadpan style. The humor lies in the absurdly dignified tributes to everyday cultural relics, all rendered in the classic, irreverent spirit of the era.

In this sharp 1970 satire from Mad #136, Jo takes on the role of Vice-President Spiro Agnew in a gleefully absurd profile that skewers the office with mock-serious flair. Through a series of exaggerated, typeset vignettes, Agnew’s daily duties are portrayed as a parade of public gaffes, each one making the President look like a statesman by contrast.

In "Room 222ZZZZZZZZZ," a satirical take on the TV series of the same name, a relentlessly charming and effortlessly popular teacher navigates the absurdly exaggerated world of a high school so implausibly dysfunctional it might as well be a dream. The story skewers the genre with deadpan humor and exaggerated tropes, all rendered in sharp, typeset lettering that adds to the mock-serious tone.