Mad #468

Alfred E. Neuman soars above the Earth in full Superman regalia — cape, "A"-emblazoned chest shield, and gap-toothed grin intact — hoisting the massive MAD logo overhead against a star-filled cosmos, all rendered with impressive painted realism by cover artist Mark Fredrickson. The tagline "Superman Returns! (Unfortunately)" sets the magazine's irreverent tone perfectly, and teaser lines promise MAD's particular brand of mockery aimed at Pirates of the Caribbean, summer concerts, and video game laws. This August 2006 issue is a delightfully shameless skewering of superhero summer-blockbuster culture, delivered with the cheerful absurdity only MAD can pull off.