Mad #495

Mad's self-proclaimed "Election Issue" arrives with Alfred E. Neuman rendered in bold red, white, and blue poster art — a clear riff on the campaign imagery dominating 2008 — wearing his "Alfred E. Neuman for President '08" campaign button and that eternally gap-toothed grin. The cover promises a packed satirical lineup, from a 200-year look back at John McCain's career to questions for Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, plus Spy vs. Spy, a Dark Knight parody, and Al Jaffee's beloved Fold-In. With the tagline "Comedy Before Country," this November 2008 issue makes clear that Mad has no intention of letting an election cycle pass without getting in its licks.