Mad #514

Mad #514 (April 2012) delivers a wonderfully absurd cover by Mark Fredrickson that riffs on Grant Wood's American Gothic — replacing the stoic farm couple with food-splattered caricatures of Mike & Molly, billed here as "Television's Biggest Stars," posed in front of an "All You Can Eat Buffet" with an oversized fork standing in for the iconic pitchfork. It's exactly the kind of sharp, affectionate skewering that Mad does so well, and the meticulous painted detail makes every drip and stain count. Inside, the issue also promises Peter Kuper's "The Fundalini Pages," plus MAD's takes on Twilight, GOP candidates, and The Hunger Games — a packed lineup for any fan of smart satire.