Mad #518

MAD #518 takes dead aim at the entire Twilight saga, promising to spoof all five films in a single issue — a gleefully ambitious target. Mark Fredrickson's cover painting renders hyper-realistic caricatures of the brooding vampire and the dark-haired heroine flanking a gap-toothed, Alfred E. Neuman-esque child with flowing red hair, while a snarling wolf lurks at the edge of the frame. Rounding things out are teasers for "Pageant Moms," "Planet Tad," and a 2013 pull-out calendar, making this December 2012 issue a packed holiday treat for fans of sharp satire.