Mad #73

Mad Magazine pulls off a perfect piece of self-aware mischief with issue #73 from September 1962 — the entire front cover is a stark black field dominated by a bold orange command: "WARNING! DO NOT LOOK AT THE BACK COVER OF THIS MAGAZINE!" Alfred E. Neuman grins down from his familiar circle in the upper corner, perfectly content to dare you into doing exactly what you're told not to. It's the kind of deadpan, irresistible gag that made Mad the sharpest 25¢ you could spend in 1962.