Mad Special [Mad Super Special] #34

"Star Blecch" is a sharp, satirical take from 1981, capturing the tension between comedy and censorship through a series of mock CBS network memos addressed to the Smothers Brothers. Written by Ronnie Nathan and illustrated with biting precision by Jack Rickard—both inks and pencils—this piece uses humor and visual storytelling to depict the duo bound and gagged by the very network that once hosted them. The cover, by Norman Mingo, completes the send-up with a striking, tongue-in-cheek image that mirrors the story’s defiant tone.