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Mad Special [Mad Super Special]#38
Cover: Sergio Aragonés

Mad Special [Mad Super Special] #38

Apr 1982 · EC · 2.00 USD
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"Early One Morning in the Near Future" delivers a delightfully absurd spin on sports poetry in Mad Special #38, a 1982 classic that finds Frank Jacobs crafting whimsical, satirical verses on everything from track meets to hockey goals. Jack Davis brings the manic energy to the page with his signature grotesque flair, while Sergio Aragonés’ cover delivers the expected chaos—perfectly matching the issue’s playful, offbeat tone.

Contains 29 stories
Early One Morning in the Near Future
1 pp · Humor
Rockhead
7 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
RockheadAppalling GreedAtriumBawly
The Mad Baseball Primer
3 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
Don Martin on the Golf Course
2 pp · Humor
You Know You're Really a Football Fan When...
2 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
One Day at the Ocean
1 pp · Humor
The Mad Game of Basebrawl
6 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
What Coaches Say...
3 pp · Humor
The Mad Ice Hockey Primer
3 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
A Mad Look at Hunting
4 pp · Humor
Sports Typography
2 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
The Hunter
1 pp · Humor
Surfing
6 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
Howard at the Mike
3 pp · Humor
Howard CosellFrank GiffordDon MeredithLily Tomlin [as Miss Tomlin of the Telephone Company]

In this playful homage to sports broadcasting, Howard Cosell’s larger-than-life presence takes center stage in a satirical, verse-driven tribute modeled after "Casey at the Bat." With sharp wit and a rhythm that honors its literary roots, the story captures the electric energy of Monday Night Football through the lens of one unforgettable announcer.

In the Locker Room
2 pp · Humor
The Little League Hall of Fame
3 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
A Mad Look at the Joys of Scuba Diving
7 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
A Sports Fan's Garden of Verses
4 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
Alfred E. NeumanLew AlcindorJoe NamathRod TaylorDean MartinFred MacMurrayChuck ConnorsAl HirtCurt GowdyJim NaborsJack LemmonErnest Borgnine

In "A Sports Fan's Garden of Verses," a delightfully absurd collection of mock-epic poems takes aim at the rituals and obsessions of fandom, from the mythical "Broadway Joe" to the quiet dignity of the "Hometown Goalie." With wry wit and playful form, each verse turns a sports moment into a miniature satire—whether it’s the pilgrimage to the track or the sacred geometry of Doubleday.

The Mad Gun Owners and Other Small Bores Primer
3 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
On a Saturday Afternoon
1 pp · Humor
A Nostalgic Look at Sandlot Baseball
4 pp · Humor
Mad Magazine Introduces 43-man Squamish
3 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
A Mad Look at Bicycling
2 pp · Humor
Outdoor Sports Indoors
4 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
The Sports Spectators' Hall of Fame
3 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
One Night at the Fights
2 pp · Humor
The Longest Yardbird
7 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
Burt Reynolds [as Crude]Eddie Albert [as Warden Hazard]Ed Lauter [as Capt. Clobber]Michael Conrad [as Nate Scarbooboo]James Hampton [as Carefaker]Richard Kiel [as Tarzan Finster]
The Finish
1 pp · Humor, Satire-Parody
One Day at the Beach
1 pp · Humor

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta
Raw (Fine) $8
CGC 9.8 · 1 in census $353*
CGC 9.6 none in existence
CGC 9.4 none in existence
CGC 9.2 none in existence
CGC 9.0 none in existence
CGC 8.5 · 1 in census $30*
* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade
Our model’s value — refined as new sales data arrives · CGC census counts shown where available

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Cast · 1 character

Full credits

artist, inker Jack Davis
cover pencils, inks Sergio Aragonés

Reprints

↩ Reprints Mad #63 (1961), Mad #66 (1961), Mad #80 (1963), Mad #85 (1964), Mad #93 (1965), Mad #94 (1965), Mad #95 (1965), Mad #98 (1965), Mad #106 (1966), Mad #107 (1966), Mad #109 (1967), Mad #111 (1967), Mad #114 (1967), Mad #120 (1968), Mad #121 (1968), Mad #125 (1969), Mad #128 (1969), Mad #134 (1970), Mad #138 (1970), Mad #140 (1971), Mad #145 (1971), Mad #149 (1972), Mad #152 (1972), Mad #155 (1972), Mad #163 (1973), Mad #167 (1974), Mad #174 (1975), Mad #176 (1975), Mad #194 (1977)

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