Mad Special [Mad Super Special] #53

In "One Thursday Afternoon at the Edge of a Meadow," Tom Koch crafts a series of haunting, offbeat poems that linger in the mind long after reading, each one a small, sharp portrait of quiet dread or absurdity. George Woodbridge’s expressive artwork—both penciled and inked—gives these eerie little tales a distinct, melancholic grace, while Bob Clarke’s cover captures the issue’s unsettling, dreamlike tone with a single, striking image. A 2.50 USD comic from 1985, this Mad Special #53 stands out for its unique blend of poetry and illustration, offering a rare, introspective moment in the series’ usual satire.