National Lampoon Magazine #55

In "The Twilight Zone: Pants on Fire!", a director’s obsession with punctuality sets off a chain of increasingly reckless justifications, each crew member bending safety rules in the name of being on time. The story unfolds with dry wit and creeping dread, turning a simple deadline into a surreal descent into absurdity.

In "Hassan's Heroes," Colonel Hassan and his ragtag crew—prisoners of war in Lebanon—attempt a sabotage mission in Beirut, only to find their efforts hilariously inept. This satirical war tale from National Lampoon Magazine #55 captures the absurdity of their misadventures with sharp wit and deadpan humor.

In "How to Win at the Races," a mysterious masked handicapper delivers a deadpan guide to horse racing bets, tossing out seemingly insightful tips that slowly reveal themselves as utterly meaningless—offering the illusion of strategy without a single useful clue.

In a quiet cabin retreat, Maurice and Constable Tom find themselves in an unexpectedly surreal game of dress-up—until a sudden intrusion from a religious cult turns their moment of absurdity into something far stranger. Written and illustrated entirely by B. K. Taylor, this single-page comic blends deadpan humor with a perfectly timed twist of mistaken identity.

In a satirical twist on medieval tropes, a beleaguered king struggles with his child bride while her father’s Faceless Knights wreak havoc across the realm. Meanwhile, Caloric the Wise toils in obscurity, perfecting gadgets no one cares about—except, perhaps, for the one thing he truly wants: turning lead into gold.