10 Questions and Answers with Mark Arnold, author of Unconditionally Mad
1. Why a MAD Magazine book now?
My publisher, Ben Ohmart, has been bugging me for a history of MAD book for almost a decade. After the success of "If You're Cracked, You're Happy, Part Won and Part Too" it seemed inevitable that I would eventually tackle America's foremost humor magazine for the past 70 years.
2. Why didn't you want to write it?
I didn't want to do it for a number of reasons. I knew it would be a massive undertaking, and in the end, I was right. I also didn't want to write it because I thought the complete history of MAD book had already been written about three or four times, by people who were there.
3. What changed your mind and go ahead and write it?
I realized that every MAD history book was written in the 1990s or before, so an update was definitely needed. I also had begun my Fun Ideas Podcast and thought it would be fun to interview the various MAD men ON my podcast and then transcribe the useful bits for the book. Plus, this book is the first UNAUTHORIZED history of MAD so I was able to include some of the not-so-nice stuff that has usually been cut out of previous MAD histories.
4. What took it so long to write?
It took me four and a half years to complete, which was longer than any other book that I have written so far. Admittedly, there were a few breaks due to working on other projects, but not many. It basically was a lot of work and research.
5. Like your Cracked history, your MAD history is two books. Why?
Well, like Cracked, we're talking about a long period of history. Cracked was around for 45 years and MAD over 70. Unless you gloss over a lot of stuff and leave a lot of stuff out, it really needs a lengthy book to truly tell the complete story. It was the first time my Google Docs wouldn't save, so even before Ben requested the book be split in two, I had to split it into two or I couldn't save it.
6. What is the official title of these books?
Unconditionally MAD, Part 1 and Part B
7. Who is this book for?
Hopefully every MAD fan from the most scholarly to the casual fan. Casual fans should learn a few things about one of their favorite magazines, but I have unearthed much information that will surprise even the most seasoned fan.
8. Is anything missing from the books?
Not much. I will say for those looking for snippets of original MAD art and articles from MAD throughout the book, I would recommend looking elsewhere. My book is focused on the history of MAD and anyone who wants to read the articles cited throughout the book is recommended to purchase some back issues or a comprehensive collection.
9. Tell us about that cover. It's by Jack Davis and he's been dead for almost a decade.
It was a commissioned piece of art done by Davis back in the 1990s and used with permission by my friend Lee Hester of Lee's Comics. The original painting has Lee's head and it was used to promote a comic book collection that Lee was selling at the time. It has been used in Lee's Comics advertising many times since. I instructed my artists to overlay Alfred E. Neuman with a bag on his head in order to circumvent any trademark issues. Same with the MAD logo, but this shouldn't ruin anyone's enjoyment of the book. Besides, Alfred and the logo appear many times inside.
10. You know, it's really hard to come up with 10 questions.
You're right. Just go out and buy the books, Unconditionally MAD, Part 1 and Part B, currently available in hardback or paperback.