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May 17, 2001

THIS IS THE COVER of Mad #70, painted by Frank Kelly Freas.  It was the last cover he did for the publication, though not the last one to see print.  #70 was also the first issue I purchased, shortly before my tenth birthday, which coincided with the tenth birthday of Mad.  So infatuated was I with my new discovery that I immediately began to scour second-hand book shops and by the time #71 came out, I owned every single issue of Mad since it went to a magazine format (as of #25) plus all the paperbacks that had then been published.  It took a few years to pick up the earlier comic book issues and, of course, I've purchased every one since, including a few that had — choke! — articles by me in them.  So it would not be untrue to say that the purchase of this issue was a big turning point in my life.

This is a circuitous way to announce that I have just signed to write Mad About Art, a book about the illustrators who have adorned the pages of that wacky periodical, lo these many years.  It's supposed to be an exhaustive, penetrating look at them all, so I guess that means I'll have to mention Sergio...which I may do only in the margins.  The book is a joint venture of DC Comics and Watson-Guptill, and it isn't scheduled for release until the latter part of 2002.  In the meantime though, I'm looking for material — especially any preliminary sketches or roughs that may be out there.  If you have such a thing and would be willing to loan it for inclusion, drop a note to me.

MEREDITH WILLSON wrote The Music Man, one of the all-time great theatrical creations.  He set his story in River City, Iowa but he was really writing about his home town of Mason City in the same state.  You can get a look at the home in which he was born, and take an Internet tour, at this link.  The house resembles the dwelling in which Marion the Librarian lived in both the movie and every stage production I've seen.

MONTY PYTHON fans may want to check out some very funny biographies of the troupe written by John Cleese on their website.  Here's the link.  Click on the various Pythons' names, especially The Cleese Shop.

THE LATE SANDY BARON was a comedian with more problems — most of them mental and/or self-induced — than any human being oughta endure.  Here's a link to an article in the L.A. Times by one gent who witnessed some of it and attempted to help.  Having crossed paths a few times with Mr. Baron, I have no doubt that every word of it is true.

ADDED A NEW ENTRY to our roster of Incessantly-Asked Questions.  This one is, "How do I get a job writing comic books?" and you can read my answer, for whatever it may be worth, here.

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