Al Jaffee was an American cartoonist and illustrator best known for his work with Mad Magazine. Jaffee was born on March 13, 1921, in Savannah, Georgia, and began his career as a freelance cartoonist in the 1940s.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
In 1955, Jaffee began contributing to Mad Magazine, where he became known for his inventive fold-in illustrations, which have been a regular feature of the magazine since 1964. Jaffee's fold-ins were often used to satirize political figures and social issues, and he continued to produce them well into his 90s.
Jaffee also created and illustrated several other features for Mad Magazine, including "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions," which became one of the magazine's most popular recurring features. He also worked for other publications, including Time and Esquire, and illustrated numerous children's books.
In addition to his work as a cartoonist and illustrator, Jaffee has been an advocate for cartoonists' rights and has been involved in efforts to improve their working conditions and recognition. He has won numerous awards over the course of his career, including the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award and the Comic-Con Icon Award. Jaffee retired in 2020 at the age of 99, after a career spanning more than 70 years.
Mad Magazine is an American humor magazine that was first published in 1952. It was founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines and quickly became known for its irreverent, satirical take on American popular culture.
Mad Magazine features a mix of original and reprinted content, including humorous articles, parody advertisements, comic strips, and "fold-ins," which are illustrations that can be folded to create a new image and a humorous commentary. The magazine also frequently features parodies of movies, TV shows, and politicians, as well as recurring features such as "Spy vs. Spy," a wordless comic about two spies engaged in a never-ending conflict.
One of the defining features of Mad Magazine is its distinctive art style, which features exaggerated caricatures of celebrities and political figures, as well as a mix of hand-drawn and photographic elements. The magazine has also been known for its use of humorous footnotes and asides, which often comment on the absurdity of the subject matter being parodied.
Over the years, Mad Magazine has become a cultural institution, influencing generations of comedians and satirists. While its popularity has declined in recent years, it remains an important part of American humor history, and its impact can still be seen in contemporary comedy and satire.
