Look, you either love Mad Magazine or you don’t. You either grew up with Mad Magazine or you didn’t. You either have a 13-year-old boy living inside you or you don’t. (Which, given the theme of this book, could have a whole different meaning than I intended.) This book is for those of us who do, who did, and who do.

It is really just a good excuse to go back through some of the history of Mad and remember the fun of reading them. The focus on monsters, horror, and others of that ilk means you won’t necessarily get the very best. But, in its own Mad way, it is very good.

Two things it did well for me. First was to truly represent the full gamut of what Mad has been over the fifty years. It starts with pieces from its very beginning, when it was more of a comic spoofing the comics that existed at that time. (Particular mention needs to go to the piece “Outer Sanctum” which does a perfect job of reflecting, and spoofing, the work that was being done then.) And it goes all the way to more recent fare, including an episode of “Monroe”, a series that always seemed uncomfortable and painful, and was still funny. And there are some pieces in between that I vividly remember reading the first time they were printed.

And that is the second thing it did well. It included some of those pieces I read over and over as I read and reread all the Mad Magazines I owned.

Again, if you aren’t a fan of Mad, this won’t make you one. However, if you aren’t a fan…what’s wrong with you anyway?! ( )