Harvey Kurtzman

Harvey Kurtzman was an American cartoonist and editor, best known as the creator of Mad magazine. He began working at EC Comics in 1949 and, seeking to increase his income, proposed the idea for a humor magazine to publisher William Maxwell Gaines.12

The first issues of Mad primarily parodied comic books. Sales improved significantly with the fourth issue, which featured a parody of Superman. Kurtzman's tenure on Mad was brief; he left in 1956 after a dispute with Gaines. He went on to create other humor magazines, including Trump, Humbug, and Help!.1

Mad magazine, which transitioned from a comic book to a magazine format, became a highly successful satirical publication known for its parodies of films, television, advertising, and consumerism. Its mascot, Alfred E. Neuman, with the motto "What—Me Worry?", became an iconic figure.12