MAD Magazine, a bastion of print satire from 1952 to 2018, consistently skewered politics, current events, and pop culture. Its multi-page parodies, brought to life by artists like Mort Drucker and writers like Dick DeBartolo, spared no subject. The 1990s, in particular, represent a period of exceptional output, with many of its pop culture takedowns retaining their comedic edge decades later, some even sharpened by contemporary events.
The Flintstones
In its 1994 issue #331, MAD Magazine parodied the live-action Flintstones movie. Artist Angelo Torres and writer Dick DeBartolo included numerous gags, such as Dino's apparent resentment of Barney the Dinosaur. A recurring joke highlighted the film's strong resemblance to the 1950s sitcom The Honeymooners, with characters frequently misnaming each other with names from the earlier show.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Issue #298, from October 1990, featured a parody of the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film by artist Sam Viviano and writer Dick DeBartolo. The satire focused on perceived similarities between the Turtles' characters and Star Wars figures, particularly Shredder as Darth Vader and Splinter as Yoda. The most biting humor, however, targeted the franchise's massive merchandising empire. A memorable line from Splinter reads, "We must not be seen anywhere! Except on licensed lunch boxes, sweat shirts, hats, bendable dolls, watches, and our Saturday cartoon show and Nintendo games!"
Gremlins 2
Artist Mort Drucker and writer Stan Hart tackled Gremlins 2: The New Batch in MAD issue #298, also from October 1990. While the film itself was already a meta-commentary, the MAD parody introduced elements that resonate even more strongly today. The character Daniel Clamp, a parody of Donald Trump played by John Glover in the film, was renamed "Donald Chump" and depicted with a striking resemblance to Trump. The parody's commentary on Clamp's predatory behavior, particularly his lecherous thoughts toward his female secretary at the company Christmas party, feels particularly prescient.
The Wizard of Oz
Issue #300, published in January 1991, offered a 1990s reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. Celebrities of the era were cast, including Vanna White as the Good Witch and Tammy Faye Bakker as the Wicked Witch. Donald Trump was notably cast as the Wizard. Instead of dispensing whimsical gifts, the Wizard in this parody offers dubious advice, such as encouraging the Scarecrow to engage in the sale of junk bonds, a commentary that has gained a new layer of meaning in light of current political discourse.
Edward Scissorhands
In 1991's issue #304, artist Angelo Torres and writer Dick DeBartolo spoofed Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands. The parody explored the film's peculiar premise, questioning the logic behind Edward's scissor hands and his adoption into a suburban home. A running gag involved Edward carving hedges into the likenesses of pop culture figures like the Simpsons and Big Bird. The parody's darkly comedic climax comes in a flashback, where Edward attempts the Heimlich maneuver on the dying Inventor, played by Vincent Price, accidentally slicing him in half.