Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #7
Published October-November 1953
Cover Price 0.10 USD
Pages 36
Editing Harvey Kurtzman
Notes Character appearances, Department names and other miscellaneous info for this issue added by Donald Dale Milne, December 2008.

Cover Details - "Aha, Dr. Whatsit!"

Characters Shermlock Shomes; Dr. Whatsit
Genre humor; parody
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Inks Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Notes Character appearances, Department names and other miscellaneous info for this issue added by Donald Dale Milne, December 2008.
Reprinted in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn]

1 page promo (ad from the publisher) "If You Haven't Been Able To Find 'MAD' On Your Local Newsstand..."

Pencils Bill Elder (signed)
Inks Bill Elder (signed)
Notes Subscription ad for MAD. Inside front cover.

8 page Crime Dept.; Shermlock Shomes story "Shermlock Shomes!"

Characters Shermlock Shomes; Dr. Whatsit; Cecil B. V. D. Mill (cameo); Mrs. Gowanus; a woman; the woman's uncle
Synopsis A parody of Sherlock Holmes. Fearing for her uncle's life, a woman has Shermlock break into his room and Shermlock goes nuts trying to solve the non-crime.
Genre humor; parody
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils Bill Elder (signed)
Inks Bill Elder (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Notes References Lassie Rover and Rollover Rover from the Kane Keen story in MAD #5.
Reprinted in Inside Mad (Ballantine Books, 1955 series) #124; in Mad About the Fifties (Little, Brown & Co., 1997 series) #[nn]; MAD Special [MAD Super Special] (EC, 1970 series) #18; Tales Calculated to Drive You Mad (EC, 1997 series) #3

7 page Classic-Type Comics Dept. story "Treasure Island!"

Characters Melvin of the Apes (cameo); Melvin Hawkins; Captain Rollem Bones; Long-John Aluminum; Melvin Mole (cameo)
Synopsis A parody of Classics Illustrated comics version of Treasure Island.
Genre humor; parody
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils John Severin [as Long John Severin] (signed)
Inks John Severin [as Long John Severin] (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Reprinted in Tales Calculated to Drive You Mad (EC, 1997 series) #3

Half page E.C. comics promo (ad from the publisher) "We At E.C. Are Proudest of Our Science-Fiction Magazines "

Synopsis House ad for Weird Fantasy #21.
Pencils Frank Frazetta (signed); Al Williamson (signed)
Inks Frank Frazetta (signed); Al Williamson (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Letters ?; typeset
Notes Left side of page

1 page Cloak-And-Dagger Dept. text story "Operation Under-the-Ground [Chapter 1]"

Characters Five Fingers Jones; The Chief
Synopsis Five Fingers makes his first appearance and receives instructions.
Genre humor
Script Harvey Kurtzman ?
Letters typeset
Notes Right side of one page and left side of facing page.
Reprinted in Tales Calculated to Drive You Mad (EC, 1997 series) #3

Half page E.C. comics promo (ad from the publisher)

Synopsis House ad for the Picture Stories books.
Letters typeset
Notes Thumbnail cover reproductions of Picture Stories from the Bible Complete Old Testament, Picture Stories of the Bible Complete New Testament, Picture Stories from Science #2, and Picture Stories from World History #2. Right side of page.

1 page MAD Mumblings letters page "MAD Mumblings"

Synopsis Introduction of the E.C. Fan-Addict Club.
Letters typeset
Notes No letters published in this issue.

1 page Collectors' Item Dept.; Hey Look! story "Look What I Have!"

Synopsis A man brings home a new puppy that likes to chew things.
Genre humor
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils Harvey Kurtzman
Inks Harvey Kurtsman
Colors Marie Severin
Letters Harvey Kurtzman
Notes The first panel contains text lacking in the original publication noting that this and the following 5 pages are reprints.
Reprinted From Margie Comics (Marvel, 1946 series) #44 (December 1948)

1 page Collectors' Item Dept.; Hey Look! story "I--Have An Egg!!"

Synopsis A man has an egg he can't crack.
Genre humor
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Inks Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Letters Harvey Kurtzman
Reprinted From Gay Comics (Marvel, 1944 series) #34 (October 1948)

1 page Collectors' Item Dept.; Hey Look! story "Climbing Over Rocky Mountain..."

Synopsis A man discovers a beautiful lake in the mountains.
Genre humor
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Inks Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Letters Harvey Kurtzman
Reprinted From Joker Comics (Marvel, 1942 series) #33 (September 1948)

1 page Collectors' Item Dept.; Hey Look! story "This Toaster Shoots The Toast Up Too High!"

Synopsis A man's toaster shoots the toast too high.
Genre humor
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Inks Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Letters Harvey Kurtzman
Reprinted From Patsy Walker (Marvel, 1945 series) #21 (March 1949)

1 page Collectors' Item Dept.; Hey Look! story "My Friend Sings!"

Synopsis A man's friend loves to sing.
Genre humor
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Inks Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Letters Harvey Kurtzman
Reprinted From Gay Comics (Marvel, 1944 series) #36 (February 1949)

1 page Collectors' Item Dept.; Hey Look! story "I Can Flip An Egg Any Way!"

Synopsis A man can flip eggs any way.
Genre humor
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Inks Harvey Kurtzman (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Letters Harvey Kurtzman
Reprinted From Nellie the Nurse (Marvel, 1945 series) #16 (December 1948)

7 page Airplane Dept. story "Smilin' Melvin!"

Characters Smilin' Melvin; Upwind Johnson; Thatstuff
Synopsis A parody of the aviation comic strip Smiling Jack.
Genre humor; parody
Script Harvey Kurtzman
Pencils Wally Wood (signed)
Inks Wally Wood (signed)
Colors Marie Severin
Notes May be first use of the word "Veeble-fetzer."
Reprinted in Inside Mad (Ballantine Books, 1955 series) #124; Tales Calculated to Drive You Mad (EC, 1997 series) #3

1 page International Correspondence Schools advertisement They Claim This Coupon Brings You "Good Luck"

Letters typeset
Notes An ad for the International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, PA.

1 page SeaGee Co. advertisement "Television Bank"

Synopsis An ad for Seagee Company's coin bank with an illuminated projection window.
Letters typeset
Notes Inside back cover.

1 page Wil-Knit Hoisery Co. advertisement "Men! Women! Take Orders For Famous Nylons Guaranteed 9 mos."

Synopsis An ad for salesmen for the Wil-Knit Hosiery Company in Greenfield, Ohio.
Pencils ? (photgraph)
Inks ? (photgraph)
Letters typeset
Notes Back cover