Issue Details

Issue	#23
Published	May 1955
Cover Price	0.10 USD
Pages	36
Editing	Harvey Kurtzman
Notes	Last 10 cent, comic book size issue.

Cover Details - "THINK"

Letters	typeset
Notes	Last 10 cent, comic book size issue.

1 page MD; Psychoanalysis promo (ad from the publisher) "E. C.'s New Direction One-Two-Punch Mags!"

Notes

House ad for MD, Psychoanalysis and 7 other E. C. comics subscriptions. Inside front cover.

1 page text article "Important Announcement"

Letters	typeset
Notes	Notice to readers of an important announcement on the last page of the issue.

6 page Newspaper Cartoon Dept. story "Gopo Gossum!"

Characters	Gopo Gossum; Simple J. Baloney [Joe McCarthy]; Alphonse Alligator [Winston Churchmouse]; Tideland Owl [Marshland Tito]; Ol' Tortoise [Mendup France]; Corky Porcupine [Waterhole Nehru]; Ol' Bloodhound [Change-Ki-Check]; Rackleddy Coon [Chew-An-Play]; Mouse [Georiga Melloncough; Darnold Duck; Mickey Rodent; Goony; Minny Rodent; a tadpole
Synopsis	Gopo mistakenly leads the swamp dwellers into politics and disaster.
Genre	satire
Script	Harvey Kurtzman ?
Pencils	Wally Wood (signed)
Inks	Wally Wood (signed)
Colors	Marie Severin
Notes	Parody of Pogo comic strip.
Reprinted	in Mad Strikes Back (Ballantine Books, 1955 series) #106

1 page MAD Mumblings letters page "MAD Mumblings"

Letters

typeset

9 page Cliche Dept. story "Scenes We'd...Like To See!"

Characters	Snirdingbash; Lance Sterling; Gwathmey
Synopsis	Typical climax scenes from various movie genres, with untypical endings.
Genre	satire
Script	Harvey Kurtzman ?
Pencils	Jack Davis (signed)
Inks	Jack Davis (signed)
Colors	Marie Severin

3 page Newspaper Cartoon Dept. story "Ripup's Believe It Or Don't"

Genre	satire
Script	Harvey Kurtzman ?
Pencils	Wally Wood (signed)
Inks	Wally Wood (signed)
Colors	Marie Severin
Notes	Parody of Ripley's Believe It Or Not strips.

7 page Hollywood Dept. story "The Barefoot Nocountessa!"

Characters	Harry Drawers [Humphrey Yogurt]; The Nocountessa [Ava Nother]; Edward Kirks; Alberto Banano; Count Vincenzo-Torlato-Pizzaria; Melvin Cowznowski
Synopsis	Harry narrates the story of the Nocountessa, as she marries a series of rich men.
Genre	satire
Script	Harvey Kurtzman ?
Pencils	Jack Davis (signed)
Inks	Jack Davis (signed)
Colors	Marie Severin
Notes	Parody of movie The Barefoot Countessa.

1 page The MAD Reader promo (ad from the publisher) "untitled"

Letters	typeset
Notes	House ad for The MAD Reader paperback book.

1 page Mad Magazine text article "Here Is The Very Important Announcement"

Synopsis	Announcement that MAD will change to a magazine-sized book with #24 within 3 months.
Genre	fact
Letters	typeset

1 page The FUNMan advertisement "Men-Women-Boys-Girls Prizes Given"

Letters	typeset
Notes	Ad for FUNman religious wall motto sales.

1 page Zenith Company advertisement "319 All-Different Stamps"

Pencils	? (photo)
Inks	? (photo)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Ad for approval stamp service of Zenith Company.

1 page Stuart Greetings advertisement "Tell Me What You Want Money For..."

Characters	B. J. Stuart
Pencils	?; ? (photo)
Inks	?; ? (photo)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Ad for greeting card sales.

1 page National Radio Institute advertisement "I Will Train You at Home in Spare Time to Be A Radio-Television Technician"

Characters	J. E. Smith
Pencils	? (photo)
Inks	? (photo)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Ad for electronics training. Inside back cover.

1 page Charles Atlas advertisement "Check The Kind of Body You Want!"

Characters	Charles Atlas
Pencils	? (photo)
Inks	? (photo)
Letters	typeset
Notes	Ad for body-building booklet. On back cover.