MAD Magazine has been something of a cultural institution ever since it first launched in 1952. After decades of satirizing an ever-changing world, the periodical is setting its sights on the DC Universe… and everything around it already looks perfect.
This week, DC announced MAD About DC, a 64-page one-shot that will be released on Wednesday, April 1st. (Because of course it will.) The publisher, which has been handling MAD‘s distribution since 2018, will be the subject of the entire issue, with a roster of writers and artists setting out to parody, skewer, and gleefully dismantle the DC Universe.
MAD About DC will be guest-edited by writer and artist Chip Zdarsky, whose work on books like Batman, Daredevil, and Sex Criminals has made him a fan-favorite creator in the industry. Zdarsky has already been roasting the comic world through his own periodical, Zdarsky Comic News, which was available for free through comic shops and just wrapped up its run this past December.
“They say at DC there’s nowhere to go but down after writing Batman, and, yeah, it’s true,” Zdarsky said in a statement. “It’s very true.”
“This project embraces the spirit of MAD Magazine in the best possible way,” DC Editor-in-Chief Marie Javins echoed. “MAD has a long tradition of sharp, fearless satire, poking fun at everything, including DC, with real wit and craft. When Chip pitched a project that would roast the DC Universe, it was clear he could assemble the right team. These creators know our characters inside and out, which is why they can twist them in ways that feel both surprising and smart. That kind of playful irreverence is what MAD does best.”
MAD About DC features a main cover by Dan Panosian ($7.99), cardstock variants by Simon Bisley and Chip Zdarsky ($8.99), and a foil variant by Panosian ($10.99).
MAD About DC‘s Creative Teams!
The MAD About DC announcement came with a list of who will be contributing to the issue — an impressive who’s who of creators from DC and beyond.
The issue will include Sergio Aragonés’ “A MAD Look at Comic Book Stores”, Jim Zub & Ramon Perez teaming up for “Guy vs. Spy”, and a brand-new DC Fold-In by Charles Soule & Ryan Browne.
It will also include work from Kyle Starks, Dave Johnson, Tini Howard, Mattie Lubchansky, Mark Waid, Ty Templeton, Rainbow Rowell, Vita Ayala, M.L. Sanapo, Mark Russell, Steve Lieber, Jeff Parker, Lukas Ketner, Gerry Duggan, Scott Aukerman, Mitch Gerads, Joanne Starer, Joe Quinones, Scott Snyder, Josh Williamson, Deniz Camp, Gail Simone, Colleen Doran, Joe Kelly, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro, Ryan North, Erica Henderson, Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Mariko Tamaki, Riley Rossmo, Al Ewing, PJ Holden, Shannon Wheeler, Leah Williams, Isaac Goodhart, Cody Ziglar, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Daniel Kibblesmith, Brandt&Stein, Casey Gilly, J. Bone, Skottie Young, Andrew Wheeler, Stephen Byrne, Colleen Coover, Benjamin Errett, Matt Fraction, Kagan McLeod, Lee Gatlin, Joseph Starkey, Graham Roumieu…and more?!
MAD About DC will be released wherever comics are sold on Wednesday, April 1st.
(featured image: DC)
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