Trump!: The Complete Collection

by Harvey Kurtzman

Launched in January 1957 by Harvey Kurtzman and Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner, Trump partnered Kurtzman with many of his "usual gang of idiots" from his time at MAD - famous humor artists such as Jack Davis, Al Jaffee, and Wally Wood. They were joined by such dynamic humorists as Arnold Roth, comedians Mel Brooks and Doodles Weaver, and TV writer and novelist Max Shulman (creator of the character Dobie Gillis, who appeared in dozens of stories, a movie, and the popular TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis). Though it lasted only two issues, this first effort after Kurtzman's historic split from MAD was the breeding ground for the magazines Humbug and Help! - and would ultimately lead to the more than thirty year run of Kurtzman and Will Elder's landmark character Little Annie Fanny in the pages of Playboy magazine.

Genres: Comics, Humor, History, Anthologies

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2009

Reviews

[Bill Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trump sounds like it should have been the ultimate humor magazine in the mid 1950s. Harvey Kurtzman still on a tear with the enormous success of Mad, hired by Hugh Hefner to produce a big budget slick magazine with the best of the Mad gang. The presentation in this edition could hardly be better too -- the complete contents of the two published issues reprinted for the first time, along with editorial notes, working drafts of writing and art, annotations, and a reconstruction of what the third issue might have looked like if Hefner hadn't pulled the plug on it.

But the question that begs answering for me is, why isn't more of it funny? There are some five star pieces in the first issue and Wood and Elder both shine like the stars they are, but a lot of the material feels stale and lacking in the bite that distinguishes the best of Kurtzman's work in Mad. The contrasts between the gold and the straw are impossible to overlook. Maybe the mix was an impossible one; the intrinsically subversive style of Kurtzman's humor may never have mixed with the new definition of sophistication that Hefner was creating. (As an aside, Hefner's attention to detail in some of the correspondence between him and Kurtzman is astonishing -- he really does seem to have been a hands-on publisher in more ways than one.) Despite the uneven material, this is a book essential for anyone who is a fan of Kurtzman or the talented EC gang that made Mad immortal, and Kitchen Sink deserves a gold star for presenting it to modern readers.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stopped reading most of the text since i didn't really find it funny.
Art was amazing. I was kind of expecting more nudity tbh.

[Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book to celebrate. Kurtzman's first post-Mad project, the slick magazine Trump, published by Hugh Hefner, was a thing of beauty, but it lasted only two issues and has never been reprinted (though a few pieces from the two published issues and the never-completed third issue have turned up here and there). There was some stunning work in these magazines, perhaps most notably the full-colour painted foldout in issue one that parodies Life magazine's History of Man series. One of Will Elder's most inspired pieces. Another of his best works was intended for issue 3: his Norman Rockwell parody, reproduced here (albeit not for the first time), along with a rough version and some photographs from the modelling sessions. Most of the material is at least amusing, though some has dated, as satire is wont to do. Fortunately, there are annotations that often help illuminate pieces the implication sof which might otherwise be obscure. Some other pieces are predictable. anyone who knows Kurtzman's work will see where the Rin-Tin-Tin parody is going long before it gets there, though it remains a thing of visual beauty, with exceptional Jack Davis art. The reproduction/restoration work is excellent; everything looks great. A must-have for Kurtzman fans, and worth a look by pretty much anyone who enjoys satirical work, especially in visual form.

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read, although I appreciate it much more as a historical document than I do as an example of humor. Much of the material in here is quite dated, so younger readers might be at a loss as to why Kurtzman and company would have had such an impact at the time. Still, the pop cultural context is out there to access, so anyone can get in on this text. In this volume, the second in Dark Horse's Essential Kurtzman series, the first published issue of Trump is more notable than the second, which struck me as more labored, at times. (The magazine only lasted two issues before Hugh Hefner pulled the plug on it.) But one of the best parts of this collection is the material Denis Kitchen included on the unpublished third issue, and the speculations and contexts surrounding its planning. Along with that, Kitchen's intros and ample annotations make this an invaluable contribution to underscoring the significance of Kurtzman's career and his ill-fated attempt at the glossy he had always wanted.

[Kyle Burley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harvey Kurtzman's attempt at creating a mature humour magazine, in 1957, yielded uneven results and holds up less well than the more "juvenile" Mad Magazine. (Turns out an Erskine Caldwell parody dates just as badly as Erskine Caldwell.)
Still, there are a few genuine laughs along the way and it's definitely worth a look for the quality of the art, by the likes of Jack Davis, Wally Wood, and Will Elder.
And yes, in 2019 "Trump" IS an unfortunate title.

[Randy]

Hate to point this out but this collection of Trump magazine has never been published and as much as I would love to see it published I doubt whether it ever will be.

[wildct2003 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good artwork, mediocre humor

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only for those who want to collect all of Harvey Kurtzman's material. This was his attempt to get into the slicks with a humor mag after stupidly passing on a percentage of Mad. Hefner funded two issues and then pulled the plug. In a real sense, it is just Mad Magazine - as if was in the 1950s - under a different name. But if anything, they crew didn't push their newfound lack of boundary's enough. They could have and should have gone much, much further. But, alas, the project was never given enough time to be anything more than a half-step between mad and Humbug.

[Nick Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Fantastic package. Great reproductions of the two issue run of the magazine, with a look at the remains of what would have been the third issue. All of this is bookended by Denis Kitchen's extremely helpful introduction and annotations for each element of the magazine.

Highly recommended for students of 1950s American popular culture, and essential for any Kurtzman completist.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the first issue; the second issue was very flat. The roughs for the unfinished third issue were very promising! How frustrating!!

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great piece of comics history, with a wealth of context and behind the scenes material. Don't let the name fool you.

[Mark Schlatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Note: this title has nothing to do with Donald Trump!)

Harvey Kurtzman starts MAD Magazine for William Gaines and EC Comics in 1952, it becomes a big deal and keeps EC afloat while the other comic books crash, and Harvey decides he wants a share of the profits. Gaines says no, Harvey leaves, and Hugh Hefner (yes, that Hugh Hefner!) hires him to produce a glossy humor magazine eventually called Trump.

What Dark Horse and Kitchen Sink have produced here is an amazing record of what might have been. Trump only lasted for two issues, but it's a wonderful two issues, reprinted here in a lovely magazine-sized, full color, expansively annotated edition. (You also get some of the idea of what would have appeared in the third issue.) It's as if all the material from the early MAD Magazine got an upgrade. You have the same focus on satire and parody in comic form along with photographs, illustrations, and essays (one written by Mel Brooks). And a lot of the early MAD crew comes with Harvey, so there's a ton of luscious Will Elder and Jack Davis art, along with a good sprinkling of Arnold Roth and Al Jaffee.

There's a forward from Denis Kitchen that gives a great historical overview of Kurtzman and his efforts, along with some tantalizing glimpses as to what sank Trump. The usual reason cited is that Hefner's publishing efforts were taking a blow due to relocation, a cash flow problem, and distributor issues. But there's also some evidence that Hefner was concerned that Kurtzman's perfectionism would lead to regular missed deadlines, and it's clear that Kurtzman went to town with Hefner's money. My favorite example is a centerfold from the first issue meant to parody a Life magazine spread on the origins of man. Since it's a centerfold in a magazine published by Hefner, of course Kurtzman and company want to sneak in a bit of a Playboy-type pictorial (which takes up about half a page with the text "Hey! Wrong foldout!"). But it's not a piece from a Playboy shoot. Kurtzman hired a photographer and model to get the effect instead of using something already provided by Hefner. Of course, that obsessiveness served Kurtzman's magazines well --- they usually looked great and read fantastically --- but they also cost money and spread the impression that Kurtzman went overboard.

If you're into the early history of MAD Magazine and/or Harvey Kurtzman, this is a must buy. It's gorgeous, well researched, and a pleasure to read.

[Ruz El · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disgruntled with Mad Magazine, Harvey Kurtzman got the opportunity of a life time. A full colour humour magazine backed by Playboy in which he had near complete control. It lasted two issues, and both are reprinted here. A gorgeous hardcover for the gorgeous art, lovingly reprinted, richly annotated with a great opening essay on it's history as well as a look at what might of been issue 3. Finally after all these years, the missing link between Mad and Humbug magazine is here.

Too bad it's not funny.

[James Crabtree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provodes a history of Harvey Kurtzman's first attempt to publish his own humor magazine. Originally called X, Trump employed artists from Mad Magazine, giving them an opportunity to do work that was far more impressive in the fill-color format and high-grade reproductions used in the new magazine. Unfortunately for Kurtzman the cost of Trump was too high, even with Playboy magazine footing the bill. Too far ahead of its time, Trump only published two issues. The book includes the two full issues which went to press, as well as artwork from pieces planned out for #3.

[Charlie Eckhaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reprints entire contents of the short-lived 1950s grown-up humor magazine published by Hugh Hefner/Playboy with Kurtzman's cohorts Will Elder, Jack Davis, Al Jaffee, and Wally Wood, along with previously unseen remnants from the intended 3rd issue.

Other contributors include RO Blechman, Mel Brooks, Phil Interlandi, Caran D'Ache, Roger Price, Ed Fisher, Arnold Roth, Russ Heath.

Loads of background on its founding and swift termination.

[Will Pfeifer]

Great book, beautifully produced, with complete versions of the only two published issues and whatever exists of the never-published third issue, plus background information, annotations and more.

Too bad about the name, though.

[Comics Alternative · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://comicsalternative.com/episode-...

[Paul Corupe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsurpisingly, the only Trump worth your time is Kurtzman's.