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MAD's Greatest Artists
Completely Mad Don Martin
The Gift Book of the Season.
Just about everyone who came of age during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s was influenced by MAD Magazine, and no one at MAD was more influential than "MAD's MADdest Artist," Don Martin.
His immediately recognizable style-featuring bulbous noses, wild sound effects, and the legendary "hinged feet"-was filled with broad and daring slapstick and routinely broke new ground. A surprisingly quiet man, Martin's work spoke volumes as he left an indelible mark on several generations, influencing the style of many illustrators while shaping the sense of humor of countless misguided youths. He was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2004.
Says Gary Larson, creator of The Far Side: "Don Martin was the one who really stood out."
Now, it is with great pride that Running Press, in collaboration with MAD, launches the MAD's Greatest Artists series with The Completely MAD Don Martin.
For the first time ever, here is the complete collection of every piece of art Don Martin published in MAD throughout his extraordinary thirty-year tenure (1957-1987). With all of Martin's strips, covers, posters, and stickers-presented in chronological order-it is nothing less than a masterpiece of comic genius.
Complementing Martin's opus of published works are letters, sketches, and rare photos providing an in-depth look at the artist at work. Plus, scattered throughout are notes and original illustrations-commissioned for this volume-paying tribute to the artist and penned by MAD's most-notable personalities, including Al Jaffe, Mort Drucker, Jack Davis, Sergio Aragones, and more. There are also notes by thelikes of Jim Davis (Garfield) and a foreword by Gary Larson.
A collector's item and object d'art in its own right, this deluxe two-volume slipcased edition will be the season's must-have gift book for the millions whose childhoods-and subsequent adulthoods-would not have been the same without MAD Magazine and Don Martin.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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About the author
Don Martin
180 books21 followersCartoonist and illustrator for MAD Magazine from 1956 through 1988. Known as "MAD's Maddest Artist."
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 21, 2008
Not enough great things can be said about Don Martin and this comprehensive 2-volume set. In the mid to late-70's, as a kid of about 8 years old, I spent countless hours thumbing through MAD magazines and it was ALWAYS the Don Martins I went to first. Sergio? Jaffee? Yes, geniuses! But Don Martin?! He was the king!
I used to cut or tear out all of the Martin pages and paste them into a homemade scrapbook of sorts. Then I'd trace the goofy figures for hours -- with their bizarrely bent feet and oddly descriptive sound effects (Poit! Furshgluk! Spaloosh!) -- and then I'd practice drawing them on my own until my fingers hurt. I idolized the man. As I look fondly into these books pages it's like reliving that period of my childhood (I see that I was pretty damn comprehensive in my snipping!). Now my yellowed, jagged pages are reproduced in all their glories on heavy stock paper in a more permanent hardcover form.
Each book weighs as much as a pregnant oxe and makes for some seriously uncomfortable reading on the couch (impossible to read in bed!) but for the sheer stellar stupendousness of its contents you simply cannot but anything more wonderful than this treasury. I have to say though, why they didn't split this into 3, 4, or even 5 volumes is beyond me.
No one can ever touch the comic genius and pure creativity of Don Martin. Worth every penny and strained muscle.
I used to cut or tear out all of the Martin pages and paste them into a homemade scrapbook of sorts. Then I'd trace the goofy figures for hours -- with their bizarrely bent feet and oddly descriptive sound effects (Poit! Furshgluk! Spaloosh!) -- and then I'd practice drawing them on my own until my fingers hurt. I idolized the man. As I look fondly into these books pages it's like reliving that period of my childhood (I see that I was pretty damn comprehensive in my snipping!). Now my yellowed, jagged pages are reproduced in all their glories on heavy stock paper in a more permanent hardcover form.
Each book weighs as much as a pregnant oxe and makes for some seriously uncomfortable reading on the couch (impossible to read in bed!) but for the sheer stellar stupendousness of its contents you simply cannot but anything more wonderful than this treasury. I have to say though, why they didn't split this into 3, 4, or even 5 volumes is beyond me.
No one can ever touch the comic genius and pure creativity of Don Martin. Worth every penny and strained muscle.
February 14, 2008
When I was a kid in the 70s, Don Martin so completely warped my personality that, to this day, I still hear "ging, ging, ging" in my mind when I see something bouncing on a spring. The man who gave us Fonebone and flappy feet receives long-overdue homage in this enormous collection, which preserves every single Martin creation that ever ran in the pages of Mad Magazine. It's expensive as the dickens -- even Costco was charging 80-odd dollars for it at Christmastime -- and worth every red cent.
It's interesting to watch the evolution of Martin's ideas, humor and artwork over the span of thirty years. Somehow, and it's hard to pinpoint how, Martin's work lost some of its character when he moved over to the lesser mag Cracked in the late 1980s. Perhaps he felt deflated by losing his three-decade berth at Mad and was just going through the motions. At any rate, this Mad's Greatest Artists collection contains all the essential Martin anyone could ask for, in an impressive package.
It's interesting to watch the evolution of Martin's ideas, humor and artwork over the span of thirty years. Somehow, and it's hard to pinpoint how, Martin's work lost some of its character when he moved over to the lesser mag Cracked in the late 1980s. Perhaps he felt deflated by losing his three-decade berth at Mad and was just going through the motions. At any rate, this Mad's Greatest Artists collection contains all the essential Martin anyone could ask for, in an impressive package.
March 2, 2020
Absolutely disgusting, shockingly vulgar, completely tasteless, utterly vile and depraved!
January 30, 2013
As Bertrand Russell said you have a book cause you enjoy reading it or can brag about it. This book (s) weighs 16 pounds and looks attractive on the book shelf and gives you bragging rights. And it will not easily run away.
Don Martin was MAD magazine’s quintessential Mad artist. You read or thumb through to the end of your life. Regret the book is too heavy to hold on hand. So bedtime reading is out.
Don Martin was MAD magazine’s quintessential Mad artist. You read or thumb through to the end of your life. Regret the book is too heavy to hold on hand. So bedtime reading is out.
November 1, 2010
I see that some people have this marked as "to read"... and I am greatly moved and saddened by the idea that we live in a world where some people don't own this.
June 16, 2019
Did not seem a funny as when growing up during that ERA. I noticed that The Complete Collection of "The Far Side" by Gary Larson had me in stitches each page. A good laugh here and there was enough to keep your attention.. Thanks Don..
September 22, 2023
These aren’t as funny as they were when I was nine or ten years old, but I still got a few chuckles. If you loved Mad magazine you’ll enjoy this book.
February 3, 2013
Mad's Greatest Artists is a great collection of the best Mad art/comics. This set is packed full of witty sarcasm and humor. If you enjoyed Mad Magazine and Mad's numerous books, you will absolutely love this collection. The 2 books are over twice the size of normal coffee table books, in a nice heavy duty box they fit snugly to keep them protected. This is a must have for anyone who needs a good laugh. It's best to have a good deal of free time when you start into them, as it'll be hard to put them down. ... Though I suggest looking them while they are laying on the table, as they are seriously heavy!
March 19, 2017
Don Martin taught me the art of "static animation"... and has directly informed my own art style in a fundamental way.
Don's material in Mad Magazine was as grossly "physical" as could be had in the flat 2D realm of print media, and the range of "sound effects" opened all manner of possibilities for my own work.
This compilation shows the best of the best, and I highly recommend it for any budding visualizer, cartoonist, graphic recorder or anyone who deals in the visual depiction of emotion, action and general mayhem.
Don's material in Mad Magazine was as grossly "physical" as could be had in the flat 2D realm of print media, and the range of "sound effects" opened all manner of possibilities for my own work.
This compilation shows the best of the best, and I highly recommend it for any budding visualizer, cartoonist, graphic recorder or anyone who deals in the visual depiction of emotion, action and general mayhem.
August 24, 2013
Most of the 1000 pages in these two books aren't very funny now that I'm thirty years older than I was when I first read Don Martin in some Mad paperback. However, the collection is beautifully assembled, Don Martin is the first cartoonist whose name I knew and will always hold a special place because of that, and in a few more years son is going to LOVE discovering this glorious goofery for himself.
June 6, 2010
5 star guilty pleasure. not something to read cover to cover in one go at 1200 pages, but a perfectly assembled deluxe omnibus--over-sized, glossy, great essays and remembrances. I hope the publisher goes on to make new volumes with other Mad artists--I would particularly like seeing Dave Berg or Al Jaffee.
July 10, 2016
A look at Don Martin 's work from Mad magazine. This is a massive two volume set. The art work is beautifully reproduced. The volumes are a bit heavy . The first volume had work from the earlier days of his work . The second volume had work from the seventies and eighties and was a bit of nostalgia for me. Don Martin fans will enjoy this collection.
August 29, 2025
I grew up loving Don Martin cartoons. It's wonderful having a collection like this, though knowledgeable readers should be forewarned: this does NOT represent everything Don did for Mad. Martin created several unique cartoons for the MAD paperbacks that are not included here. Hopefully, those will receive their own compilation in the future, for Don was in his prime when they were made.
March 13, 2008
My copy is a shorter pre-release copy and not the complete edition. It is also not hardbound. That said, it was quite entertaining. I read it in one morning, and enjoyed Martin's work more than I'd expected to.
June 30, 2009
Of all the Mad Magazine artists and writers no one was as hysterically funny as Don Martin. This humongous box set is a veritable gift from the comic gods. Guaranteed chuckles and chortles from start to finish.
Oh, by the way: THWACKA THWACKA THWACKA!!!!
Oh, by the way: THWACKA THWACKA THWACKA!!!!
October 27, 2010
I had no idea how much of Martin's material was not published by MAD. This book (s) weighs 16 pounds and does not contain National Gorilla Suit Day. It is still a treat to have 16 pounds of Don in the bookshelves, not scattered in 30 different pocket books.
October 26, 2007
Huge, heavy and totally useless. I love it!
January 28, 2008
Everything Don Martin ever had printed in Mad Magazine in two hefty volumes. Over 1000 pages...17 pounds! Wonderful!
November 8, 2009
This guy warped my world. I love the art style and the demented stories. Owning this book is a treat so classy looking.
February 22, 2010
I grew up on MAD magazine, and Don Martin was always my favorite artist! His bent outlook on life and the way those feet had hinges!
June 8, 2012
Of course this was five stars - it was Don Martin's MAD cartoons! What was scary was how many of the cartoons I remembered from reading back in the day..
April 5, 2012
Every page is a gem. I can think of no-one funnier than Don Martin.
May 25, 2015
The art is very good, but most of the jokes are dated or unfunny.
June 27, 2016
A wonderful tribute to the art and humour of Don Martin. I prefer the drawings to the gags, but this is a wonderfully presented (and heavy) two volume set. For any fan, an essential purchase.
September 23, 2024
A wonderful tribute to the art and humour of Don Martin. I prefer the drawings to the gags, but this is a wonderfully presented (and heavy) two volume set. For any fan, an essential purchase.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews