April Fools’ Day is typically a time to exercise extreme caution when it comes to anything you read, see, or hear, especially online. However, this is true: “MAD About DC,” a collaboration between the renowned comic book studio and the classic comedy magazine, launches on April 1. Furthermore, Chip Zdarsky, another icon, guest-edited this 64-page one-shot.
A Mess of Heroes and Villains
The issue “brings together an all-star lineup of writers and artists to lovingly roast, parody, and generally make a mess of the characters fans hold dear,” according to an official press release. Naturally, your mind has already put this together.
Specifically, Sergio Aragonés’ “A MAD Look at Comic Book Stores,” Jim Zub and Ramon Perez’s “Guy [Gardner] vs. Spy,” and Charles Soule and Ryan Browne’s DC adaptation of the iconic MAD fold-in are among those volunteering for the roast.
In addition to these features, other luminaries delve into DC’s heroes, villains, and cherished clichés through MAD’s signature humor. Here’s the partial list:
- Al Ewing
- Andrew Wheeler
- Benjamin Errett
- Brandt&Stein
- Bruno Redondo
- Casey Gilly
- Cody Ziglar
- Colleen Coover
- Colleen Doran
- Daniel Kibblesmith
- Daniele Di Nicuolo
- Dave Johnson
- Deniz Camp
- Erica Henderson
- Gail Simone
- Gerry Duggan
- Graham Roumieu
- Isaac Goodhart
- J. Bone
- Jeff Parker
- Joanne Starer
- Joe Kelly
- Joe Quinones
- Joseph Starkey
- Josh Williamson
- Kagan McLeod
- Kelly Sue DeConnick
- Kyle Starks
- Leah Williams
- Lee Gatlin
- Lukas Ketner
- M.L. Sanapo
- Mariko Tamaki
- Mark Russell
- Mark Waid
- Matt Fraction
- Mattie Lubchansky
- Mitch Gerads
- PJ Holden
- Rainbow Rowell
- Riley Rossmo
- Ryan North
- Scott Aukerman
- Scott Snyder
- Shannon Wheeler
- Skottie Young
- Stephen Byrne
- Steve Lieber
- Tini Howard
- Tom Taylor
- Ty Templeton
- Valentine De Landro
- Vita Ayala
Clearly, this is a heavy-hitter list of comic book creators.
The Legacy of MAD and DC
To provide some context, MAD Magazine was acquired by DC in 2018, and after a year, new issues stopped coming out. Consequently, the upcoming release of MAD About DC offers hope for some sort of revival for the boisterous magazine known for thumbing its nose at popular culture. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that any MAD-related items you find on stands now are made up of previously published content.
Release Details and Pricing
On April 1, you can get a copy of MAD About DC at any comic book store. As for the options, Dan Panosian created the primary cover ($8), while cardboard versions by Simon Bisley and Chip Zdarsky ($9) and a foil version by Panosian ($11) will also be available.
Are you going to pick up a copy of this comic book? Let us know in the comments and share it with your fellow comic book fans on social media!
