Publishers / EC / Mad (1952) / #53
53March 1960
$0.25

Mad #53

EC · March 1960 · on sale 1959-12-29

First appearance: Fidel Castro
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
  • Buy links are eBay affiliate links. They never change what the record says.

Identification plate

Series
Mad (EC, 1952 series)
Issue
#53
Publication date
March 1960
Key date
1960-03-00
On-sale date
1959-12-29
Indicia publisher
E.C. Publications Inc.
Price
$0.25
Pages
52

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Fidel Castro - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0Special Leap Year Issuecover1pencils: Kelly Freas; inks: Kelly Freas; colors: Kelly FreasAlfred E. Neuman
1...Fleischman's Makes You A Big Guy!illustration1pencils: Kelly Freas; inks: Kelly Freas
2Departmentstable of contents1pencils: various (see Notes); inks: various (see Notes); letters: typeset
3For St. Valentine's Day...promo (ad from the publisher)0.33pencils: ? (photo); inks: ? (photo); letters: typeset
4If Your Latest Flame Is Too Much For You Give Her A Subscription To MADpromo (ad from the publisher)0.17letters: typeset
5Random Samplings of Reader Mailletters page0.75script: Albert B. Feldstein; pencils: Joe Orlando, Kelly Freas, George Woodbridge; inks: Joe Orlando, Kelly Freas, George WoodbridgeMoxie Cowznofsky
6A St. Valentine's Day Heartbreaker!promo (ad from the publisher)0.17pencils: Norman Mingo; inks: Norman MingoAlfred E. Neuman
7Statement of the Ownership, Management, Circulation, Etc.statement of ownership0.25script: William M. Gaines
8If You're Worried About Being Caught This Leap Year...promo (ad from the publisher)0.33pencils: ? (photo); inks: ? (photo); letters: typeset
9Personalized Merchandisingcomic story4script: Frank Jacobs; pencils: Bob Clarke; inks: Bob ClarkeFloyd Patterson
10Breakfast At Liggett'scomic story2script: Don Martin; pencils: Don Martin; inks: Don Martin
11MAD's Tips On Highway Safetycomic story2script: Tom Koch; pencils: George Woodbridge; inks: George Woodbridge
12New Movie Monsters From Madison Avenuecomic story3script: E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Wallace Wood; inks: Wallace Wood
13What Would Happen If Teenagers Ran The Countrycomic story4script: Dave Berg; pencils: Dave Berg; inks: Dave BergAlfred E. Neuman
14The Rifle, Man!comic story4script: Nick Meglin; pencils: Mort Drucker; inks: Mort DruckerLucas; Lucas's son; Annie Oakley
15MAD's Society Pagecomic story3script: Larry Siegel; pencils: Bob Clarke; inks: Bob ClarkeStephanie Duprey; Napoleon VII; Elizabeth Ann Sessingfors; Major General Francis Nottingham; Daphne Aldershot; Augustine Snootpelt; Zelda Zyttzger; Sparky Gahagan; Goldie Zelch; BooBoo Adair; Sophie Phoebe Pletz
16Changing History For Commercial TVcomic story4script: Larry Siegel; pencils: Joe Orlando; inks: Joe OrlandoPresident Abraham Oldsmobile; Ralph Waldo Motorola; J. Edgar Electrolux; Nicolaus Copernicus; Mrs. Copernicus; Lizzie Sealtest; General George Custer; Sir Kleenex; Mr. Jamison; Benjamin Franklin; John Allstate; Wild Bill Hickok
17Valentines To People We've Fallen Out of Love Withcomic story2script: Frank Jacobs; pencils: Mort Drucker; inks: Mort DruckerMarlon Brando, Fidel Castro First, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor
18Balcony Scenecomic story1script: Don Martin; pencils: Don Martin; inks: Don Martin
19MAD Goes To An Alfred Hatchplot Moviecomic story4script: Larry Siegel; pencils: Wallace Wood; inks: Wallace WoodSheldon Getzoff; Mrs. Getzoff; Alfred Hatchplot (lots of cameos); Sidney Zinn [Melvin]
20Modern Sources of Untapped Energycomic story3script: Sy Reit; pencils: George Woodbridge; inks: George Woodbridge
21Skiingcomic story4script: Dave Berg; pencils: Bob Clarke; inks: Bob Clarke
22Hazards of Illuminated Signscomic story4script: Sy Reit; pencils: Joe Orlando; inks: Joe Orlando
23Down On Wall Streetcomic story1script: Don Martin; pencils: Don Martin; inks: Don Martin
24Marvin Talks About "Small Cars"text article0letters: typesetMarginal Marvin
25Now...The Chiselers At MAD Present A Real Bust!promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Lester Krauss, Bill Elder; inks: Lester Krauss, Bill ElderKonrad Strainer
26Nikita Khrushchev Says: "It Was Easy As Borscht Taking Kossacolor Pictures Like These!"comic story1pencils: Kelly Freas; inks: Kelly Freas; colors: Kelly FreasNikita Khrushchev

Where to read it

CollectionYear
The Worst from MAD #41961On eBay ›
The Worst from MAD #81965On eBay ›
More Trash from Mad #41961On eBay ›
Mad Special [Mad Super Special] #401982On eBay ›
Mad Follies #11963On eBay ›
Mad Follies #31965On eBay ›
Dave Berg's Mad Trash #[nn]1981On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check spine ticks and cover gloss in the photos; silver-age Marvels chip at the edges easily.
  • Look for tanning at the page edges and transfer stains on the inside covers.
  • Confirm the cover price against the plate; higher prices can mean a later or foreign printing.

Series context

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com