Mad's Original Idiots Jack Davis by Jack Davis

“Front covers, caricatures, sports scenes, monsters - his comedic range was just incredible. “There wasn’t anything Jack couldn’t do,” said MAD editor John Ficarra. Jack was one of the founding members of MAD Magazine’s “Usual Gang of Idiots.” An enormously gifted and versatile artist, Davis’ work appeared in the very first issue of MAD and virtually every issue over the next four decades. It is with great sadness that we note the passing this morning of long-time legendary MAD artist Jack Davis.

The staff at the magazine eulogized Davis beautifully. Simons, Georgia, as well as a daughter and a son.Jack Davis, the famously prolific award-winning cartoonist who co-founded the iconic Mad Magazine in 1952, passed away on Jat his home in Athens, Georgia at the age of 91. It perfectly expressed the era in which he worked.'ĭavis is survived by his wife, Dena, of St. 'Jack Davis was a seminal figure in illustration of the last century,' said Chris Garvin, director of the UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art. Navy), he continued to produce innumerable billboards and other artwork celebrating the 'Dawgs' throughout his life. While Davis was masterful at caricatures of recognizable figures, he took amusing liberties with all his subjects, endowing them with distinctly large heads, pipe-stem legs and snowshoe-size feet.Īs a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia (which he attended on the G.I.

Chris Garvin, UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art Jack Davis was a seminal figure in illustration of the last century. In 1961, he wrote, drew, and edited his own comic book, Yak Yak, for Dell Comics. Neuman.Īlong the way, Davis also created numerous covers for TV Guide and Time, and provided artwork for books, record jackets, and posters for films including It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, American Graffiti and Woody Allen's Bananas. His far-flung illustrations poked fun at politicians and celebrities along with countless portraits of the magazine's perpetually grinning mascot, Alfred E. He remained a member of 'The Usual Gang of Idiots' (as the magazine billed them) for the next six decades. His Mad illustrations poked fun at politicians and celebrities along with countless portraits of the magazine's perpetually grinning mascot, Alfred E. Davis is seen signing his autograph next to a self portrait in 2011.

Mad's Original Idiots Jack Davis by Jack Davis