Overview

Harvey Kurtzman created Mad, and Mad revolutionized humor in America. Kurtzman was the original editor, artist, and sole writer of Mad, one of the greatest publishing successes of the 20th century. But how did Kurtzman invent Mad, and why did he leave it shortly after it burst, nova-like, onto the American scene? For this heavily researched biography, Bill Schelly conducted new interviews with Kurtzman's colleagues, friends and family, including Hugh Hefner, R. Crumb, Jack Davis, and many others, and examined Kurtzman's personal archives. The result is the true story of one the 20th century's greatest humorists: Kurtzman's family life, the details of the FBI's investigation during the McCarthy Era, his legal battles with William M. Gaines (publisher of Mad), are all revealed for the first time. Rich with anecdotes, this book traces Kurtzman's life from his Brooklyn beginnings to his post-Mad years, when his ceaseless creativity produced more innovations: new magazines, a graphic novel, and Little Annie Fanny in Playboy.

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9781606997611

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Reviews

Kurtzman... was the Matt Groening/Jon Stewart/Tina Fey of his day. The title of a new, exhaustive biography by Bill Schelly..., Harvey Kurtzman: The Man Who Created MAD and Revolutionized Humor in America, makes this exceptionally clear, giving Kurtzman a hero s welcome into the pantheon of American cultural pioneers. --Steven Heller The unsung genius of modern satire. Is revolutionized too strong? No way. Kurtzman was, in the words of Art Spiegelman, a goddamn national treasure. ...Schelly approaches Kurtzman s work, life and the surrounding sociopolitical context as an all-encompassing tableau. ... As a chronological survey of Kurtzman s career, Schelly s book is a comprehensive, informed endeavor, and will certainly fill many of the gaps in Kurtzman s professional history.--Akin Ajayi Thoroughly researched devoted fans will welcome this exhaustive study. Bill Schelly has done a solid piece of work. Informative and fun for comics fans who have long glorified Kurtzman... For the general public, the book is Kurtzman's long overdue induction into the pantheon of certified American comic geniuses. ... Schelly details Kurtzman's life honestly and wisely avoids exploiting the melodrama in the rise and sad, slow fall of Harvey Kurtzman...--Paul Karasik ...Schelly approaches Kurtzman's work, life and the surrounding sociopolitical context as an all-encompassing tableau. ... As a chronological survey of Kurtzman's career, Schelly's book is a comprehensive, informed endeavor, and will certainly fill many of the gaps in Kurtzman's professional history.--Akin Ajayi With this book, Schelly emerges as a first-rate comics historian, writer, and critic. ... Schelly's superb marshaling of the bits and pieces of Kurtzmania extant into a highly readable narrative allows one to fully grasp the life and career of the genius behind some of the funniest comics ever made.--Paul Tumey Thoroughly researched...devoted fans will welcome this exhaustive study.

With this book, Schelly emerges as a first-rate comics historian, writer, and critic. ... Schelly's superb marshaling of the bits and pieces of Kurtzmania extant into a highly readable narrative allows one to fully grasp the life and career of the genius behind some of the funniest comics ever made.--Paul Tumey

Bill Schelly has done a solid piece of work. Informative and fun for comics fans who have long glorified Kurtzman... For the general public, the book is Kurtzman's long overdue induction into the pantheon of certified American comic geniuses. ... Schelly details Kurtzman's life honestly and wisely avoids exploiting the melodrama in the rise and sad, slow fall of Harvey Kurtzman...--Paul Karasik ...Schelly approaches Kurtzman's work, life and the surrounding sociopolitical context as an all-encompassing tableau. ... As a chronological survey of Kurtzman's career, Schelly's book is a comprehensive, informed endeavor, and will certainly fill many of the gaps in Kurtzman's professional history.--Akin Ajayi With this book, Schelly emerges as a first-rate comics historian, writer, and critic. ... Schelly's superb marshaling of the bits and pieces of Kurtzmania extant into a highly readable narrative allows one to fully grasp the life and career of the genius behind some of the funniest comics ever made.--Paul Tumey Thoroughly researched...devoted fans will welcome this exhaustive study.

Kurtzman... was the Matt Groening/Jon Stewart/Tina Fey of his day. The title of a new, exhaustive biography by Bill Schelly..., Harvey Kurtzman: The Man Who Created MAD and Revolutionized Humor in America, makes this exceptionally clear, giving Kurtzman a hero s welcome into the pantheon of American cultural pioneers. --Steven Heller Is revolutionized too strong? No way. Kurtzman was, in the words of Art Spiegelman, a goddamn national treasure. The unsung genius of modern satire. Thoroughly researched devoted fans will welcome this exhaustive study. ...Schelly approaches Kurtzman s work, life and the surrounding sociopolitical context as an all-encompassing tableau. ... As a chronological survey of Kurtzman s career, Schelly s book is a comprehensive, informed endeavor, and will certainly fill many of the gaps in Kurtzman s professional history.--Akin Ajayi Bill Schelly has done a solid piece of work. Informative and fun for comics fans who have long glorified Kurtzman... For the general public, the book is Kurtzman's long overdue induction into the pantheon of certified American comic geniuses. ... Schelly details Kurtzman's life honestly and wisely avoids exploiting the melodrama in the rise and sad, slow fall of Harvey Kurtzman...--Paul Karasik With this book, Schelly emerges as a first-rate comics historian, writer, and critic. ... Schelly's superb marshaling of the bits and pieces of Kurtzmania extant into a highly readable narrative allows one to fully grasp the life and career of the genius behind some of the funniest comics ever made.--Paul Tumey ...Schelly approaches Kurtzman's work, life and the surrounding sociopolitical context as an all-encompassing tableau. ... As a chronological survey of Kurtzman's career, Schelly's book is a comprehensive, informed endeavor, and will certainly fill many of the gaps in Kurtzman's professional history.--Akin Ajayi Thoroughly researched...devoted fans will welcome this exhaustive study.

Is revolutionized too strong? No way. Kurtzman was, in the words of Art Spiegelman, a goddamn national treasure.

Author Information

Bill Schelly (1951-2019) was an Eisner Award-winning biographer and chronicler of comics fandom, who wrote books about comics luminaries Harvey Kurtzman, Joe Kubert, John Stanley, Otto Binder, and comedic silent film star Harry Langdon. His final book was the expanded edition of his autobiography, Sense of Wonder, in 2018.

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