Cartoons with gags on them

From the June 1961 issue of Bachelor

For Monsters Only, 1 of 2

One of Cracked's spin-off magazines before they only did annuals, similar to the title Monster Howls they did around the same time. This was a combination of Cracked and Famous Monsters of Filmland, based on the success of the latter. They even had ads in the back for model kits, posters, and the like. There was a lot of repackaging, using material from previous issues of Cracked and original material that was later reprinted in that magazine as well. This was the first issue from November...I want to say 1965 or 66.

The masthead used the last names of actual contributors to the magazine. “McCartney” was the name Bill Ward used for some material.

Parody of the LaSalle Correspondence School ads that were in most black and white magazines

Comic drawn by John Severin.

Bill Ward

Giant History of Cracked, part 1

This issue of Giant Cracked from 1986 featured what they thought to be the best of Cracked up to that time, or mostly their inventory of articles about Cracked

Cover by Bill Wray The inside front and back covers have a sampling of what they considered the best covers, including the one from their first issue I reprinted a few months ago.

Rather than my own annotations, I'll use the ones that were printed in the magazine itself:

“Cover of Cracked #1 (March 1958) illustrated by Bill Everett. This cover, featuring SYLVESTER P. SMYTHE's first appearance, was designed and layed out by JOHN SEVERIN. When John brought the layout in and found out how little the publisher was willing to pay for the finished painting, he declined to do it and the layout was passed on to Bill, who did this interpretation. Bill created the SUB-MARINER for Marvel Comics in the 1930's and was a constant contributor in the 50's.

"By CRACKED #2 [below], the publisher wised up and got SEVERIN to do the cover. John has been doing CRACKED covers nearly non-stop for close to 30 years, totalling over 200 separate covers! This issue is also notable for the first appearance of BILL WARD, the first SHUT-UPS, and the first CRACKED movie parody. TV had already been lampooned in issue #1. "Just about the only Thing older than CRACKED is AMERICAN BANDSTAND! This satire was drawn by genius-at-large JOHN SEVERIN and also appeared in #2. CRACKED's first TV parody appeared in #1. It was GUNSMOKE by RUSS HEATH[...] "From CRACKED #6, this article was illustrated by WILL ELDER, who also collaborated with JOHN SEVERIN on those great EC war comics of the '50's. After he left the original MAD, he drew many articles for CRACKED and then went on to do the LITTLE ANNIE FANNY strip for PLAYBOY along with HARVEY KURTZMAN. “You get a behind-the-scenes look at the early CRACKED in this one. As usual, SEVERIN crams the panels with a million gags! Also from #6, December 1958. “A regular contributor to the early CRACKED was illustratorGRAY MORROW, who went on to draw many comic books and strips. “Another artist who left the original MAD was JACK DAVIS, who did a whole load of work for CRACKED. He is known by millions for his ad illos and magazine covers for TIME and TV GUIDE. This article was in CRACKED #12, January 1960. Before there were punks or hippies, there were beatniks!”

Some of these pages have dotted lines, which are used to determine the margins for the printer. ”This excellent piece was written by the prolific GEORGE GLADIR and was his second article for CRACKED. The first was CRACKED SPACE HELMETS. Recently run in the GIANT CRACKED SCI-FI SPECIAL. Both stories were originally in CRACKED #25, July 1962. GLADIR still writes for CRACKED and is also a senior writer at ARCHIE comics. Even their vision of how the Cracked office really is is an exaggeration, as I've been told the office was more of a cubicle.

CRACKED #59

Now here's some of Cracked from April 1967.

Here's a rare occasion where the cover's not by John Severin. This time it's by John Duillo.

“What's up front?”, the contents page asks, then they answer themselves:

For our next sensational act, we proudly present SYLVESTER P. SMYTHE and his cage of cunning, snarling cats. The lions and tigers are so savage, they can even rip the New York City Telephone Directory apart! For many years, Sylvester has dreamed of becoming a lion tamer. He started of small; training fleas and chickens He gradually worked his way up to parakeets and large puppy dogs. And now his day for the big test, THE HOUR OF TRUTH, has arrived! Use the chair, Sylvester! Use the chair! Ooops! The tiger has just broken the chair, and is using it for a toothpick!

I always wondered it his name was pronounced “Smith” or “Smīth”. inside front cover This AT&T parody ad was by Vic Martin. Then is The Swinger Set, a series of movie stills with cations like the inside front cover.

I'm not sure who drew this two-pager. Article illustrated by Osvaldo Laino is reprinted from Cracked #21. Monsters In the News by John Severin.

The obligatory comics spoof written by George Gladir and drawn by Bill Hoest. Before this is another Severin article, If Picture Postcards Told the Truth, followed by this Vic Martin centerfold. Laurel and Hardy's Wacky World of Fun was another photo caption feature, before this.

Gag cartoons from Oscar Blotta, not to be confused with his son, another Crackedcontributor Oskar Blotta. Room 5-C Is signed “Sigbjörn”, but is actually Severin again, then a photo caption feature, Four Smiles Only.

I don't know why the punchline was upside-down, but I flipped it because I know you can't turn your screen upside-down. The Hottest Questions in Basketball by Bill Ward also has panels upside-down for some reason.

From If Colleges Advertised. Even though it's signed “Arthur Knockwurst”, it's actually by Charles Rodrigues. The back cover is some window stickers.

Next Wednesday: Cracked #69.