Al Feldstein

Albert Bernhard Feldstein (October 24, 1925 – April 29, 2014) was an American writer, editor, and artist best known for his foundational contributions to EC Comics' horror, science fiction, and suspense titles in the early 1950s and for serving as editor-in-chief of MAD magazine from 1956 to 1984.

Feldstein joined EC Comics in 1948, where he wrote and illustrated stories for titles such as Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror, and Weird Science, pioneering mature, twist-ending narratives that emphasized moral consequences and gruesome realism, often adapting works by authors like Ray Bradbury. His efforts, alongside publisher William M. Gaines, helped revolutionize comic book storytelling by targeting adult sensibilities amid post-war cultural shifts, though the visceral content drew scrutiny that contributed to the 1954 Comics Code restrictions.

Assuming editorial control of MAD after Harvey Kurtzman's departure, Feldstein shifted it from a comic book to a black-and-white magazine format, expanding its satirical scope to lampoon advertising, television, politics, and popular culture while recruiting talents like Mort Drucker, Dave Berg, and Antonio Prohias for features such as Spy vs. Spy. Under his leadership, MAD's circulation surged from hundreds of thousands to peaks exceeding 2 million copies monthly by the 1970s, cementing its status as a countercultural staple that influenced generations of humorists and critics. After retiring, Feldstein relocated to Montana, pursuing landscape and wildlife painting until his death at his ranch in Paradise Valley.