If you are reading this, then you're probably a fan of Al Jaffee. You know and love him for his Mad Fold-ins, his Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions, his Mad Inventions, and his hysterically funny writing and artwork for Mad Magazine.
There is a new biography about Jaffee called "Al Jaffee's Mad Life." It is written by Mary-Lou Weisman, and profusely illustrated by Al Jaffee himself. There is a color drawing on almost every other page. Most of them are brand new for this volume, and they add wonderful details to the story. Jaffee's story would be remarkable just for the great comics work he's done. Did you know that one of his first jobs was working for the 18 year old wonder-kid Stan Lee at the company that was to become Marvel Comics. Did you know that his best friend in school was Mad's Rembrant, Will Elder? Another classmate was Harvey Kurtzman?
Jaffee's father could draw characters from the Sunday Funnies, to the delight of his children.
What makes this biographical book so remarkable is the harrowing life that Jaffee and his led. His eccentric and deeply religious mother took him and his brothers from America to Lithuania, not once but twice. He lived in abject poverty and was narrowly rescued from the holocaust by his father.
It's all true, and it's one of the most remarkable and compelling biographies that I've read. It's a must-read if you are a Mad magazine fan, or just a comics fan in general. This is a biography that rises to the level of great fiction.
An assembly line of children producing paintings of airplanes for sale at local stores. The group includes Al Jaffee and Will Elder.
