Harvey Kurtzman

One of the most influential yet unsung figures in American humor cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman created Mad Magazine in 1952 and for the next few years served as its editor and primary writer After his departure from Mad he created two more humor magazines Trump and Help Although neither was as successful as Mad Help did help launch the careers of a number of future luminaries including Woody Allen Terry Gilliam John Cleese Robert Crumb and Gloria Steinem Kurtzmans sole foray into screenwriting the animated Mad Monster Party 1967 demonstrates much of the famous Mad comedy including a reference to one of the magazines trademark nonsense words veeblefetzer and has developed a strong cult following