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    Legendary MAD Magazine artist Willie Elder Passes Away at 86

    Stephen SchleicherBy Stephen SchleicherMay 16, 20081 Comment2 Mins Read

    Who doesn’t have found memories of reading MAD Magazine as a kid, giggling and laughing at all the humor that was packed in each and every issue. Word came out yesterday that artist Willie Elder passed away, which saddens me.

    William “Willie” Elder, the successful cartoonist and commercial illustrator whose work helped launch MAD Magazine, died Thursday morning, May 15th, 2008. He was 86.

    Born Wolf William Eisenberg in the Bronx, New York, Elder changed his name after returning in World War II. During his time of service, Elder was part of the map-making team that was instrumental in the invasion of Normandy.

    Willelder.jpg

    When Harvey Kurtzman launched MAD Magazine in 1952, he hired Elder along with Wally Wood, Jim Severin, and Jack Davis to produce content for the first issues.

    “Willie Elder was one of the funniest artists to ever work for MAD. He created visual feasts with dozens of background gags layered into every MAD story he illustrated,” says John Ficarra, Editor of MAD Magazine, “He called these gags “chicken fat.” Willie’s “anything goes” art style set the tone for the entire magazine and created a look that endures to this day.”

    “Willie’s passing saddens all of us here at MAD,” says Sam Viviano, MAD Magazine Art Director, “Everyone who has attempted to draw a funny picture over the course of the last fifty or sixty years owes an enormous debt to Willie, who taught us all how to do it — and no one has ever done it better than he did.”

    via DC Comics

    Art Director art style Bronx New York Commercial Illustrator dc comics Eisenberg Enormous Debt Harvey Kurtzman Invasion Of Normandy Mad Magazine Mad Story Magazine Art Severin Sixty Years Thursday Morning Visual Feasts Viviano Wally Wood Wolf William world war ii
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    Stephen Schleicher
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    Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...

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    1 Comment

    1. james deckert on May 16, 2008 3:24 pm

      Ouch.
      One more great artist from Mad Magazine is gone.

      Reply

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