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A review by professorfate
Al Jaffee's Mad Life by Mary-Lou Weisman
4.0
I have been reading MAD magazine for probably close to thirty years, and I've always wondered about some of the geniuses who put out such inspiring adolescent humor month after month (or quarter after quarter, or whatever the publishing schedule is these days). When I saw this book mentioned in a issue, I decided to pick it up and read.
It seems to follow the usual biographical pattern for artists: horrible childhood (in this case a religiously maniacal mother who, not once but twice, in effect kidnapped her children to Lithuania and a father who just didn't seem to care most times), how the young artist overcomes the tough times to flourish in a blah blah blah.
While Jaffee's childhood is interesting (that sounds bad, but it's the only word I can think of, dammit!), I think Ms. Weisman dwells a little too long on it. She spends the first roughly 135 pages getting Al through childhood to high school and then condenses his 70-year career into the remaining 85 pages.
It seems to follow the usual biographical pattern for artists: horrible childhood (in this case a religiously maniacal mother who, not once but twice, in effect kidnapped her children to Lithuania and a father who just didn't seem to care most times), how the young artist overcomes the tough times to flourish in a blah blah blah.
While Jaffee's childhood is interesting (that sounds bad, but it's the only word I can think of, dammit!), I think Ms. Weisman dwells a little too long on it. She spends the first roughly 135 pages getting Al through childhood to high school and then condenses his 70-year career into the remaining 85 pages.