MAD magazine to reboot, moves to West Coast

After some 66 years as a comedy institution, MAD Magazine is undergoing substantial change. In April, the magazine will reboot to issue #1 after issue #549. 30 year editor John Ficarra is retiring and the magazine will now be steered by illustrator and comic book artist Bill Morrison. Also, after many, many years in Manhattan (first on Madison ave and then on Broadway), the magazine is shifting offices to California. MAD was created by Harvey Kurtzman and published by Bill Gaines in 1952 under the EC comics imprint. EC remained the publisher until Gaines sold it to Kinney Parking Company in the 60s. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the company eventually fell under the DC Comics umbrella and has remained there since.