RIP Jack Davis 1924-2016

Cafe Society
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Reports are that one of the mainstays of Mad Magazine, artist Jack Davis, has died at age 91.

Davis was with Mad from the beginning, and only retired last year. He was best known for the frenetic illustrations featuring crowds of people. He also illustrated many of the earlier EC horror comics. His work has been used on movie posters and on TV Guide covers.

One of the greats.

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One of the greats, indeed.

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The minute I saw this OP I flashed on his artwork. For folks of certain age, it was practically law that you knew all of the various MAD artists and their styles.

Thanks Jack!

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Aww, I was just reading Mad about the 50s and his first Mad work last weekend, too.

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Sorry to hear that, but it’s to be expected. The Old Guard is passing. I’m surprised that Sergio Aragones still has marginal in every issue, and I occasionally see Paul Coker’s, Mort DRucker’s, and Duck Edwing’s stuff.

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I was just thinking about Jack Davis the other day and how for a time his magazine cover illustrations seemed to be everywhere during the 70s–and not just at MAD and TV Guide. Here’s one of the many he did for Time. He also didthe print ad/poster for It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

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And not just print media, for that matter: also things like lunchboxesand album covers. R.I.P. Jack!

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Once you learned to recognize his style, you spotted him all over the place.

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Aye, I saw the name and went “Awwwww man” because I knew exactly who it was. An awesome cluttered and haphazard-seeming style that lent real gravitas to his work and made his art work instantly recognizable.

RIP, Mr. Davis; you done good.

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The “gang of idiots” is inexorably going away. Nothing we can do about it.

My feelings exactly, his work was so characteristic. Thank you Mr. Davis, you brought us much enjoyment.

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I was awed by his level of talent, making the art of caricaturing look so simple. He had the ability to enhance, not exaggerate, the facial features of his portraits. Truly an inspiration.

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Omigod, one of my idols!!!

Two years older than my mom. Hm, that sends a chill through me.

Still, I’ve reached the age where people I looked up to when young are fading away…

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RIP, Jack Davis. My favorite MAD artist.

All of the puppet characters in the movie Mad Monster Party were designed by him.

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I have this one.

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LOL…I like how the snap-trapped rat still appears to be having a good time.

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I think Al Jaffee is still a regular contributor also (at the age of 95).

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Yep. He still does the fold-in every issue. It’s gonna be sad when he goes.

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Sad to hear this news. Jack Davis was a great contributor to Mad Magazine. I’ll miss his work.

Rest well, Jack.

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Aragonés is only 78.

I looked up the others mentioned:

Paul Coker: 95
Mort Drucker: 87
Duck Edwing: 82

Also:

Dick DeBartolo: 70
Frank Jacobs: 87
Al Jaffee: 95
Deceased:

George Woodbridge
Don Martin
Tom Koch
Dave Berg
Antonio Prohías

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Damn. I was just rereading some of my old MAD books, and wondering who is still around. They’ll all be gone soon, but their legacy is firm.