AN INTERESTING SIDE NOTE
From J David Spurlock MAD / EC Publisher Bill Gaines knew WALLACE WOOD was the star. When founding MAD editor Harvey Kurtzman quit to launch a competing mag with Hugh Hefner, their plan was to put MAD out by taking the talent (Wood, Elder & Davis) with them. Gaines cited that MAD only had a chance without Harvey if Wood declined the advances of Hefner & Kurtzman. Gaines made it clear, if Wood left, Gaines would shut down MAD/EC and give up as a publisher. Wood stayed and saved MAD which brought in many new contributors and went on to historic success far beyond its early years.