Origins & Early Life

Harvey Kurtzman (; October 3, 1924 – February 21, 1993) was an American cartoonist and editor. His best-known work includes writing and editing the parodic comic book Mad from 1952 until 1956, and writing the Little Annie Fanny strips in Playboy from 1962 until 1988. His work is noted for its satire and parody of popular culture, social critique, and attention to detail. Kurtzman's working method has been likened to that of an auteur, and he expected those who illustrated his stories to follow his layouts strictly.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Kurtzman began to work on the New Trend line of comic books at EC Comics in 1950. He wrote and edited the Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline Combat war comic books, where he also drew many of the carefully researched stories, before he created his most-remembered comic book, Mad, in 1952. Kurtzman scripted the stories and had them drawn by top EC cartoonists, most frequently Will Elder, Wally Wood, and Jack Davis; the early Mad was noted for its social critique and parodies of pop culture. The comic book switched to a magazine format in 1955, and Kurtzman left it in 1956 over a dispute with EC's owner William Gaines over financial control. Following his departure, he did a variety...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anatole France — Contemporary (Died in 1924) (1924): Master French writer, poet, and journalist celebrated for irony and style.
• Antony Hewish — Contemporary (Born in 1924) (1924): Pioneering radio astronomer, celebrated for the discovery of pulsars.
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee — Contemporary (Born in 1924) (1924): Indian statesman and poet, served as Prime Minister of India multiple times.
• Alia Bhatt — Contemporary (Born in 1993) (1993): Acclaimed British-Indian actress known for versatile roles in Hindi cinema.
• André the Giant — Contemporary (Died in 1993) (1993): French wrestler and actor, famed for his colossal size and wrestling career.
• Ariana Grande — Contemporary (Born in 1993) (1993): Iconic pop vocalist known for her four-octave range and global influence.
• Akio Morita — Shared historical date (10-03 · Died) (1999): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Denis Healey — Shared historical date (10-03 · Died) (2015): Long-serving British Labour politician, notable for Defence Secretary and Chancellor roles.
• Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi — Shared historical date (02-21 · Died) (1543): Imam and General of the Adal Sultanate, known for conquering Abyssinia.
• Antonio López de Santa Anna — Shared historical date (02-21 · Born) (1794): Controversial Mexican general and politician, pivotal figure in 19th-century Mexican history.
• 1924 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1924
• October 3 (10-03) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 3
• 1993 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1993
• February 21 (02-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 21