By Gavin Guffey, Staff Writer

Cincinnati Art Museum’s current “What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine” exhibition invites visitors to experience the historic and artistic nature of the popular American publication.

The exhibition began on Nov. 21, 2025, and runs through March 1, 2026. Organized mainly by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., it takes viewers through the extensive history of MAD, detailing its rise, controversies and changes over the years.

When visitors reach the second floor of the museum and enter the exhibition, they are given two options. The first, on the left, is a chronological summary of MAD. The right is a collection of significant art from notable editions over time.

The chronological summary begins with a wall showcasing the original MAD comic strip covers from No. 4 through No. 41, excluding No. 28 and No. 39, detailing the magazine’s beginnings in 1952.

MAD was originally published as a comic book series by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines. The original issue, titled “Tales Calculated to Drive You Mad,” was published in a time where satirical humor was rare in media across the United States.

Then, the exhibition highlights MAD’s 1955 rebrand, where it returned as a bi-monthly magazine, sparing no one in its satirical issues. Humor included jokes on social trends, consumerism and the Cold War.

Next, the exhibition follows the success of MAD, where Kurtzman demanded majority ownership of the magazine from Gaines. Kurtzman left the magazine when Gaines rejected his proposal.

This then led to a period of experimentation at MAD, as Gaines searched for his crew over the next seven years. He soon after sold MAD, and under new management it continued to thrive. The exhibition also follows the introduction of a prominent MAD character, Alfred E. Neuman, and his appearances in most MAD productions.

When visitors of the exhibition leave the historic portion, they may walk across to the second portion, featuring various artwork and “Fold-Ins,” one of the magazine’s more notable features, from over the years.

This side of the exhibition also includes the origins of the famous “Spy vs. Spy” portion of MAD. Originally intended to parallel the perceived silliness of the Cold War, “Spy vs. Spy” pitted two spies against each other, with one in nearly all white and the other  in nearly all black. They engaged in endless feuds and violent endeavors, with no one “winning” in the end.

Other art in this section includes political puns, modern parodies of celebrities and more. Even “Swifties” took a hit in the humor, with a 2024 piece from Johnny Sampson displayed, titled “Who Will Feel it the Most if Taylor and Travis Break Up,” referring to the current relationship of popular singer Taylor Swift and professional football player Travis Kelce.

When visitors finish walking through both sections of the exhibit, they are invited to take a fun picture in the seat of Alfred, paralleling his self-portrait found within the exhibition.

Exhibitions like “What, Me Worry?” and more are opportunities that may help the Museum drive more students into the Cincinnati art scene, including students from Xavier.

“We went for my art seminar because we were learning more about art history in different moments, and movements of time throughout,” first-year graphic design major Grace Lux said. Lux also highlighted her favorite exhibitions from the Museum.

“The way everything is set up is very cohesive. I really love the areas where there are mainly oil paintings, there is a whole section that is about artists from Cincinnati as well,” she said.

The “What, Me Worry?” exhibition costs $12 for adults and $8 for senior citizens, college students and children, with children five years and younger being free. When purchased online, tickets are $2 cheaper.

Following the conclusion of the “What, Me Worry?” exhibition, there will be one special exhibition currently available at the Cincinnati Art Museum – “Longing: Painting from the Pahari Kingdoms of the Northwest Himalayas,” which lasts until June 7, 2026. Additionally, beginning on April 24, 2026, a new exhibition will begin, titled “Elizabeth Hawes: Radical American Fashion.”