SCAD MAD!!!

Here's an upcoming gig that will serendipitously cap off my stay in Savannah: the Southeast chapter of the National Cartoonists Society in conjunction with the Sequential Art department @ SCAD is hosting an epic event featuring one of the most awesome lineups in the creative universe. And no, you are never to old to be a fanboy... I guess as long as your heroes are still alive. From the Press Release:

SAVANNAH, Georgia - The Savannah College of Art and Design and the Southeast Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society will present "IT'S A SCAD, MAD, MAD, MAD Weekend," a special weekend celebration of the enduring influence of MAD Magazine's cartoonists from Nov. 11-13 at locations throughout SCAD in Savannah, Georgia.
Highlighting this conference will be "A SCAD, MAD, MAD, MAD Discussion," a panel discussion with some of the original artists from MAD on Nov. 12 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St., Savannah, Georgia. This panel will be free and open to the public.
"SCAD and the sequential art department are both honored and excited about the historical significance of hosting MAD Magazine artists with the National Cartoonist Society, Southeastern Chapter," said SCAD sequential art chair Anthony Fisher. "This is truly a unique opportunity for students to meet and learn form master artists who have contributed to the advancements in the art form of sequential art and defined cultural satire for nearly 60 years."
Self-dubbed "The Usual Gang of Idiots," the legendary cartoonists expected to appear on the panel include:

• Jack Davis. Davis was one of the original cartoonists for MAD in 1952. He illustrated the very first story in the very first issue of MAD.
• Al Jaffee. With his first piece in 1955, Savannah-born Jaffee is MAD's longest-running freelance contributor. He is best known for creating one of the magazine's trademark features, the MAD fold-in. Every issue since April of 1964 has featured a Jaffee fold-in.
• Paul Coker, Jr. Coker has been a contributor to MAD since 1962 and has appeared in over 300 issues.
• Nick Meglin. Meglin is a former editor of MAD Magazine, a position he held for over thirty years.
• 'Duck' Edwing. Edwing began his career with MAD in 1961 and wrote "Spy vs. Spy" for about 12 years, along with his own feature, "Tales from the Duckside."
• Sergio Aragones. Aragones has been at MAD since 1963. He distinguished himself with his "Marginal Thinking" strips, which were printed up, down, across, and around the corners of comic panels to fill in the margins.
• Sam Viviano. Viviano began his MAD career as a freelance artist and while still illustrating articles also currently serves as MAD's art director.
• Tom Richmond. Richmond has been a regular contributor to the magazine since 2000.

This esteemed group of artists will also be working with SCAD sequential art students in workshops and portfolio reviews.
MAD was created in 1952 by the brilliant artist and writer Harvey Kurtzman and maverick publisher William M. Gaines. The magazine quickly became known for its satirical look at all aspects of life and popular culture, politics, entertainment, and public figures. It's been called revolutionary, subversive, surreal, hilarious, and a total waste of time. (The latter by its own editors).

More to come sooner than later as the event unfolds...there promises to be some potentially interesting opportunities.