Kurtzman's groundwork as the original editor, artist and sole writer of MAD magazine provided the foundation for one of the greatest publishing successes of the 20th century. But how did Kurtzman invent MAD, and why did he leave it so shortly after it burst nova-like on to the American scene? Bill Schelly's biography finally answers these questions for the first time. Featuring fresh interviews with Kurtzman's colleagues, friends and family, including Hugh Hefner, Al Feldstein, R. Crumb and many others.