Al JAFFEE: The Genius Behind The Famous Fold-Ins
Introduction:
Al Jaffee, the iconic cartoonist, and creator of the fold-in passed away at the age of 102. He was a renowned figure, famous for his work in Mad magazine, and his contributions to the world of cartooning. Jaffee’s exceptional talent for satire and his trademark fold-ins revolutionized the industry, making him a legend in his lifetime. In this article, we will explore the life and legacy of Al Jaffee, his famous fold-ins, and his impact on the world of cartooning
Early Life and Career:
Al Jaffee was born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1921. His parents were Jewish Lithuanians who had moved there. His mother never really got used to living in the U.S., so when he was young, he went to live with family in Lithuania for a few years. In the late 1920s, Jaffee's family moved back to the United States. He grew up in New York City.
Jaffee was an artist from a very young age, and he started selling pictures to magazines while he was still in high school. He went to the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan, and then he went to Syracuse University.
When Jaffee was done with school, he went to war and drew comics for the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. In the late 1940s, he went to work for Timely Comics, which would later become Marvel Comics.
Mad Magazine:
In 1955, Jaffee started working at Mad magazine, where he would stay for the rest of his life. Mad was a humorous magazine for preteens and teens that quickly became popular for its funny takes on pop culture and politics. Jaffee made comic strips, features, and pieces for Mad, but his fold-ins are what people remember him for.
Famous Fold-Ins:
When Jaffee started making fold-ins in 1964, they were a joke about the fold-out ads you could get in magazines like Playboy and Sports Illustrated. Each fold-in had a picture with a question and a text above and below it. When the page was folded in thirds vertically, the two sides met to make a new picture and text that answered the question.
People liked Jaffee's fold-ins, which became a signature of Mad magazine. They were funny, clever, and often made comments about society. One famous fold-in, made in 1968 during the Vietnam War, showed kids outside a job station with the question, "What is the one thing most people who drop out of school are sure to become?" When the picture was folded, it showed a young person in a gun with the words "Cannon fodder."
Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions:
Jaffee was also known for his regular segment in Mad called Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions. The feature included sarcastic ripostes to silly questions and was a favorite of readers.
Mad Inventions:
Another popular feature created by Jaffee was Mad Inventions, which included items such as a smokeless ashtray. These inventions were humorous and often absurd, but they also poked fun at real-life gadgets.
Satire Today:
In an interview with The Guardian in 2016, Jaffee said he was worried that lawmakers who lied were making it harder to make satire. He said, "I think they'll beat Mad because they're going above and beyond anything we can think of to show how ridiculous their claims are."
Conclusion:
Cartooning has lost a classic with the death of Al Jaffee. His unique style and sense of humour kept people interested for more than 70 years, and his work for Mad magazine will always be remembered. Fans and other cartoonists will continue to enjoy Jaffee's fold-ins and Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions. Even though he thought dishonest lawmakers were making satire harder, his work is a great example of how to use humour to comment on the stupid things people do. Al Jaffee will be greatly missed, but the happiness he brought to so many other people will keep his memory alive.
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