Looking for an old comic about the Automat

July 26, 2024 6:18 PM

This is a long shot, but: I'm looking for an old comic about the Automat. It is almost definitely from the 1970s or before, and may have been in Mad Magazine and/or a Mad compilation paperback.

As far as I recall, this was a single-panel, black and white pen/ink comic. It showed the front of the Automat with people getting food out of the compartments. There may have been a sign saying "Everything is Automated" or something like that. Behind the scenes, the comic showed people (in chef uniforms?) frantically shoving replacement food into the compartments.

My memory of the comic doesn't give me strong Don Martin or Al Jaffee vibes, but who knows if I've got that right. I probably saw it in a mass-market paperback compilation of Mad Magazine cartoons - but again, who knows?

Bonus question, in case nobody can find this: I'd also be interested in your recommendations of single-panel comics on similar themes that are online and can be easily linked to.

posted by expialidocious to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

I agree this is from a Mad compilation because I'm pretty sure I remember it too.
posted by potrzebie at 6:46 PM on July 26 [2 favorites]

But I can state unequivocally it's not in Good 'n' Mad, the only one I have at my house
posted by potrzebie at 7:07 PM on July 26

"From a 1963 Mad magazine" according to this thread.
posted by one for the books at 10:02 PM on July 26 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Almost - it's from MAD Magazine issue 63.
posted by offog at 4:33 AM on July 27 [12 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks! I also figured out where I saw the cartoon, it was in the compilation "It's a World, World, World, World Mad" - the reprint with Alfred E. Neuman's head as a globe.
posted by expialidocious at 10:17 AM on July 29