Mad #291 - Spy vs. Spy vs. Spy (the Grey Spy)
Artist: Bob Clarke (Penciller)
24 Comments - 4,011 Views - 17 Likes
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DescriptionCover dated December 1989. Featuring the notorious Grey Spy!I know that I’m not alone when I say that Spy vs. Spy was always the first feature I would look for when a new issue of Mad arrived. Created by Antonio Prohías, the single page wordless strip satirized Cold War spy tropes to great comedic effect. After Prohías retired in the 1980s, Bob Clarke took over drawing the strip for a few years. This particular page is of great personal significance to me, as Mad #291 was the first issue that I ever bought. My local comic book store did not carry Mad until issue 291, and it jumped out at me from the comic rack when I saw it. I took it home, immediately read it from cover-to-cover, and fell in love with the work of Al Jaffee, Duck Edwing, Dave Berg, Sergio Aragones, Jack Davis, Frank Jacobs, Angelo Torres, Dick DeBartolo and the rest of the usual gang of idiots. I have read Mad on-and-off since that day, but nothing could ever match that first time I experienced the greatest humor magazine that has ever and likely will ever exist. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Paul P Spiderversity 
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
Wow, that is wonderful that you got this page from the VERY FIRST Mad Magazine you bought! And it made me laugh out loud. Spy vs Spy was also the first thing I turned to when I bought one of these mags. Next, I think I did the Mad Fold-In with the inside back cover. Thanks for sharing!
Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
Paul P Spiderversity wrote:
Wow, that is wonderful that you got this page from the VERY FIRST Mad Magazine you bought! And it made me laugh out loud. Spy vs Spy was also the first thing I turned to when I bought one of these mags. Next, I think I did the Mad Fold-In with the inside back cover. Thanks for sharing!
Stupid me, I was scared as a kid to do the Mad Fold-Ins for fear that it would cause too much harm to the condition of the magazines. I'd try to figure out what Al Jaffee had done without actually doing any folding, thus depriving myself of the full effect of the fold-ins. Not very bright.
Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020
2 - Posted on 12/7/2021
Derek Crabbe wrote:
Also, complete story goal unlocked!!!!! :P
I've gone ahead and changed the "Art Type" to "Complete Story" because you're right, it is a complete story!
Derek Crabbe
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
Michael McIsaac wrote:
I've gone ahead and changed the "Art Type" to "Complete Story" because you're right, it is a complete story!
1 of 1. You've collected them all!
Steve N. Comic/Fantasy Art
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
I remember you sharing this lovely, EC spectacular...!
John Espinoza
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
Not only is it too cool that you landed a Spy page, but a friggin' Spy vs Spy vs Spy page with Gray Spy lookin' perky.
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
Grey Spy is rare and highly sought after. The mime work of the body language and the set up panels hit all the comedic beats.
André .
Member Since 2015
2 - Posted on 12/7/2021
I don't think I've ever thought about those guys wearing underwear, but thanks to that last panel... childhood ruined! Lol. Kidding. Great, fun page that brings me back to loving Mad as a kid. Congrats!
Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
André . wrote:
I don't think I've ever thought about those guys wearing underwear, but thanks to that last panel... childhood ruined! Lol. Kidding. Great, fun page that brings me back to loving Mad as a kid. Congrats!
It also looks like both spies wore dentures. I guess after having been blown up countless times, they both lost their original teeth years ago.
Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
I love the fact that it's a 3rd party who comes in and causes both of their deaths!
J H
Member Since 2019
2 - Posted on 12/7/2021
Not a bad way to go out, with a bang. Maybe one day, when I'm really old, I'll go in an explosion, too, and leave only my dentures and underwear behind. Spy vs Spy was one of my favorite Mad gags, too. The Morse code messages were a brilliant idea. Love this. Congrats!
Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
Outstanding add, Michael! So cool that it's from your first issue (and I laughed out loud at both the 'Complete Story' suggestion and execution :) I, of course, see the underwear in the final panel, but I can't help but wonder which Spy they belonged to. Oh, sure - one would EXPECT them to belong to the Black Spy, but knowing the relationship they've had over the years, and how what starts as adversity can often grow into begrudging admiration, then grow into respect, then grow into wearing undergarments you maybe shouldn't (or, uh, so I've heard), well, it's enough to make me wonder. Would they still be 'tidy whiteys' if they belonged to the Black Spy?
Michael McIsaac
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 12/7/2021
Jason Hussa wrote:
Outstanding add, Michael! So cool that it's from your first issue (and I laughed out loud at both the 'Complete Story' suggestion and execution :) I, of course, see the underwear in the final panel, but I can't help but wonder which Spy they belonged to. Oh, sure - one would EXPECT them to belong to the Black Spy, but knowing the relationship they've had over the years, and how what starts as adversity can often grow into begrudging admiration, then grow into respect, then grow into wearing undergarments you maybe shouldn't (or, uh, so I've heard), well, it's enough to make me wonder. Would they still be 'tidy whiteys' if they belonged to the Black Spy?
Look at that second-to-last panel. It's clear they wanted to be friends, and with a gentle push it could have been something beautiful. But no, the Grey Spy cares nothing for the happiness of others!
Hart R.
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 12/9/2021
Amazing strip! Been a fan of Spy vs. Spy since the 70's. Congratulations on!!
Eric B
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 5/9/2023
These were always to awesome. And this one is SO great. Congrats on this fantastic Spy vs. Spy!
Tommy Kohlmaier
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 8/2/2023
Both beautiful done and funny in the best S&S-tradition and the Femmè Fatale is a real highlight, huge congrats !
Bill J
Member Since 2009
Posted on 9/19/2023
Who didn't love Spy vs Spy vs Spy? Heck, I loved it even back when it was just Spy vs Spy! That kind of wordless humor was so much a part of what made MAD so unique! (Remember Sergio Aragones' Marginals?) Anyway, congratulations on picking up an example of this wonderful strip!
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