MAD Magazine – Norway

In its early years, MAD in Norway experienced significant popularity, launching its first series in 1971 under the publisher Williams Publishing, which produced eight issues from 1971 to 1972. After a hiatus of nine years, Semic revived the second series, running from 1981 to 1994 and spanning 118 issues, making it the most successful MAD edition in Norway. This series featured a blend of translated content from the U.S. edition and original material from Norwegian artists and writers.

The initial editor, Day Kolstad, departed Norsk MAD in early 1986 and later initiated the competing humor magazine ‘Phyton.’ Kolstad recruited several artists from Norwegian MAD, including Arild Midthun and Tommy Sydsæter, transferring them to the rival magazine. The rivalry between Norwegian MAD and Python reached its peak in 1988 when Python printed a fake MAD cover on the back, attempting to lure readers away. This led to a legal battle, resulting in Gevion (Python’s publisher) being ordered to pay 80,000 Norwegian Kroner in damages. In the late 1980s, Python emerged victorious as sales of Norwegian MAD plummeted while Python’s numbers soared, ultimately leading to the closure of Norwegian MAD in 1994.

In 1995, another publisher, ‘Bladkompaniet,’ acquired Norwegian MAD in an attempt to relaunch the magazine, but it only lasted for six issues in 1996. Egmont, the subsequent publisher, made another attempt at a Norwegian version of MAD in 2001, which lasted for only six issues. The last manifestation of MAD in Norway, a special album, appeared on store shelves in 2008.

There were a total of 5 Norwegian Mad Magazines to feature the Phantom.