Sick (magazine)

Sick was an American humor magazine published from 1957 to 1980. It was one of several humor magazines launched in the wake of Mad's success. Although never as commercially successful as Mad, Sick cultivated a distinct identity focused on more outrageous, grotesque, and politically charged humor.

Edited primarily by Joe Simon, Sick often featured parody, satire, and black humor. Its content tended to be more irreverent and edgy than its contemporaries, pushing boundaries in terms of taste and social commentary. Recurring features included spoofs of popular culture, advertisements, and societal trends.

While Mad maintained a relatively consistent aesthetic, Sick showcased a wider variety of artistic styles and approaches. Contributors included cartoonists such as Basil Wolverton, Jack Davis (occasionally), Bob Clarke, and Bill Elder, among many others.

The magazine's circulation peaked in the early 1960s but declined throughout the decade and into the 1970s. Publication ceased in 1980. Sick is remembered for its unique brand of humor and its influence on subsequent generations of alternative cartoonists and humorists.