It was a huge part of my pre=teen and early teen years. I remember busting my hump shoveling snow and cutting grass to pay for my subscription, and when it came in the mail, retreating to my room to read it from cover to cover (and then folding in the back cover to get the secret message/answere/picture). And then me and my friends who got it would tell each other stories about it, and I would let friends who did have a subscription borrow my copy for a day or two to read.
I was never disappoint and always impressed with the quality of art and especially the humour.
But then came the later teenage years...buckling down to get better grades, play sports, get a "real" job, and girlfriends. And between all that, there wasn't time or money to continue the subscription. Yes, the occasional copy from the newsstand, but don't let anyone catch you reading it. It was so "middle school" and uncool.
RIP Alfred E. Newman, we hardly knew you.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mad-magazines-demise-is-part-of-the-ending-of-a-world/2019/07/05/5b3b49ec-9f49-11e9-b27f-ed2942f73d70_story.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab&utm_term=.9d9b67330281
