Voting Station

Harvey Kurtzman

Please vote to return to collections.

Artist

The Resume

    (October 3, 1924-February 21, 1993)
    Born in Brooklyn, New York
    Cartoonist and editor
    Editor for EC Comics' 'Frontline Comics' and 'Two-Fisted Tales'
    Founding editor of 'Mad' magazine (1952-56)
    Co-creator of the 'Little Annie Fanny' comic strip in 'Playboy' (1962-88)

Why he might be annoying:

    He took to signing his name with Kurtz followed by a stick figure. (Kurtz-man, get it?)
    He was a perfectionist who objected to artists making changes from his storyboard layouts.
    He left 'Mad' after demanding 51% of the business from publisher William Gaines.
    His next efforts were 'Trump' (folded after two issues) and 'Humbug' (lasted 11 issues).
    He was successfully sued by Archie Comics for putting the Rivendale gang in a night of debauchery at the Playboy Mansion in the comic 'Goodman Beaver Goes Playboy!'
    'Little Annie Fanny' went from being a monthly feature to running four or five times a year in the 70s to appearing only once a twice annually during the 80s.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His war comics were known for their historical accuracy.
    He gave 'Mad' its original satiric vision.
    For his magazine 'Help!' (1960-65), he collaborated with underground cartoonist R. Crumb, future Monty Python members John Cleese and Terry Gilliam, and authors Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury.
    He produced several animated shorts for Sesame Street.
    The New York Times Book Review declared, 'To historians of pop culture, Mr. Kurtzman is one of the most important figures in postwar America.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 19 Votes: 47.37% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 28 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 56 Votes: 37.50% Annoying