Mad #296 Cover 1990

This image is the cover of Mad #296, by Jack Davis. I can imagine Davis at his drawing board, conjuring up this cast of baseball caricatures. His expressive line brings them to life on the page. Davis creates a dynamic scene of chaotic energy. The ball players jostle for position, while the crowd in the background look on, with a strange sense of detachment. The watercolor washes animate the characters. The colors are subdued, almost murky, with the effect of something remembered rather than seen directly. I can sense the artist’s hand moving across the surface, building up layers of paint to create depth and texture. The surface fizzes with a nervous energy, a sense of excitement. Davis is in dialogue with a whole host of artists, and continues to spark our imaginations.