Jack Rickard (March 8, 1922[1][2] – July 22, 1983) was an American illustrator for numerous advertising campaigns and multiple comic strips but was best known as a key contributor toMad for more than two decades. Rickard's artwork appeared in more than 175Mad issues, including 35 covers; he also illustrated sixteenMad paperback covers.
After attending theRochester Institute of Technology on an art scholarship, Rickard didcommercial art for Chaite Studios in the 1950s. He illustrated covers for "men's magazines" such as "Adventure" and "True Detective",[3] contributed toCharlton Comics and worked as an assistant on theLi'l Abnercomic strip. Soon after, he became a mainstay in the advertising field, where his work attracted the attention ofMad's editors. He began illustrating for the humor magazine in 1961 and remained a regular until his death from cancer 22 years later.[4]
In 1966–1967, he collaborated withMell Lazarus on a newspapercomic strip,Pauline McPeril (a.k.a.The Adventures of Pauline McPeril) forPublishers-Hall Syndicate. Lazarus used the pseudonym "Fulton" on this strip, which followed the misadventures of blonde secret agent McPeril.[5]
Mad editorNick Meglin commented, "I think of all the artists we've had, we miss Jack the most. Jack had so many styles, such a total command of all techniques. He was especially useful when we wanted something to have a real rounded, 3-D look to it." AfterNorman Mingo semi-retired in 1976, Rickard becameMad's main cover artist until his death seven years later.
He also illustrated for the originalMad paperbacks, includingFrank Jacobs'Mad About Sports (1972). Some of hisMad work was reprinted inRichard Linklater'sDazed and Confused: Teenage Nostalgia. Instant and Cool 70's Memorabilia (MCA, 1993), a tie-in with Linklater's 1993 film,Dazed and Confused.
Rickard's style was in demand for film promotional artwork and posters. Among his numerous assignments, he created the poster art for twoSidney Poitier films,Uptown Saturday Night andLet's Do It Again, twoPeter Sellers films, the 1963 filmThe Pink Panther[6] and the 1974Soft Beds, Hard Battles (a.k.a.Party for Hitler andUndercovers Hero), and the Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis filmBoeing Boeing. Rickard illustrated both the original film poster forBob & Carol & Ted & Alice and its parody on the cover ofMad #137.