The Lighter Side Of... is an American satirical comic strip series created by Dave Berg and published in Mad Magazine from 1961 until 2002. Known for its gentle humor and observational satire, the series became one of Mad's most enduring and beloved features.
Concept
The Lighter Side Of... focused on everyday situations, offering lighthearted commentary on topics such as medicine, office life, marriage, school, shopping, and psychiatry. Early installments typically centered on a single topic—like "Noise," "Spectators," or "Dog Owners"—with around 15 short, multi-panel cartoons exploring different facets of the theme. From 1980 onward, the strip adopted a multi-topic format for each installment.
The series included a recurring character, Roger Kaputnik, a hypochondriac and self-caricature of Dave Berg. Kaputnik appeared alongside his family and personal doctor, often concluding the strip's monthly installments. Berg also caricatured colleagues from Mad Magazine, including publisher William M. Gaines, who frequently appeared in gags set in an office environment. Following Gaines' death in 1992, his portrait was often depicted on a wall in the strip.
Compared to the often edgy and irreverent humor typical of Mad, The Lighter Side Of... stood out for its more old-fashioned and less biting comedic style. Its art was also notably more realistic than many of the magazine’s other features. Despite—or perhaps because of—its gentler tone, it became one of Mad's most popular features.
Legacy and End of the Series
The Lighter Side Of... was retired after Dave Berg’s death in 2002. His final set of gags, which had been written but not illustrated, was published posthumously as a tribute. Eighteen regular Mad artists, including Jack Davis (in his final original contribution to the magazine), contributed artwork for this final installment.
Homages and Reboots
- Tributes: Four months after the strip ended, Mad Magazine published Berg's last set of gags, illustrated by other artists as a tribute.
- The Darker Side of the Lighter Side: In 2007, Mad introduced an occasional feature where reprinted The Lighter Side Of... strips were rewritten with dark comedy themes.
- Modern Reboot: From October 2018 to December 2019, a reboot of the strip, written by Tammy Golden and illustrated by Jon Adams, appeared in Mad. The reboot was canceled when the magazine shifted to a mostly reprint format in 2020.
Publications
Between 1964 and 1987, sixteen original collections of The Lighter Side Of... were published as paperback books, cementing the strip's popularity and accessibility outside the magazine.
Berg paperbacks
| Year | Title | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at the U.S.A. | |
| 1966 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at People | |
| 1967 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at Things | |
| 1969 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at Modern Thinking | |
| 1971 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at Our Sick World | |
| 1972 | Mad's Dave Berg: My Friend God | |
| 1973 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at Living | |
| 1974 | Mad's Dave Berg: Roger Kaputnik and God | |
| 1975 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks Around | |
| 1977 | Dave Berg: Mad Trash | |
| 1977 | Mad's Dave Berg Takes a Loving Look | |
| 1979 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks, Listens and Laughs | |
| 1982 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at You | |
| 1984 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at the Neighborhood | |
| 1986 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at Our Planet | |
| 1987 | Mad's Dave Berg Looks at Today |
In Popular Culture
The Lighter Side Of... left a lasting impression on popular culture, often referenced or parodied in other media:
- National Lampoon Parody (1971): In a Mad parody, National Lampoon satirized Berg’s lightweight humor and moralistic tone, portraying him as a "wishy-washy liberal."
- The Simpsons: In the episode "Bart of Darkness", Bart Simpson reads The Lighter Side Of... Hippies and quips, "They don't care whose toes they step on!" In "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson", Alfred E. Neuman calls for "Kaputnik and Fonebone" (referencing Mad characters).
- Family Guy: In "It’s A Trap!", a Star Wars parody, Chris Griffin (as Luke Skywalker) suggests that Stewie Griffin (as Darth Vader) embrace "the lighter side" instead of the dark side, leading to a spoof of the comic strip.
Influence
Despite its softer humor, The Lighter Side Of... was one of Mad Magazine's longest-running and most popular features. Its observational humor and Dave Berg’s unique artistic style remain fondly remembered by fans, and it continues to be celebrated as an integral part of Mad’s legacy.