Mad #285 for Sale - First Appearance of "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase - Where to Buy

Identification plate

Series: Mad (EC, 1952 series)
Issue: #285
Publication date: March 1989
Key date: 1989-03-10
Indicia publisher: E.C. Publications Inc.
Price: $1.50
Pages: 52
Barcode: 07098933230003

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Vince McMahon - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of George "The Animal" Steele - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of The Honky Tonk Man - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Miss Elizabeth - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Jesse "The Body" Ventura - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Bruno Sammartino - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Nikolai Volkoff - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Sylvester Stallone - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Seq	Story	Type	Pages	Credits	Characters
0	-	cover	1	pencils: Mort Drucker; inks: Mort Drucker	André the Giant, Miss Elizabeth First, Hulk Hogan, "Macho Man" Randy Savage
1	-	table of contents	1	pencils: ?; ? [photo]; inks: ?; ? [photo]; letters: typeset
2	-	letters page	1.1	pencils: ?; ? [photos]; inks: ?; ? [photos]; letters: typeset	Mark Summers; Dick DeBartolo
3	-	statement of ownership	0.3	script: William M. Gaines
4	Beers	comic story	5	script: Debbee Ovitz; pencils: Mort Drucker; inks: Mort Drucker	Kelsey Grammer [as Fresser Brain]; Ted Danson [as Sham Malloy]; Rhea Perlman [as Killa]; Woody Harrelson [as Woodie]; George Wendt [as Numb]; John Ratzenberger [as Cleph]; Brad Lohaus (cameo); Kirstie Alley [as Rebleccha]; Spuds McKenzie (cameo)
5	Drama on Page 9	comic story	1	script: John Caldwell; pencils: John Caldwell; inks: John Caldwell
6	Mad Re-examines More Wise Old Sayings	comic story	2	script: Tom Koch; pencils: Paul Coker; inks: Paul Coker
7	Mad’s Find-the-Hidden-Scoundrels Puzzle	activity	2	script: J. Prete; pencils: Al Jaffee; inks: Al Jaffee
8	A Mad Look at Small Wheels	comic story	2	script: Sergio Aragonés; pencils: Sergio Aragonés; inks: Sergio Aragonés; letters: Sergio Aragonés
9	When Roger Rabbit Technology Takes Over All of Hollywood’s Films	comic story	4	script: Stan Hart; pencils: Bob Clarke; inks: Bob Clarke	Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Dumbo, Grumpy, Happy, Captain Hook, Elroy Jetson, George Jetson, Jane Jetson, Judy Jetson, Porky Pig, Pinocchio, Road Runner
10	Mad’s Superbowl Pregame Memo	comic story	2	script: Frank Jacobs; pencils: Jack Davis; inks: Jack Davis
11	Don’t Be Fooled	comic story	2	script: Frank Jacobs; pencils: Gerry Gersten; inks: Gerry Gersten	Elvis Presley
12	Toys R U	comic story	2	script: Charlie Kadau, Joe Raiola; pencils: George Woodbridge; inks: George Woodbridge
13	The Lighter Side of...	comic story	5	script: Dave Berg; pencils: Dave Berg; inks: Dave Berg	David Dasch; Sydelle Charny; Roger Kaputnik
14	Recasting Famous Old Movies With Today’s Famous Wrestlers	comic story	4	script: J. Prete; pencils: Sam Viviano; inks: Sam Viviano	"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase First, Miss Elizabeth First, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan First, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan First, Hulk Hogan, The Honky Tonk Man First, Vince McMahon First, Bruno Sammartino First, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, George "The Animal" Steele First, Jesse "The Body" Ventura First, Nikolai Volkoff First
15	-	comic story	1	script: Bob Clarke; pencils: Bob Clarke; inks: Bob Clarke	The Black Spy, The White Spy
16	Some Classic Examples of World Class Boredom	comic story	2	script: Paul Peter Porges; pencils: Paul Peter Porges; inks: Paul Peter Porges
17	Mad Greeting Cards for Very, Very Special Occasions	comic story	2	script: Frank Jacobs; pencils: Bob Jones; inks: Bob Jones
18	Duck Edwing Moseys Out West	comic story	3	script: Duck Edwing; pencils: Duck Edwing; inks: Duck Edwing; letters: Duck Edwing
19	CrockTale	comic story	5	script: Dick DeBartolo; pencils: Angelo Torres; inks: Angelo Torres	Tom Cruise [as Lying Hooligan]; Bryan Brown [as Slug]; Ron Dean [as Lying’s uncle]; Marcie (cameo); Peppermint Patty (cameo); Gina Gershon [as Coral]
20	Drama on Page 42	comic story	1	script: John Caldwell; pencils: John Caldwell; inks: John Caldwell
21	What's the Worst Poison Spewing Out of Downey Jr.’s Mouth?	activity	1	script: Al Jaffee; pencils: Al Jaffee; inks: Al Jaffee
22	Toys R U	comic story	1	script: Charlie Kadau, Joe Raiola; pencils: Irving Schild; inks: Irving Schild; colors: Irving Schild

Where to read it

Collection	Year
Mad Special [Mad Super Special] #96	1994	On eBay ›
Mad Special [Mad Super Special] #99	1994	On eBay ›
Mad Special [Mad Super Special] #105	1995	On eBay ›
Mad's Greatest Artists: Mort Drucker #[nn] ISBN 978-0-7624-4713-8	2012	On eBay ›
Mad #34	2023	On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

Confirm the UPC box: a publisher mark instead of a barcode means direct edition, a barcode means newsstand.
Glossy covers of this era show edge chipping easily. Check black edges closely in the photos.
Check the staples and centerfold; heavily read anniversary and key issues loosen there first.

Series context

‹ #284285 of 550#286 ›

Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com