Don Martin, known for 25 years' worth of work with MAD magazine, died of cancer Thursday, January 6th at age 68.

Martin, known for his multi-chinned, floppy-footed losers acting out "sick" jokes in MAD and subsequent efforts at competitor Cracked, had seen his art reach a broad audience in the '60s and '70s with paperback book sales in the range of 7 million. Several of these titles, among them Don Martin Carries On and Don Martin Drops 13 Stories!, enjoyed multiple printings; Don Martin Bounces Back's popularity demanded eight print runs.

Martin, who began writing at MAD in 1954, ended his tenure there in 1987 after a number of disputes over reprint rights and salaries. He soon began working at Cracked, joining John Severin and others who had defected from the MAD camp. Press releases noting the move cited "creative freedom" as the impetus for the switch, but disputes with then-publisher William Gaines over the ownership of original art were almost certainly a factor. This situation, similar in many ways to Jack Kirby's then-concurrent dispute with Marvel, made Martin an outspoken advocate of creators' rights, specifically in reference to the ownership of original art by the artist.

Martin was born in New Jersey, but emigrated to Miami in 1957, where he remained until his death.

He is survivied by his second wife Norma and the usual gang of millions of idiot fans.

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