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“COVER: This month’s cover, to give credit where it’s due, was Michael O’Donoghue’s idea BRILLIANTLY executed by the lovely and talented Mara McAfee. As is obvious, it’s one of the best covers we’ve had in months. Perhaps years. Others, whose names you’d recognize in an instant, sneered at the idea when it was first presented. They are the kind of people who pronounce the ‘Van Gogh’ name ‘Van GOCK’ (as if a Brillo Pad were lodged in the throat). They are the kind of people who discuss the role of insanity in the creative process. They are the kind of people who don’t know shit about good covers.”

The cover is a mock self-portrait of Van Gogh holding his severed ear in his hand. In the ear is a banana. The blurb at the top reads, “Banana. What? Banana Issue. What? BANANA ISSUE. What?” It’s a reference to the old joke: “You have a banana in your ear!” “What?” “I said you have a BANANA IN YOUR EAR!” “What? I can’t hear you—I have a banana in my ear!”

Contents (listing only)

Editorial, Uncredited; Cartoon by Caldwell

Letters, Uncredited; Illustration by Alan Rose

Saga of the Frozen North, Written and illustrated by M. K. Brown

True Facts, Uncredited; Illustration by Alan Rose

Mrs. Agnew’s Diary, Uncredited [Doug Kenney]; Illustration by Alan Rose

News on the March, Uncredited [Henry Beard]; Illustration by Alan Rose, Photographs uncredited

Turk, Cartoons by B. Kliban

Important Notice to Readers, By Ed Subitzky; Illustrations uncredited

G. Gordon Liddy, Agen of C.R.E.E.P., By Marc Rubin and Chris Miller; Illustrated by Francis Hollidge

Tales of Nozzlin High School, By Chris Miller

My Hate Story, Written and illustrated by Ed Subitzky

At the Language Lesson, By Brian McConnachie, Bruce McCall, and Henry Beard; Collages uncredited

Amtrak Model Railroad Catalog, By P. J. O’Rourke; Illustrations uncredited

The Don Juan School of Sorcery, By Gerald Sussman; Illustration and photographs uncredited

The Wonderful Words of Watergate, Written and illustrated by Ed Sorel

Peut-être, By Brian McConnachie; Photographs by David Kaestle

The Ziegler-Friedheim Doubletalktic No. 1, By Christopher Cerf

Funny Pages, Featuring “Nuts” by Gahan Wilson; “The Aesop Brothers, Siamese Twins” by Rodrigues; “One Year Affair” (four episodes) by Ralph Reese and Byron Preiss; “Trots and Bonnie” by Shary Flenniken; “Famous Comic Artists School” by Bruce Cochran; “Idyl” by Jeff Jones; “Chicken Gutz” by Randall Enos; “Cheech Wizard” by Vaughn Bodé; and “Dirty Duck” by Bobby London