JOE ORLANDO

The Artistic Magic of Joe Orlando

(April 4, 1927 – December 23, 1998)

Joe Orlando was a celebrated illustrator, writer, editor, and cartoonist whose six-decade career left a lasting impact on the comic book industry. He served as associate publisher of Mad and vice president of DC Comics, where he edited numerous titles and led the Special Projects department.

Beginning as an assistant to Wally Wood in the early 1950s, Orlando became a regular staff artist at EC Comics. After EC, he illustrated Classics Illustrated adaptations such as Ben-Hur and A Tale of Two Cities and contributed to Mad (1957–1969). He also scripted the Little Orphan Annie comic strip and provided artwork for Newsweek, National Lampoon, and children’s books.

Orlando worked in toy design and advertising, notably illustrating the iconic Sea-Monkeys® ads that boosted sales by depicting an enchanting underwater kingdom. In 1968, he joined DC Comics, editing titles like House of Mystery, Swamp Thing, and Plop!, while also coining names for Weird War Tales and Weird Western Tales. As vice president, he oversaw art for licensed products, trading cards, and Looney Tunes Magazine.

In the 1980s, Orlando began teaching at the School of Visual Arts. Following Mad founder William Gaines’ death in 1992, he became the magazine’s associate publisher, working on exclusive products for Warner Bros. Studio Stores. Though he retired from DC in 1996, he continued contributing cover concepts and illustrations for Mad until his passing in 1998.