SANE

SHANE (1953)
dir: George Stevens

SANE
MAD #10, April 1954
w: Harvey Kurtzman
a: John Severin
This was John Severin's last piece for MAD. He was one of the “usual gang of idiots” for the first few issues but Kurtzman decided early on he wasn't quite right for them. He was perfect for western, war, and adventure stories in the other Kurtzman titles, but not for humor. Though years later he became Cracked's main artist, and his photorealism came in handy when they relied on Happy Days and M*A*S*H every issue. Here's his Shane parody in MAD, which kinda sorta worked since Westerns were still the dominant genre for movie the same way superheros are now.

A stranger, Shane (Alan Ladd) comes into town, Happening upon the land of homesteaders Joe Starrett (Van Heflin), his wife Marian (Jean Arthur) and their son Joey (Brandon DeWilde). A band of tough guys constantly terrorizes the Starretts and all the other homesteaders, trying to run them off their land.

Joey looks up to Shane, seeing another adult figure who will hopefully help him with fightin' and shootin'. Joe recognizes that Shane is a good guy and offers him a place to stay.

The “I'm a-leavin'/I'm a-stayin'” bit comes fom their earlier High Noon parody.

Shane goes to the general store to get local supplies where he gets harrassed by the posse of tough guys, particularly for ordering a non-alcoholic drink at the bar. One guy, Jack tries to pick a fight with Shane, and Shane fights back. The locals later decide to go to the store together since every time they go they're harassed by the tough posse and this time there's more likely to be safety in numbers.

The tough cattlemen go after the settlers, one tough guy, Jack Wilson (Jack Palance), is especially tough, and a fight ensues at the store. Joey hides but knows Shane will do something about it.

The settlers are chased away, one is shot by Wilson.

The settlers want to leave, deciding their land isn't worth fighting for, Shane takes the ranchers on and wins, then goes on his way. Joey's immortal quote “Shane, come back!” comes at the end.

STRAIN
Get Lost #1, March 1954
w & a: Ross Andru & Michael Esposito

The Van Heflin character and the other homesteaders aren't even used here.

SANE Nuts! 2, May 1954
artist and writer unknown

The Jean Arthur character of Marian Starrett is drawn as either a Daisy Mae-type or granny in these other parodies but she is just a mid-thirties housewife.