The magazine had a sharp edge. These days, commercialism is so cranked up that it's apt to seem like a parody of itself. Sometimes, unintended self-satire appears to permeate the mass media. Superficial ironic poses are everywhere. Willing to take creative risks while going over the top, Mad avoids mere silliness.
Evident intelligence is often at work behind the drawings and between the lines.
For several decades, Mad has disparaged commercialism while shining light on its effects. That's no small achievement.