Remembering John Peck [1942–2025], a.k.a. The Mad Peck, Doctor Oldie, and co-producer of Comix: A History of Comic Books in America
The Mad Peck, born John Peck in Brooklyn, 1942, was once really, really good at math but – blame it on the ’60s – he received his real-life bona fides as a master of Baby Boomer popular culture, from psychedelic rock posters, to underground comix cartooning, to Boob Tube scholarship, to becoming “the dean of the University of Musical Perversity.”
In his persona as Dr. Oldie, the unparalleled disc jockey of FM radio, he created record reviews in the form of comic strips (hosted by Oldie, the Masked Marvel, I.C. Lotz, and others) and, every Saturday, hosted the greatest radio broadcast in history, "The Giant Juke Box Show."
John Peck
As a cartoonist and entrepreneur, he created the Mad Peck Catalogue of Good Stuff, where he sold drug paraphernalia and included his goofy comix strips, which led to Ghost Mother Comics, which included contributions by no less than Justin Green, creator of the autobiographical graphic novel. He also corresponded with underground brethren, including R. Crumb, and became renowned for producing comic strip record reviews and, in the process, created the notion of “mix tapes.”
In his adopted home of Rhode Island, Peck helped launch the first local underground newspaper, EXTRA!, and worked with his Brown University pal, writer Les Daniels, to create the first scholarly look at funnybooks with their Comix: A History of Comic Books in America, for which he drew the cover, designed the book, and wrote the chapter on visiting the mighty Marvel Comics Bullpen in the late ’60s. Locally, besides his work for Ocean State alternative papers and obsequious presence at record shows and flea markets, he spearheaded the famed “Providence” poster, which remained pinned to the walls of college students and young citizens for generations.
Peck boasted that he had watched more television than anyone alive, an activity enhanced by his enjoyment of the pleasures of smoking, and he proved that superlative by producing “This Week in TV History” comic strips by the bushel. His hobby led him to produce an academic paper with a pal that studied the importance of primetime soap opera, Dallas. The wit called it his “crowning achievement.”
With friends at Providence boutique Cheez Louize, he created a “T-Shirt of the Month” club, where subscribers could adorn themselves with images of a nude Marilyn Monroe, vintage Mercurys, Sheena of the Jungle, the EC Comics logo, and Thunderchicken (among many more). He also made rock posters for Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Cream, as well as official apparel for the J. Geils Band.
I could go on and on and on… and will within this website shrine to the late, great Mad Peck, whose passing befittingly received a New York Times obituary… So come hither and learn of the wondrous mystery of our Mad Boy Peck and pay homage to a legend!