Alfred E. Neuman Death Watch

Due to falling sales and a worsening economy, venerable humor mag Mad is giving up its monthly schedule to come out quarterly.

The magazine, which began as a comic book in 1952 and shifted to magazine size with issue #24, sold 2 million copies at its peak. Current figures are roughly one-tenth that.

The mag's companion titles, Mad Kids an Mad Classics are being canned altogether.

The change comes in April, with the 500th issue and the price will go to $5.99 -- up a buck.

Insiders tell RadarOnline.com that as soon as parent TimeWarner can figure out how to make the title work online, the print edition will probably cease altogether.

Yeah...me worried.