P layboy has a new cover girl — or make that cover woman: none other than Marge Simpson will strip to her lingerie for the November issue of the original lad's mag, complete with a three-page pictorial spread, pullout, and an interview entitled The Devil in Marge Simpson. Many fans of The Simpsons have expressed surprise, even dismay, at Marge's choice. In another episode, when Bart covertly took pictures of Homer dancing with a stripper at a stag party, Marge forced her husband to take Bart to meet the stripper, with the injunction that he teach their son not to treat women as sex objects. So what are we to make of Marge's sudden decision, in commemoration of her family's 20th anniversary, to join the ranks of sex objects and bare all for the readers of US Playboy? Is The Simpsons escalating its satire — or selling out?

H ave you ever had erotic fantasies about Marge Simpson? If so, you may be a cartoon character. Bartender Moe used to be obsessed with Homer's wife.

Marge was created and designed by cartoonist Matt Groening while he was waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks ' office. Groening had been called to pitch a series of shorts based on Life in Hell but instead decided to create a new set of characters.