Comically grotesque and minutely detailed, the series was a contemporary of the stylized Kustom Kulture graphics of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth (whose bizarre Rat Fink character was being licensed by Revell for hot rod model kits at the time), as well as of the comic art of popular magazine cartoonists Basil Wolverton and Don Martin.
Generally about 6 in (150 mm) tall, each figure stands on a flat base in a fixed pose, complete with bulging, bloodshot eyes and maniacal expression.
They originally sold in five and dime stores like Woolworth's, Newberry's and G. C. Murphy.
Their popularity led Marx to expand the product line with several similar series, including Weird-Ohs, Blame-Its and Cartoon Soldiers (commonly referred to as "Nutty Generals").
Marx manufactured other toys based on the Nutty Mad brand as well, including battery-operated tin toys made in Japan, wind-up toys, water pistols, a bagatelle-style pinball game, and even an enclosed, tabletop target-shooting game.