The Pocket Essential Robert Crumb

    (D.K. Holm, 2005)

Almost everything you need to know in one essential guide.

For almost forty years, Robert Crumb has been at the forefront of the underground cartooning movement. From his early sketches for the newspaper Yarrowstalks to recent comic books such as Mystic Funnies, Crumb has both defined the world of "comix" and tested the limits of what makes a comic book story. His characters - Mr. Natural, Mr. Snoid - are as recognizable as Mickey Mouse, and Crumb coinages have entered the language ("Keep on truckin' "). His perceived attitude to women, his confessional stories, and his stories on race matters have all stirred controversy. At the same time, Crumb's generosity to other cartoonists was evident in his own magazine, Weirdo, which introduced many new artists to the world.

What's in this book? Crumb's complicated life is laid out and his numerous pop culture influences are cataloged. From Crumb's childhood letters and first attempts at comics to his vastly influential early books such as Zap and Motor City Comics, the most significant and interesting work by Crumb is analyzed. Also covered is Crumb's relationship to music, the movies by and about him, and the remarkable change his work took in teh '80s. Also in this book, which is the first critical study of Crumb's work published in English, the cartoonist is assessed as an important writer. The book concludes with a rare interview with the reclusive cartoonist.
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