Slow Death

    (Last Gasp, 1970-1977)
™ and ©1970 Last Gasp Publishing

From the Slings & Arrows Comic Guide:

Unlike most underground titles of the period, Slow Death has stories which are mostly grim or blackly humorous. Although the early creative lineup boasts Jaxon, Sheridan, Corben and Irons, it’s all rather primitive, derivative stuff. By issue #8, a Greenpeace special, the series had turned into a political and satirical title. The covers, by William Stout and Rand Holmes, encapsulate the militancy of the book’s stance. Subsequent issues continued to mix didactic stories, documentary-style strips and information pages. Atomic power was the theme for #9, while #10 and #11 were cheery compilations of info on cancer and energy respectively. In #10 and #11 there’s particularly good work from the late Greg Irons, one of the few creators who worked consistently on the title, including a Donald Duck strip based on the Kurtzman/Elder Disney parody (from Mad Magazine). Otherwise most of the work in the later issues rarely rises above the preachiness of the scripts. The exceptions to this are Guy Colwell’s “Herpes Is A Virus” in #10 (don’t read it if you’re squeamish) and Alan Moore and Bryan Talbot’s “Cold Snap,” reprinted in #11 from Food for Thought. ~NF

Recommended: #8, 10

Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist

#1

  4/1/1970
  $0.00
  $50.00
2 copies available from $14.99 		 Gary Grimshaw, Dave Sheridan, Jim Evans, Greg Irons, Fred Schrier, Rory Hayes, Jeffery Hayes, Jack Jackson, Kim Deitch, Robert Crumb, Gilbert SheltonGary Grimshaw, Dave Sheridan, Jim Evans, Greg Irons, Fred Schrier, Rory Hayes, Jeffery Hayes, Jack Jackson, Kim Deitch, Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton

#1 (2nd printing)

  4/1/1970
  $0.50
  $23.00
No copies available 		2nd Printing; White border coverGary Grimshaw, Dave Sheridan, Jim Evans, Greg Irons, Fred Schrier, Rory Hayes, Jeffery Hayes, Jack Jackson, Kim Deitch, Robert Crumb, Gilbert SheltonGary Grimshaw, Dave Sheridan, Jim Evans, Greg Irons, Fred Schrier, Rory Hayes, Jeffery Hayes, Jack Jackson, Kim Deitch, Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton

#2

  12/1/1970
  $0.00
  $24.00
No copies available 		 Jack Jackson, Dave Sheridan, Jim Osborne, Richard CorbenJack Jackson, Dave Sheridan, Jim Osborne, Richard Corben

#2 (5th printing)

  12/1/1970
  $1.00
  $14.00
No copies available 		5th Printing with $1.00 cover price  

#2 Variation A

 
  $0.00
  $24.00
No copies available 		Printed on silver paperJack Jackson, Dave Sheridan, Jim Osborne, Richard CorbenJack Jackson, Dave Sheridan, Jim Osborne, Richard Corben

#2 Variation B

 
  $0.50
  $36.00
1 copy available for $7.00 		Wraparound Cover; ca. 1970Jack Jackson, Dave Sheridan, Jim Osborne, Richard CorbenJack Jackson, Dave Sheridan, Jim Osborne, Richard Corben

#3

  11/1/1971
  $0.50
  $15.00
No copies available 		 David Sheridan, Richard Corben, Jim Osborne, Jack Jackson, Larry WelzDavid Sheridan, Richard Corben, Jim Osborne, Jack Jackson, Larry Welz

#4

  11/1/1972
  $0.50
  $14.00
1 copy available for $14.00 		 George Metzger, Tom Veitch, Richard Corben, Eric KimballGeorge Metzger, Greg Irons, Richard Corben, Jack Jackson, Eric Kimball

#4 (2nd printing)

  11/1/1972
  $0.75
  $7.50
No copies available 		2nd Printing with $.75 cover price; 2nd Printing with $1.00 cover price  

#4 (3rd printing)

  11/1/1972
  $1.00
  $1.00
No copies available 		3rd Printing with $1 cover price  

#5

  4/1/1973
  $0.75
  $49.00
1 copy available for $32.00 		 Dave Sheridan, Tom Veitch, Charles Dallas, Rand Holmes, Richard CorbenDave Sheridan, Greg Irons, Charles Dallas, Rand Holmes, Richard Corben

#6

  1/1/1974
  $1.00
  $12.00
2 copies available from $8.00 		 Charles Dallas, George Metzger, Rand Holmes, Jack JacksonCharles Dallas, George Metzger, Rand Holmes, Jack Jackson

#7

  12/1/1976
  $1.00
  $15.00
No copies available 		Nude coverJack Jackson, Greg Irons, Ben DiCaprio, Bill Wray, Errol McCarthy, William StoutJack Jackson, Greg Irons, John Edgar, Bill Wray, Errol McCarthy

#8

  7/1/1977
  $1.00
  $28.00
1 copy available for $14.99 		Greenpeace issue; B&WGreg Irons, Michael J. Becker, William Stout, Doug Hansen, Michael T. Gilbert, Sam Wray, Roger Brand, Shelby Sampson, Dennis Ellefson, Tim BoxellBrenda Bernu, Michael J. Becker, William Stout, Doug Hansen, Michael T. Gilbert, Sam Wray, Roger Brand, Shelby Sampson, Dennis Ellefson, Tim Boxell

#9

  8/1/1978
  $0.00
  $15.00
No copies available 		 Greg Irons, Michael J. Becker, Dennis Ellefson, Errol McCarthy, Tim BoxellGreg Irons, Michael J. Becker, Dennis Ellefson, Errol McCarthy, Tim Boxell

#10

  11/1/1979
  $1.00
  $15.00
No copies available 		 Greg Irons, Dennis Ellefson, Guy Colwell, George Di Caprio, Janet Abbey, Vung Tau Vince, Tim BoxellGreg Irons, Dennis Ellefson, Guy Colwell, Warren Greenwood, Vung Tau Vince, Tim Boxell

#11

  2/1/2018
  $0.00
  $23.00
1 copy available for $29.99 		Ca, 1992Tom Veitch, Alan Moore, Greg Irons, Graham Manley, John Edgar, Warren Greenwood, Wally WoodGreg Irons, Bryan Talbot, Graham Manley, John Edgar, Warren Greenwood, Wally Wood