Comics

OK you comic geeks. I never followed comics the rags that were stacked in the drug store and the grocery store showing guys in tights and capes saving the world from the Nazis and Japs and whatever came along. Superman (although I did wear the t-shirt), Batman, Spider Man, and all those Justice dudes.

I had a friend in elementary school who could draw Superman. Detailed Superman. We did a class project of a Roman mosaic, but all the characters looked like Superman figures.

But the mid-60's caught my attention with the UNDERGROUND COMICS. These were the comics with political movement I agreed with.

So here are some of the examples of the poorly printed but exciting comics that kept my college years entertained.

Robert Crumb created the street wise collection of characters. Down to earth and straight forward. And a little dirty. "Zap", "Mr. Natural", "Whiteman", the list goes on and on.




Gilbert Sheton's "Wonder Wart-Hog" was a fearless, fighting foul mouth wonder hero, but who would have come up with a Wart-Hog super hero? Must have been the drugs, right Art?


Larry Welz's "Captain Guts" was America's Savior. Socking it to those wild hippies and political radicals while being controlled by beer to make him a super hero.


Gilbert Shelton's "Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers" captured the hairy guys who hung out together and did dope and thought about doing more dope in the roaches and cats and dirt of 60's apartments.


Don Dohler's "ProJunior" was a left over from the 40's. Here was a kid growing up with white eyes and no confidence. Sound familar? Lots of artist in the Kitchen Sink Enterprises did take offs like Mr. Crumb, Evert Geradts, Jayzey Lynch, Jim Mitchell, Peter Loft, Ned Sonntag, Wendel Pugh, Bruce Walthers, Dale Kuipers, Justin Green, Skip Williamson, Joel Beck, andBill Griffith. I'm sure there were others.


Will Eisner's "Spirit" has returned to the movie and possible DVD vision of a 40's crime fighter. Great graphics and very, very sexy.


Milton Moose's "Myron Moose" with his poor sinus problem and association to great classics. Must be a Canadian thing. Very dark and well adjusted.


Jim Mitchell's "Smile" characters of drugs, and sex, and happiness showed so much promise, that he is in the comic pages of daily newspapers.


Corben's detailed life after the end of the human race caught our imagination. Also the women were more than endowed.


Vaughn Bode" Junkwaffel" and "Sunpot" and much more showed creatures in space trying to face the ever present fear of death.



I'll let you Google and search for these artist and more who filled the pages of cheap prints like Print Mint, Rip Off Press, Apex Novelties, Smut Peddlers of America, Kitchen Sink Enterprises, and others providers of printing to young artist.

I tried to enter this realm during the early 70's with a character named "Roger Wilco" and his sidekick Wooden Indian. His big agenda was he only had 4-fingers, like Micky Mouse. More on that later.

So enjoy your fantasy and new artist will create worlds of magic that every reader will get lost in.

Unfortunately it will not be on ink and paper and a drawing board, rather than a mouse and computer screen.