Customer Reviews

The Comics Journal Library: R. Crumb

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just read this book cover-to-cover, and it's really amazing. There are five different in-depth interviews that cover almost all aspects of Crumb's life, opinions, work process, and so much more. Read this book to find out the motives behind his comics that were labeled "racist" or "misogynist," to see how he felt during the shooting of Terry Zigwoff's award-winning documentary "Crumb," and to hear some previously uncovered details about his family life.

While this book may not be stuffed with artwork, there are a good deal of samples interspersed with the interviews. This book should be perfect for anyone who is already familiar with Crumb's work and wants to know more about the man behind the ink.

I don't understand why someone would give this book only 2 stars just because it was not full of artwork. That is a matter to research and know before purchasing, to be sure, but the content never pretended to be a compendium of his artwork. It IS however a compendium of the interviews with R. Crumb that have appeared in The Comics Journal over a number of years, and I find the artist of have a fascinating mind as well as a fascinating pen. This is a thoroughly satisfying read -- with a little bit of artwork on the side -- and a major pleasure for any R. Crumb fan. I'm a "big gurl" who is also a comics fan who does NOT think of Crumb as a male chauvinist pig but a brilliant man with something to say very MUCH worth listening to!

P.S. If you do want this book, purchase this while you can get it for such a low price. It's a steal at the used prices I'm seeing here today at less than $9.

Interviews are all very well, but if you're looking for Crumbs comic art, try something else. I recommend 'America', 'Draws the blues', 'Troubles with Women', there are probably others (the 'Handbook' was mostly interviews, too, though).