Underground comics artist Robert Crumb, recently subject of the lavish
R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book , receives further confirmation of his arrival as full-fledged cultural icon: a collection of memoirs and tributes attesting his importance and influence. The 47 contributors Beauchamp, editor of the occasional alternative comics anthology
Blab (see
Blab #9 ), rounds up include fellow cartoonists (Matt Groening, Will Eisner), filmmakers (Terry Gilliam, Jim Jarmusch), cultural observers (Paul Krassner, Roger Ebert), and even Crumb's ex-wife. The most heartfelt contributions are testimonials from the current generation of alternative comics artists, who speak of the profound influence Crumb's art--and his iconoclastic, irreverent attitude--had on their work. More fascinating, though, are the comments of Crumb's contemporaries, who provide behind-the-scenes glimpses of the early days of hippiedom and the birth of the underground comics movement. Crumb's fans constitute the obvious audience for the volume, but viewers of the acclaimed 1994 documentary
Crumb should also appreciate these additional glimpses of its outlandishly eccentric subject.
Gordon Flagg
From the Publisher
Accolades and Reflections on the Controversial R. Crumb:
"Robert Crumb--lurid, pornographic, sexy, twisted, hilarious, and depraved. The greatest American satirist is also its finest draftsman." --Joe Coleman
"God bless Crumb. I've always been happy that there was someone as sick and twisted as I am." --George Carlin
"I can think of no one more unqualified to say anything about Robert Crumb's artwork than myself. In fact, it's useless for most cartoonists of my generation to do so; without him, there wouldn't be any cartoonists of my generation." --Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library
