God's Bosom and Other Stories: The Historical Strips of Jack Jackson (Paperback)

~ Jack Jackson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This commendable collection covers the work of underground-comics artist Jackson from the 1970s to the 1990s. Jackson was one of the original 1960s San Francisco underground cartoonists, and he commemorates that bunch and the beginnings of Rip Off Press, their legendary countercultural publishing entity (i.e., broken-down presses, wild parties and drugs), in the very funny story "Rip Off Press: The Golden Era." But Jackson, a native Texan, is at his best in his fictional and factual re-creations of 17th-century Texas, the wars to settle the territory and the resulting brutality of whites and Indians. And while some stories juxtapose straight historical narrative and contemporary wisecracking dialogue, Jackson's works invariably bring the historical record vividly to life. "God's Bosom" is the horrific account of one of two survivors of 300 Spaniards shipwrecked in Texas in 1560 and massacred by Karankawa Indians. In the fictional "The Good Life," an 18th-century Christianized Indian?only too happy to assimilate?must return to the forests after wreaking gruesome vengeance on his adulterous wife and her lover. Jackson's black-and-white drawings are assured and strikingly expressive, rendering the details of period life with humor and great drama.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Much of the work of 1960s underground comics veteran Jackson, who signs his strips "Jaxon," has depicted the early history of his beloved home state, Texas. The lurid title story here tells of the gorydeaths of 300 Spanish shipwreck victims at the hands of savage, cannibalistic Indians. Other historical tales depict conflicts between natives and missionaries, the invention of the Colt revolver, and the development of the Camino Real--the King's Highway that traverses the state. Rounding out the volume are an encounter with two characters from Jackson's underground days, Oat Willie and God Nose; an on-the-scene history of the underground comics publisher, Rip Off Press; and brief anti-Yankee strips and other chauvinistic propaganda that originally appeared in Austin area publications. This rather motley assortment lacks the cohesion of Jackson's earlier Spaniards and Indians tale, Secret of San Saba (1989), and Jackson's scratchy but straightforward graphic style lacks the sophistication of the best of today's alternative comix artists. But what Jackson lacks in finesse, he makes up for in gusto. Gordon Flagg

Product Details

• Paperback: 135 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books; 1st Fantagraphics Books Ed edition (May 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560971711
• ISBN-13: 978-1560971719
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,540,823 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Collection, June 19, 2009

By	Daniel J. Mooney "Going Blind from Reading." (Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book contains several short pieces, historical and otherwise of Jack Jackson. The first part are filled with historical pieces dealing with the Texas area.

Camino Real Comics tells the story of Texas from the old Indian tribes to modern times. God's Bosom tells the true story of a Spanish shipwreck, who are then hunted down by a native American tribe. A savage story, filled with brutal scenes.

The Good Life, The Savage Within, and Possum on a Stick are connected tales of Yoyo Pintado, a Native American living on a reservation. In a fit of jealousy he murders his wife and is forced to flee.

Colt Revolver tells the story of the development of the weapon, and its impact on the expansion of Western civilization into the west. Nits Make Lice is the story of an unprovoked attack by the military, under a commander with political ambitions, on a peaceful Indian village.

Part two of this collection deal with the history of Rip-Off Press an alternative comic distributor from the 60s and 70s. It also lampoons life in modern Texas with stories such as: You Gotta Have A Lot of Soul about a disastrous free concert given on the 4th of July. Cozmic Cowboy talks about the rise of poseur cowboy types in urban Texas. Why Do Texans Hate Yankees describes the type of xenophobia that has inhabited the region since man walked there.

Jackson's art is very detailed and graphic. There are several gruesome scenes of torture and mutilation depicted in the stories, but they are not gratuitous. He has a very distinctive style that is easy to read and understand. This is a fine book, with an interesting collection of stories. I highly recommend it.