The Complete Crumb Comics Vol. 12: We're Livin' in the Lap of Luxury [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ Robert Crumb (Author), Harvey Pekar (Collaborator)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Many things have been said recently about artist Robert Crumb, arguably the only creative force from the American 1960s who not only continues to produce work, but also continues to get better and better. The Complete Crumb Comics traces that progress. Volume 12 encompasses work from the late 1970s that Crumb did with autobiographical comics writer Harvey Pekar, as well as comics from CoEvolution Quarterly and Winds of Change.

From Booklist

With volume 12, Fantagraphics' ambitious reprinting of premier underground comics artist Crumb's complete works reaches a landmark: Crumb's first collaborations with writer Harvey Pekar, which appeared in Pekar's magazine American Splendor. Pekar has since teamed with dozens of other artists, but none has better captured the hangdog, on-the-outs feel of Pekar's autobiographical slices of life. This collection also includes a skeptical report-in-comics on an aerospace symposium (commissioned by Coevolution Quarterly, it comes off like a forerunner of Michael Moore's cocky documentary films), Crumb's encounter with a pot-smoking interviewer from High Times magazine, an evocative period piece featuring 1930s jazz musicians, another of Crumb's collaborative "jams" with wife Aline Kominsky, and other pieces. Although libraries that haven't been collecting The Complete Crumb all along might want to consider the recent collection of the Crumb-Pekar oeuvre, American Splendor Presents Bob & Harv's Comics , instead, be mindful that deep-dyed Crumb and comics fans treasure the entire series. Gordon Flagg --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books; illustrated edition edition (December 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560972645
• ISBN-13: 978-1560972648
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #272,698 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Qualified 5 Stars for Volume 12 in this Series, March 16, 2009

By	Avocadess (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Crumb Vol. 12: We're Livin' in the Lap of Luxury (Hardcover)

The "qualified" means the book itself is in my opinion a 5-star book. However, those who are either (a) not fans of Harvey Pekar, whose stories Crumb illustrated in much of this volume, or (b) fans of Harvey's who already have these works will be disappointed.

An awful lot of Crumb's work in this volume could be termed as "under the influence of others." That's not usually a bad thing, but die hard Crumb fans that want Crumb and only Crumb might be dissatisfied with this volume, as not only are there a LOT of Pekar stories illustrated by Crumb but also work he did for "Winds of Change," a group in Davis, California trying to fend off agribusiness and promoting alternative energy, as well as a little bit of work done with his wife Aline (where he drew himself and his words and she drew herself and her words) are included in this book. Work that was done by Crumb and Crumb alone is in the minority in this volume -- so much so that I am surprised at the choice of cover illustrations, which had me ready for lots of Crumb childhood nostalgia. And there IS a little bit of that, not not a whole lot.

I should add that Crumb only did and does work with or for those he WANTS to be "under the influence" of -- and the stories he illustrated for Harvey, according to various readings, are only those he personally chose out of a variety of stories. Thus, it IS representative of Crumb for the most part -- and his wife? Well, he married her, didn't he? So whatever she says and does represents him a little bit too. (Although - don't get me wrong - there is not a lot of Aline's work in this volume.)

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Genius In The Age Of Dilbert, January 24, 2000

By	"michael05" (Unfortunately the U.S.) - See all my reviews

A unique genius like Crumb is ill suited to collaborative work, the Pekar series is not representative Crumb.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Crumb at it's semi-best, December 17, 1999

By	Matt Setton (Great Neck, New York) - See all my reviews

I thought that this book was medioker. It can be better, but for what it was, it was good for the readin' but it's all up to you readers out there! happy crumbin'!