A History of Underground Comics

by Mark James Estren

Underground comics, which have delighted and outraged millions, reaveal the roots of the New Age movement in the 60's culture. This lavish collection with over 1,000 drawings is an insightful chronicle. (Philosophy/History)

Genres: Comics, History, Nonfiction, Art, Humor, Graphic Novels

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is great to look at. It features a great number of reproductions from underground comix. However, to read, it is not so easy. I found the layout of the book, along with the small tight text a bit difficult. A pity because the book covers a very interesting topic and a significant part of comics history in general. So, great to look at, not so great to read through.

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are always the nay-sayers who push comic books off as being low-culture, pure saccharine entertainment, and maybe for a good while that was completely true. The underground comix (note the x) of the 60s changed that. Echoing back to the pre-comics code EC comics of the 50s, the underground comix movement produced works that broke all taboos and taught the genre how to be "adult". Politics, sex, drugs, law, race, gender, Vietnam, and don't forget rock and roll, we're all tackled, broken down and mocked by the underground comix movement. A History of Underground Comics explains the history and relevance of these works, and how comics today were influenced heavily by them. A History of Underground Comics also features great reprints of original work by R. Crumb, Spain Rodriguez, Gilbert Shelton, Kim Deitch, Bill Griffith, Art Speilgelman, S. Clay Wilson, Skip Williamson, Bobby London,Trina Robbins,Jaxon,George Metzger and many more. Perfect for anyone who is interested in the Counterculture, or the comics business.

[Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sheer amount of information contained in this book is invaluable - this is a great place to start if you're trying to figure out anything about undergrounds. Having so many names and examples of artist's work in one place means this volume's got a permanent place on my shelf. But I agree that the layout makes it difficult to read large chunks at once, and some of the reproduction of the art isn't perfect (halftones, in particular, suffer when reproduced at a smaller size).

But whatever. This is a great place to start if you're dipping your toes into undergrounds, and want to know where to look for more work in the same vein.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was nearly finished with this before I realized it was originally published in 1974. So it's very much "of the times" rather than a historical perspective. Interesting to look at the different themes explored and how the underground artists got their work out there, in comparison to "above ground" cartoonists.

[Lloyd Fassett]

1/4/26 I was going through the R Crumb sketch books by Taschen and learned that Head magazine from the late 60s was a social commentary on hippies and commercialism. this is the only book that anthologies what the underground comics scene was about in that era. it sounds interesting because of the social commentary.

[Matt Mayevsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of strips, plus chapters - articles, for those who know nothing about underground comics. Disappointing.