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The Weirdo Years by R. Crumb: 1981-'93
All of Robert Crumb's work from his very influential Weirdo magazine.
Widely considered to be some of his best work ever. Weirdo was a magazine-sized comics anthology created by Robert Crumb in 1981, which ran for 28 issues.
It served as a "low art" counterpoint to its contemporary highbrow Raw. Early issues of Weirdo reflect Crumb's interests at the outsider art, fumetti, Church of the SubGenius-type anti-propaganda and assorted "weirdness."
The incredibly varied stories include TV Blues, Life of Boswell, People Make me Nervous, The Old Songs are the Best Songs,Uncle Bob's Mid-Life Crisis, Kraft Ebbing's' Psycopathia Sexualis, Goldilocks, The Life of Philip K Dick, and many more.
Also within are several photo strip stories featuring Crumb himself and various of his trademark well-built women including his wife Aline Kominsky-Crumb in tales such as Get in Shape and Unfaithful Husband.
Widely considered to be some of his best work ever. Weirdo was a magazine-sized comics anthology created by Robert Crumb in 1981, which ran for 28 issues.
It served as a "low art" counterpoint to its contemporary highbrow Raw. Early issues of Weirdo reflect Crumb's interests at the outsider art, fumetti, Church of the SubGenius-type anti-propaganda and assorted "weirdness."
The incredibly varied stories include TV Blues, Life of Boswell, People Make me Nervous, The Old Songs are the Best Songs,Uncle Bob's Mid-Life Crisis, Kraft Ebbing's' Psycopathia Sexualis, Goldilocks, The Life of Philip K Dick, and many more.
Also within are several photo strip stories featuring Crumb himself and various of his trademark well-built women including his wife Aline Kominsky-Crumb in tales such as Get in Shape and Unfaithful Husband.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2013
7 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Robert Crumb
565 books528 followersRobert Dennis Crumb (born August 30, 1943)— is an American artist, illustrator, and musician recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical, subversive view of the American mainstream.
Crumb was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded as its most prominent figure. Though one of the most celebrated of comic book artists, Crumb's entire career has unfolded outside the mainstream comic book publishing industry. One of his most recognized works is the "Keep on Truckin'" comic, which became a widely distributed fixture of pop culture in the 1970s. Others are the characters "Devil Girl", "Fritz the Cat", and "Mr. Natural".
He was inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1991.
Crumb was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded as its most prominent figure. Though one of the most celebrated of comic book artists, Crumb's entire career has unfolded outside the mainstream comic book publishing industry. One of his most recognized works is the "Keep on Truckin'" comic, which became a widely distributed fixture of pop culture in the 1970s. Others are the characters "Devil Girl", "Fritz the Cat", and "Mr. Natural".
He was inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1991.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 27, 2020
Holy shit this thing took a few days to get through. It was a good book, but it was long as hell!
I enjoyed the Mode/Doggo stories. For some reason I have always fantasized about living a trashy, carefree life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the cards for me. I have responsibilities and kids, so no bumming around for me 🤷🏻♀️
So I live vicariously through stuff like this sometimes.
Some of the works I have seen before, like the Philip K Dick story.
The artwork is ubiquitous. You have likely seen R. Crumb’s work even if you don’t know his name.
Many years ago they’d throw in a comic book if you subbed to High Times. My neighbor did and he gave me the comic. Pretty sure there was R. Crumb or R. Crumb inspired material in there. Kind of neat to see a comic strip interview between Crumb and High Times in this book.
Crumb’s bleak outlook is often nice as well. He’s trying to balance a progressive outlook with his own primal impulses, and more than anything it reminded me that things haven’t changed much today. A lot of his struggles are my struggles. It is kind of nice to know I’m an artist archetype. If only I was as successful 🕺🏻
I enjoyed the Mode/Doggo stories. For some reason I have always fantasized about living a trashy, carefree life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the cards for me. I have responsibilities and kids, so no bumming around for me 🤷🏻♀️
So I live vicariously through stuff like this sometimes.
Some of the works I have seen before, like the Philip K Dick story.
The artwork is ubiquitous. You have likely seen R. Crumb’s work even if you don’t know his name.
Many years ago they’d throw in a comic book if you subbed to High Times. My neighbor did and he gave me the comic. Pretty sure there was R. Crumb or R. Crumb inspired material in there. Kind of neat to see a comic strip interview between Crumb and High Times in this book.
Crumb’s bleak outlook is often nice as well. He’s trying to balance a progressive outlook with his own primal impulses, and more than anything it reminded me that things haven’t changed much today. A lot of his struggles are my struggles. It is kind of nice to know I’m an artist archetype. If only I was as successful 🕺🏻
May 28, 2018
Well friends, this is the first Crumb I maybe have read? Like possibly I read something little/anthologized here or there but I ended up with this big ol' horken doob from the library only due to the fact I wasn't paying attention and when I was requesting books by Aline it didn't register that she only wrote the introduction. Oh well I've been willing to dip a toe but never motivated to seek him out so why not, I thought. Maybe it's my time.
And . . . uhhhhh . . . ummmmm . . . uhhhh umm ughh agh err ahh . . . well it's a real big fucken mess in there, ain't it Rob. In your head and in the pages you've translated that stew unto.
Like, I don't know what it's like to be biologically male but reading Crumb gives me something of a sneaky peek into feeling angry and horny at the same time, so I guess thanks for this very special experiential insight? I am morally grossed out but also want to hump a leg? Cool.
Five stars because he's a fucking MASTER. This art is so good it makes my spine crinkle, holy shit. Minus a star for racism, minus a star for hashtag problematic visions of women, but then plus both those two stars back coz did I mention holy shit a master. A god.
And . . . uhhhhh . . . ummmmm . . . uhhhh umm ughh agh err ahh . . . well it's a real big fucken mess in there, ain't it Rob. In your head and in the pages you've translated that stew unto.
Like, I don't know what it's like to be biologically male but reading Crumb gives me something of a sneaky peek into feeling angry and horny at the same time, so I guess thanks for this very special experiential insight? I am morally grossed out but also want to hump a leg? Cool.
Five stars because he's a fucking MASTER. This art is so good it makes my spine crinkle, holy shit. Minus a star for racism, minus a star for hashtag problematic visions of women, but then plus both those two stars back coz did I mention holy shit a master. A god.
August 16, 2022
It may not be the "right time" to read a book like this, but I'd always been fascinated by Crumb's art and definitely weird quirks, sensibilities, etc. Though a tad dated with cringe-worthy subject matter at times, the artwork itself is still pretty amazing.
July 15, 2025
Crumb's best, for better or worse
May 5, 2014
Robert Crumb is THE man in indie comics. Having been around for so long and having put out material of such high quality, and having been such an influence on not just other artists, but other writers and on pop culture in general, it's imperative that everyone even remotely interested in art (any art) should check out R. Crumb's work.
But where to start?
Like I said, R. Crumb has such a large body of work, has written so many stories, and is known for so many characters, that's it's hard to figure out where to begin -- which book respectfully represents R. Crumb.
I've read plenty of R. Crumb books over the years, and although I have by no means acquired an exhaustive, The Weirdo Years has been by far the most enjoyable, and is going to be the book I recommend to curious fans from now on.
Unfortunately, The Weirdo Years is lacking some arguably essential R.Crumb stuff like Fritz the Cat and Mr. Natural (and really, is Mr. Natural THAT essential?), and that's a shame, but let's look at what the Weirdo Years DOES include. In this hefty hefty volume (it took me quite some time to get through all of it), there is basically everything else R. Crumb is known for. There are several of his introspective comics, his commentaries on modern love life, Mode O'Day, sexual dysfunctions, R. Crumb's take on modern music, Phillip K. Dick's religious experience, all the Weirdo covers (which are detailed and each amazing in its own right) and even some of R. Crumb's dirtiest secrets . So in other words, a very wide variety of topics, all brought to life in R. Crumb's cartoon style. There are some of the silly photographed comics he made for Weirdo (which are OK), but honestly, the sheer output in this volume is so vast that it's a perfect collection of what R. Crumb likes and how he thinks.
In conclusion, this might not be the most all-encompassing look into R.Crumb's work (which will be impossible to do for some time since he is still active), but it's hard to argue that these aren't his best stories.
But where to start?
Like I said, R. Crumb has such a large body of work, has written so many stories, and is known for so many characters, that's it's hard to figure out where to begin -- which book respectfully represents R. Crumb.
I've read plenty of R. Crumb books over the years, and although I have by no means acquired an exhaustive, The Weirdo Years has been by far the most enjoyable, and is going to be the book I recommend to curious fans from now on.
Unfortunately, The Weirdo Years is lacking some arguably essential R.Crumb stuff like Fritz the Cat and Mr. Natural (and really, is Mr. Natural THAT essential?), and that's a shame, but let's look at what the Weirdo Years DOES include. In this hefty hefty volume (it took me quite some time to get through all of it), there is basically everything else R. Crumb is known for. There are several of his introspective comics, his commentaries on modern love life, Mode O'Day, sexual dysfunctions, R. Crumb's take on modern music, Phillip K. Dick's religious experience, all the Weirdo covers (which are detailed and each amazing in its own right) and even some of R. Crumb's dirtiest secrets . So in other words, a very wide variety of topics, all brought to life in R. Crumb's cartoon style. There are some of the silly photographed comics he made for Weirdo (which are OK), but honestly, the sheer output in this volume is so vast that it's a perfect collection of what R. Crumb likes and how he thinks.
In conclusion, this might not be the most all-encompassing look into R.Crumb's work (which will be impossible to do for some time since he is still active), but it's hard to argue that these aren't his best stories.
September 23, 2014
I waffled on this one since I already own most of the material via the Fantagraphics "Complete Crumb Comics" series. What is included here that's missing from those volumes is mostly just a couple of fumetti photo comics. That said, having all the work in one place is a pretty great way to revisit it. There are some bonafide classics here, like "Uncle Bob's Midlife Crisis" and "Psychopathia Sexualis", though none of the work is as porn-y as you can find elsewhere. There's still enough to offend casual readers, heck, one strip has a title I wouldn't dare repeat here!
The book itself is a top quality hardcover, over-sized so you can get a good look at the art. I'm guessing it's close to nearly replicating the original magazine size. I don't own any Weirdo's though, so I don't know for sure. At any rate, if you're a Crumb fan it's well worth a read.
The book itself is a top quality hardcover, over-sized so you can get a good look at the art. I'm guessing it's close to nearly replicating the original magazine size. I don't own any Weirdo's though, so I don't know for sure. At any rate, if you're a Crumb fan it's well worth a read.
September 17, 2020
Arguably, in my opinion some of Crumb's best works are collected here in this book. Whether it was the covers for Weirdo magazine, the Mode O'Day comics, or the narrative of Philip K. Dick Crumb demonstrates in every one of these stories his ability as an artist and a cartoonist.
I will admit freely that I did not care for the final two stories in this collection. The title are both rather repulsive and, satire or not, long time fans of Crumb are going to have to reconcile for themselves how they appreciate the man's work in relation to these small stories that, honestly, rather repugnant to read.
In spite of this what I loved most about this collection was the chance to see Crumb's work blossom and come ever more into its own. Crumb's comics can be depressing and perverted and hostile, but damn it that's what makes him the curmudgeon and crank that I love. The Weirdo Years in my mind stand as the period of Crumb's artistic career in which he flourished the most and felt the most comfortable to freely express and explore his creativity.
Fans of comics, and of Crumb, are sure to find something love and adore in this book.
I will admit freely that I did not care for the final two stories in this collection. The title are both rather repulsive and, satire or not, long time fans of Crumb are going to have to reconcile for themselves how they appreciate the man's work in relation to these small stories that, honestly, rather repugnant to read.
In spite of this what I loved most about this collection was the chance to see Crumb's work blossom and come ever more into its own. Crumb's comics can be depressing and perverted and hostile, but damn it that's what makes him the curmudgeon and crank that I love. The Weirdo Years in my mind stand as the period of Crumb's artistic career in which he flourished the most and felt the most comfortable to freely express and explore his creativity.
Fans of comics, and of Crumb, are sure to find something love and adore in this book.
September 19, 2020
En ollut aikoihin lukenut Robert Crumbia ja tämä Weirdo-sarjakuvan yhteen albumiin kokoava järkäle oli ihan hauska paluu aiheen pariin. Sisältöä on paljon, eikä läheskään kaikki ole mitenkään timanttista, mutta on mukana muutamia helmiäkin. Parasta antia ovat varmaankin omaelämäkerralliset pohdinnat, tai toisaalta Mode O'dayn ja kumppaneiden realistissävytteiset seikkailut, vaikkei tämä kokonaisuutena mitään huippu-Crumbia ollutkaan.
August 30, 2017
With introduction by Aline, who I didn't know anything about. Guess I should watch the Crumb doc and biopic. Really enjoyed seeing the Weirdo magazine covers (some are contemporaneous with my Mad magazine buying years... just not on my 7-11 newstand or I would have totally spent my allowance on it too.
August 26, 2022
Kulttisarjakuvantekijän teos ei toiminut, sarjakuvat eivät olleet virkistävän outoja tai hauskoja, vaan tuntuivat lähinnä lapsellisilta.
September 10, 2024
Standard R crumb absurdity, not his most famous stuff but good
September 23, 2024
Crumb's self-reflection.
Omaha the Cat Dancer
parody puzzles.
Omaha the Cat Dancer
parody puzzles.
February 23, 2014
Super weird indeed.
November 6, 2014
The ultimate collection!
May 18, 2015
R. Crumb is a national treasure. My favorites were the confessional Pekaresque strips but I also enjoyed some of the Mode 'O Day stuff and especially the Psychopathia Sexualis strip.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews