Binky Brown Sampler

by Justin Green

Includes the 1971 classic "Binky Brown meets the Holy Virgin Mary." and several short comics. From one of the most influential cartoonists of all time, this collection oozes with stories and scenarios of Catholic guilt and leaves you reeling. These strips have influenced everyone from R. Crumb to Peter Bagge.

Includes a forward by Art Spiegleman and an essay by Justin Green.

Genres: Comics, Comix, Memoir

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

About the author

Justin Green (Justin Considine Green) is an American cartoonist who is known as the "father of autobiographical comics." A key figure and pioneer in the 1970s generation of underground comics artists, he is best known for his 1972 comic book "Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary."

Reviews

[Ed Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sampler contains Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary, Justin Green's fictionalized memoir of his struggles with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Combined with a Catholic upbringing this disorder manifests as scrupulosity. In addition to the common Catholic guilt, Binky (Justin's stand-in) is obsessed by the thought that he is committing a mortal sin when doing all sorts of innocuous things. As he enters puberty, he feels he sins when allowing his penis to point toward a church or especially a statue of Mary. This obsession expands into worry about "penis-rays" from his fingers pointing to those targets. Then expands to include penis-rays from his feet. The expands to inanimate phallic symbols, including almost anything that is even vaguely longer than it is wide.

He tells his story with humor, though it must have been tough to live through it. OCD wasn't even a recognized condition in 1971 when this was published.

This is not the first autobiographical comic, but this style of baring one's soul in comics seems to have started here. Possibly inspired by the prose novel Portnoy's Complaint, it in turn inspired many comics by people such as Robert Crumb, Harvey Pekar, Lynda Barry, Howard Cruse, Alison Bechdel, and Art Spiegelman (who writes an intro).

One little detail caught my attention. Binky feels uncomfortable when his school coach makes him do nude push-ups as punishment in swimming class. I would be, too! Seems really odd to me now, but nude swimming classes for boys was a common thing in 1950s Chicago, and maybe other places.

This sampler collection contains several short comics, and an essay by Justin Green. The essay, which contains more discussion of his OCD, is not as engaging to me as the comic. He seems better at expressing himself visually, though even the comics are text-heavy. The lovely hardcover edition from McSweeney's does not include these short pieces, but they are not essential.

As you may have guessed, there are many drawings of penises. Maybe that balances-out all the vagina drawings from my recent read Black Hole.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a masterpiece- autobiographically speaking, that is.
->As in, it's fascinating in it's reality. Were it fiction, it would just be goofy humor with ok art. But it's a man's soul you're laughing at so it's tempered with horror and understanding.

It is an scorching expose of growing up in the rigors strict religion with a harsh case of OCD and it's brutally terrifying. You would think I was talking about one who was molestered or something. At least beaten. But no. It's all within a tender boys' mind.

The art is not my style but it's bad in no way. It's scratchy with a nervous and even gritty feeling so it perfectly suits the subject matter.

[Benny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not exactly perfect or flawless but has changed my perspective on comix forever. The more I reflect the more I am in awe. Also eternally flabbergasted that Green wrote this comix and didn't get an OCD diagnosis for another SEVERAL DECADES

[Ryan Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painstakingly drawn, each page seems like one complete work of art. A lot of pain and love went into this work—you get the feeling that the artist was on the edge of a major breakthrough or failure. But Green just goes for it, something that paid off tremendously. Kudos to McSweeney's for yet another well crafted and designed edition.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

binkey brown meets the virgin mary is so hand wringinly uncomfortable and over the top confessional you want to burst out laughing and or crying. amazing. rated r.

[Brett Von Schlosser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binkey Brown meets the virgin Mary is one of the greatest underground comics.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although there's too much text for my liking, I enjoy the style. But it was funnier the first time I read it in college, not so much now.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty much like an R. Crumb comic. Less digressive, but still almost plotless despite the guilty Catholic/Jew thing. Not necessary comics history.