:question: I've been looking through the Wiki and comparing what's there to what is in my collection. I see the Witzend series and the Rip In Time series has made it. If that's so, does the Twisted Tales series qualify? How about Army Surplus Comikz Cutey Bunny?
I would consider those to be more "New Wave" IMO.
Jason
...or independent comics
To be honest, I think the underground era ended in 1980, with the publication of Spiegelman's Raw. The distribution for UGs through head shops and other boutique shops had pretty much ended in 1973-74. By 1980, the underground was no longer truly underground (to say the least) and alternative comic book publishing, launched by the "ground-level" comics, had more or less gone mainstream through traditional comic book distribution channels.
Wally Woods' Witzend was really more of a fanzine than an underground comic, though it may have shared similar distribution points. Witzend was really a predecessor to the UGs (as it was first published in 1966). Because of its somewhat revolutionary content, I would consider Witzend to belong in the underground pantheon. But Rip in Time, Cutey Bunny and Twisted Tales came along much later and well beyond the classic UG era. They are Sci/Fi or alternative comics, IMO.
Head shops were still selling undergroung comix into the 1980's.
There were just less of them and not all of them had been busted.
Quote from: awillis on November 05, 2007, 11:58:21 AM
Head shops were still selling undergroung comix into the 1980's.
There were just less of them and not all of them had been busted.
When you say busted, do you mean for drugs or? Excuse my ignorance...
Jason
I assume it's a state by state set of laws, but it might be federal statutes- around here anyway- selling and possession of drug paraphernnalia is illegal- pot pipes, hoockas, toke stones, water pipes, nitrous oxide balloons, and roach clips- all of which used to be sold in the head shops along with underground comix and incense. Places that operated under the radar were not bothered, but some were targeted and ran out of business. Those items have moved to tobacco shops, now, and are still sold but rarely displayed. To bad underground comix didn't make the move with them. Several of the head shops lasted almost into 2000 in this area.
There are a few head shops in my area, one sold comix but has since moved away from it. I guess there was nothing to be made from them anymore, different times and all.
Jason
Yeah, there used to be a head shop in Pottstown, PA. I remember going in there as a kid and wondering what the heck all this stuff was for. I seem to remember they had undergrounds, as well. This probably would have been in the early 80's.
Surviving head shops might've been selling comic books in 1992, but that doesn't mean they were underground comic books. Some historians believe the underground era ended in 1973-74. Others believe it ended with the Modern era in 1980. Still others believe the underground era survived well into the '80s or even '90s. It's all a matter of opinion, I guess, but the underground comic book industry in 1980 was a l-o-o-o-o-ng way from the hippy-driven roots of the era some 10 years prior.
I guess I'm a bit of a purist, but that doesn't mean I believe the UG era ended in '74. 1980 just seems like a logical break from the era, as UG pioneer Art Spiegelman went distinctly new wave and alternative with Raw and R. Crumb, the undisputed leader and most prolific underground artist, launched a widely-distributed comic magazine, Weirdo.
Quote from: Brother J on November 05, 2007, 10:23:08 PM
Yeah, there used to be a head shop in Pottstown, PA. I remember going in there as a kid and wondering what the heck all this stuff was for. I seem to remember they had undergrounds, as well. This probably would have been in the early 80's.
How old are you if you don't mind me asking?
Jason
My 2cents.
I like Cutey Bunny, so i would be inclined to include her.
I stopped collecting around '85, so in my mind that's when comix died out.
A Guide should serve it's public, this being a wiki, perhaps anything someone is motivated enough to post, should stay.
On the other hand, it annoys me to slog through a lot of stuff i have no intrest in.
Ahhh Cool J.
HAH! LL Cool J!
At anyrate, I am 33 so you are not much older than me.
Jason
May i suggest one guideline:
IF - it was published after '85 AND it is listed in Overstreet;
THEN - there is no need for us to list it.
Quote from: Comix Junky on November 10, 2007, 07:47:23 PM
May i suggest one guideline:
IF - it was published after '85 AND it is listed in Overstreet;
THEN - there is no need for us to list it.
I agree with that, in fact, I think ANYTHING listed in Overstreet should be excluded.
Well, i haven't read Overstreet in several years.
I suspect there are a few UGs listed. Zap maybe?
Quote from: Comix Junky on November 11, 2007, 04:59:04 AM
Well, i haven't read Overstreet in several years.
I suspect there are a few UGs listed. Zap maybe?
Nope, no Zap to be found. However, Overstreet does list comics by Fantagraphics, who does publish some books which I consider to be underground, like Eightball, Hate and Crumb's Self Loathing Comics, so I do take back my previous statement.