| Robert Crumb | |
| Birth name | Robert Dennis Crumb |
| Born | August 30, 1943 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Artist, Writer |
| Notable works | Zap Comix, Keep on Truckin', Fritz the Cat |
| Official website | |
Robert Dennis Crumb (born August 30, 1943), often credited simply as R. Crumb, is an American artist and illustrator recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical, subversive view of the American mainstream. He currently lives in Southern France.
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.
Contents |
In the mid 1960's, Crumb lived in Cleveland, Ohio, where he designed greeting cards for the American Greetings corporation and met a group of young bohemians including Buzzy Linhart, Liz Johnston and others. Liz introduced him to his first wife, Dana Morgan Crumb. Encouraged by the reaction to some drawings he had published in underground newspapers, including Philadelphia's Yarrowstalks, Crumb moved in 1967 to San Francisco, California, the center of the counterculture movement. Crumb published the first issue of his Zap Comix in early 1968.
At the end of Terry Zwigoff's 1994 documentary Crumb, Crumb complains about just having been called once again about the movie adaption rights to Mr. Natural.
A peer in the underground comics field, Victor Moscoso, commented about his first impression of Crumb's work, in the mid 1960s before meeting Crumb in person: "I couldn't tell if it was an old man drawing young, or a young man drawing old."[1]
Crumb has also cited his extensive LSD use as the factor that led him to develop his unique style. [2][3]
Crumb's comic artwork has elicited sharply divided commentary from readers and critics.
Crumb remains a prominent figure, as both artist and influence, within the alternative comics milieu, hailed as a genius by such talents as Jaime Hernandez, Daniel Clowes and Chris Ware. In 2008, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia hosted a major exhibition of his work from September until December 7 which was favorably reviewed in the New York Times[3] and in the Philadelphia Inquirer[4].
Among his less sexuality and satire-oriented, comparably highbrow works since the 1990s, especially Crumb's collaboration with David Zane Mairowitz, the illustrated, part-comic biography and bibliography Introducing Kafka, aka Kafka for beginners is well-known and received, which due to its popularity was republished as R. Crumb's Kafka. An ongoing work which Crumb intends to publish as Robert Crumb's Book of Genesis is an adaptation of the Bible's first chapter.[5][6] R. Crumb's Sex Obsessions, a collection of his most personally revealing sexually oriented drawings and comic strips, was released from TASCHEN publishing in November 2007.
In 2008 Crumb did a new LP/CD cover for Eden and John's East River String Band, and New York Based duo that play country blues from the 1920's & 30's titled "Some Cold Rainy Day".
Crumb has frequently drawn comics about his musical interests, and they also heavily influenced the soundtrack choices for his band mate Zwigoff's 1994 Crumb documentary.
At least three TV or theatrical documentaries are dedicated to Crumb, not counting numerous reports running 10 minutes and below:
In 2006, Crumb brought legal action against Amazon.com after the website used a version of his widely recognizable "Keep On Truckin'" character. The case is expected to be settled out of court.
Also in 2006, Sirius Radio host Howard Stern revealed that Crumb had contacted his show, offering to swap some of his art prints in exchange for a subscription to Sirius that he could listen in France. However, it was not Robert Crumb who contacted the Howard Stern Show. Crumb is not a listener to the show and claims that he has never even heard it. The actual caller was his brother-in-law Alex, who moved to France from New York and deals in R. Crumb prints. The whole incident was an embarrassment for Crumb, who has done much to help out many members of his family.
In 1994, Kitchen Sink Konfections, a branch of comic book publisher Kitchen Sink Enterprises, used his character Devil Girl to promote chocolate candy bars named "Devil Girl Choco-Bar." Promotion for the candy bar was most unusual, and exhibited a rare form of candor in advertising.
| “ | A word to wholesalers and retailers of the Devil Girl Choco-Bar. It may seem to you the depths of marketing ignorance to state in bold letters on the package 'IT'S BAD FOR YOU', but think about it... this is a brilliant strategy in consideration of kids today; a stupid, know-nothing generation of brain-dead morons who want nothing more than to be 'BAD'. We're certain this morally bankrupt horde of 'slackers' will eat up this low-grade product as fast as you can place it on your candy counter. The sharp, up-to-date business operator will not fail to perceive the beauty - and reap the profits - in the hook 'IT'S BAD FOR YOU!'[7] | ” |
Kitchen Sink folded in 1998 and the candy bars, of which nearly a half-million were reportedly sold, are no longer in production, but the wrappers, display boxes and advertising signs are now sought-after collectibles. A second product, "Devil Girl Hot Kisses," a hot cinnamon flavored candy, was also produced. It is back in production by Cheesy Products. [8][9][10]
Crumb has received several accolades for his work, including a nomination for the Harvey Special Award for Humor in 1990.
