CRICKETS Pre-order available now. Full Color, 48 pages, 7.5” x 10.25”. Cover is 2 spot color + cmyk, all new stuff, the works! The issue will come with a 24 page process/sketchbook zine, HAYSEED MONTHLY, that will be strictly printed to the EXACT number of pre-orders and never be available again. Hopefully that numbs the sting of shipping costs. This issue will ship in November. Self publishing this one, so your support is especially appreciated. Retailers interested, email me. Purchase link in bio!
With the last of the pre-orders out the door, wanted to thank everyone for ordering the new Crickets, and talking it up and sharing it online. G-d bless you and happy Thanksgiving.
Life as an underground comic book artist in the 1970s was as freewheeling as you imagine—just ask Robert Crumb and George DiCaprio.
The two men, now in their 80s, had the kind of meet-cute that only old-world New York could conjure: DiCaprio offered his illegally inhabited loft to Crumb’s crew. The encounter was fortuitous. Crumb got DiCaprio the animation job that led him out West, where he ended up working as a comic book distributor and became the father of celebrated actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Meanwhile, Crumb emerged as one of the leading satirists of American culture. In November, he released ‘Tales of Paranoia,’ his first solo comic in 23 years, published by Fantagraphics. Coinciding with an exhibition of new drawings and prints at @davidzwirner in Los Angeles, on view through Jan. 10, the book explores personal and mass paranoia—particularly surrounding illness and disease.
To revisit the bad trip that inspired Crumb’s new book, the creative scene that formed them, and the future of their art form, the two friends connected with cartoonist @samharkham —a member of a younger generation shaped by their work—for a sprawling Artists on Artists conversation. Conspiracy theory, autoerotic asphyxiation, escaping jail astrally—nothing was off the table.
Link in bio to read their conversation, and preorder your copy of the Artists on Artists issue today.
Photography: @milan__aguirre
I did this riso riff on British cinema newsletters as an exclusive for @goshcomics when Blood of the virgin came out. In the UK, the way around the censors was to create film clubs where "members" could screen films otherwise banned-you literally could sign up to be a member as you bought your ticket-so it was all kind of phony. The Compton was in London and it's where you would go if you wanted to see an Andy Milligan or an Alice Goodbody or I Drink Your Blood picture. All the text on the flier are legit reviews and ballyhoo collaged from various 1971 mags, fliers, ads. Crumb bootleg drawings often appear on these things-or copies of copies of his drawings-hence his appearance on the newsletter. back is promotional pin up, as was common. Maybe they still have copies of it at Gosh if you want one.
Crickets 9 getting done up north. Utterly terrifying. Preorder deadline to get the free mini is Nov 1. Thank you all for preordering. Unbelievable really. I hope you like the issue. Advanced copies at @shortrunseattle on Saturday very possibly (don’t fret pre-orderers, these advancers won’t get no mini!). Orders will ship as soon as the books arrive in Los Angeles (that’s with a hard G).
