The Complete Crumb Comics, Vol. 8 collects material by Robert Crumb that originally appeared in Home Grown Funnies, Hungry Chuck Biscuits, Mom’s Homemade Comics, ProJunior, Thrilling Murder, Big Ass, Mr. Natural, Bijou, Surfer Magazine, and The People’s Comics in 1971 and 1972 along with a color cover gallery. The stories represent the unrestrained Id typical of the underground comix in the 1960s and 1970s.

Though Robert Crumb and other underground comix creators challenged taboos related to discussing sexuality and fetishes, they often relied on racial and gender stereotypes while their work reinforced white patriarchal views. Rebelling against the Code offered comic book creators a path to artistic credibility while they positioned themselves as underdogs challenging a larger system, even as some of them maintained other attitudes of their day regarding race, gender, and class. Looking back on his work in the 1980s, Crumb described it as “the result of some overwhelming need to compensate for social rejection” (The Comics Journal no. 121). He envisioned a way to get back at those around him through success, but was not above fantasizing about violence. His work evinces an adolescent sense of humor and the struggles of adolescence stuck with him.

This collection captures Crumb at his angriest, in particular following the animated film based on his Fritz the Cat. To that end, Crumb kills off the character in the final story of this collection. I recognize the historical significance of these comix, though I’ve never been able to enjoy Crumb’s work. ( )