Picked this up in a used bookstore because the cover and the black/white, cover with artful, visual layout of the pages compelled me to read it.

This indie and exploratory--it's punk social anthropology.

This particular issue stands alone, but is probably richer if you experience the series.

Back to the Land is a series of interviews with young adult 'kids' or parents who were disillusioned with capitalism, declining cities, and rising crime in the '70s-80s' and left the city for the rural/mountains (going 'back to the land,' as it were) as homesteaders.
For many, despite their idealism about living off the land, rural living didn't work out as intended and the families ended up returning.

The interviews are interesting (author/publisher is from Berkeley, so that's vibe). Keep in mind this was published in 2000. So the 'kids' interviewed are middle age now with kids of their own. A follow-up look at their lives would be pretty cool (and maybe there is one).

I just found/read this, but I think if I'd happened upon it closer to it's publishing date I would have eagerly scooped them all. This particular series/subject matter probably isn't for me, at least at this stage of my life. But it's somebody's, maybe yours, and if you're drawn to it it's absolutely worth the time.

I did/do find plenty of other of Cometbus issues/subject matter super-interesting though and am curious how his work has changed and evolved as he's aged. So...I fully intend to rabbit hole.

If you've gotten this far and are intrigued to see what other Cometbus stuff is out there, check out his website: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/aaron-cometbus ( )