Underground Comix of the 1970s
by Alisa Bischoff
Fall 2004

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“Underground Comix” is a term used to describe the industry of self-published or small press comic books that first sprang up in the 1960’s. Initially written by and for the counterculture and psychedelic movements, they filled the creative gap that was left by mainstream superhero comics. They were either self-published on a photocopier or printed by one of the small comics publishers (Fantagraphics, Rip-Off Press, Slave Labor Graphics, Last Gasp) and were usually created by one person, as opposed to a team of people. The lack of corporate control enabled the creators to publish stories about anything, which often led to shocking and “offensive” subject matter often involving sex and drugs.

There was a lot of crossover between the undergound comics of the 70’s and the alternative comics of the 80’s. Some of the creators involved were Harvey Pekar, R. Crumb, Bill Griffith, and Richard Corben. Some of the independent comics eventually became maintstream, specifically Elfquest, and Cerebus the Aardvark. Arcade was an underground comics journal created by R. Crumb.

ARCADE #1 (1985) HI-RESOLUTION

Justin Green's Binky Brown Sampler

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