Dirty Pictures: How an Underground Network of Nerds, Feminists, Bikers, Potheads, Intellectuals, and Art School Rebels Revolutionized Comix

The underground comix movement of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s was a countercultural movement that changed comics forever. This subterranean subgenre of comic strips and books was printed in lofts on out-of-date machinery, published in handbound zines and underground newspapers, and distributed in headshops, porno stores, and on street corners. Comix presented tales of illicit sex, casual drug use, and a transgressive view of American society that was embraced by hippies, the fine-art world, and legions of future creatives. Brian Doherty's book, Dirty Pictures: How Nerds, Feminists, Bikers, and Potheads Revolutionized Comix, tells the wild history of this movement, including the local scenes that sprang up in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Chicago, and the rivalries, ideological battles, and conflicts that flourished. The book begins with the artists' origin stories and follows them through major successes and tragedies, examining their legacies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 09 June 2022
Publisher: Abrams

In his book, Dirty Pictures: How Nerds, Feminists, Bikers, and Potheads Revolutionized Comix, author and journalist Brian Doherty delves into the untold story of the underground, outsider, and occasionally illegal realm of Underground Comix. This subterranean subgenre of comic strips and books was produced in lofts using outdated equipment, distributed in headshops, porn stores, and on street corners, and published in handbound zines and underground newspapers.

Comix, spelled with a "k" to distinguish it from its dime-store superhero counterparts, featured tales of illegal sex, casual drug use, and a rebellious perspective on American society that resonated with hippies, the fine-art world, and countless future creatives. Doherty, in the first comprehensive narrative history of this movement, explores the local scenes that emerged in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Chicago during the 1960s and 70s. He provides insight into the rivalries, ideological battles, and conflicts that thrived within this community.

The book begins with the artists' origin stories and follows them through significant successes, such as Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus and Trina Robbins' Wimmens Comix. It also delves into tragedies, including S. Clay Wilson's descent into alcohol abuse, which ultimately led to career-ending brain damage, and R. Crumb's neurotic avoidance of his own success (and his use of controversial race and gender imagery). The book concludes with an examination of these creators' legacies.

Dirty Pictures is a vital exploration of a truly American art form that has left an indelible mark on popular culture. It sheds light on the artists, their struggles, and their contributions to the world of comics, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the history and evolution of this genre.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781419750465