Zap Comix

Zap Comix is an underground comix series which was originally part of the youth counterculture of the late 1960s. While a few small-circulation self-published satirical comic books had been printed prior to this, Zap became the model for the "comix" movement that snowballed after its release. The title itself published 17 issues over a period of 46 years.

Zap Comix
Cover of Zap Comix #1 (Feb. 1968). Art by R. Crumb.
Publication information
PublisherApex Novelties (issues #0–3)
Print Mint (issues #4–9)
Last Gasp (issues #10–15)
Fantagraphics (issue #16)
FormatOngoing series
GenreUnderground
Publication dateFebruary[1] 1968 – November 2014
No. of issues17
Main character(s)Mr. Natural
R. Crumb
Angelfood McSpade
Wonder Wart-Hog
Checkered Demon
Trashman
Creative team
Created byRobert Crumb
Artist(s)Robert Crumb, Victor Moscoso, S. Clay Wilson, Gilbert Shelton, Spain Rodriguez, Robert Williams, Rick Griffin, Paul Mavrides

Premiering in early 1968 as a showcase for the work of Robert Crumb, Zap was unlike any comic book sensibility that had been seen before. After the success of the first issue, Crumb opened the pages of Zap to several other artists, including S. Clay Wilson, Robert Williams, "Spain" Rodriguez, Gilbert Shelton, and two artists with reputations as psychedelic poster designers, Victor Moscoso and Rick Griffin. This stable of artists, along with Crumb, remained mostly constant throughout the history of Zap.

While the origin of the spelling "comix" is a subject of some dispute, it was popularized by its appearance in the title of the first issues of Zap. Design critic Steven Heller claims that the term "comix" ("co-mix") refers to the traditional comic book style of Zap, and its mixture of dirty jokes and storylines.[2]

Overview

Labeled "Fair Warning: For Adult Intellectuals Only", Zap #1 featured the publishing debut of Robert Crumb's much-bootlegged Keep on Truckin' imagery, an early appearance of unreliable holy man Mr. Natural and his neurotic disciple Flakey Foont, and the first of innumerable self-caricatures (in which Crumb calls himself "a raving lunatic", and "one of the world's last great medieval thinkers"). The debut issue included the story "Whiteman," which detailed the inner torment seething within the lusty, fearful heart of an outwardly upright American.

For the second issue, Crumb invited S. Clay Wilson, Victor Moscoso and Rick Griffin to contribute. Gilbert Shelton joined the crew with issue #3, and Robert Wiliams and Spain Rodriguez joined with issue #4, completing the roster.

Zap's new publisher the Print Mint weathered a lawsuit filed over the Zap #4, released in 1969, which featured among other things, Crumb's depiction of incest in a middle-class family. The publishers, Don & Alice Schenker, were arrested and charged with publishing pornography by the Berkeley Police Department. Previous to that, Simon Lowinsky, who had a gallery on College Avenue in Berkeley and had put up an exhibition of the Crumb's original drawings, had been arrested on the same charge. His case came to trial first. He was acquitted[3] after supportive testimony from Peter Selz, a prominent figure in the art world. At that point the city dropped the charges against the Print Mint. In a related case, however — also brought on by Zap #4 — the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that local communities could decide their own First Amendment standards with reference to obscenity.[4] (See Miller v. California) In the mid-1970s, sale of drug paraphernalia was outlawed in many places, and the distribution network for these comics (and the underground newspapers) dried up, leaving mail order as the only commercial outlet for underground titles.[5]

Contributor Rick Griffin died in 1991; Paul Mavrides made his debut as a Zap contributor in issue #14 (1998). (Mavrides was invited to contribute when Crumb announced that he no longer wanted to work on Zap — although Crumb never did actually quit the title.)[6]

Publication history

Zap #1 was published in San Francisco in early 1968. Some 3,500 copies were printed by Beat writer Charles Plymell,[7] who arranged with publisher Don Donahue for Zap to be the first title put out under Donahue's Apex Novelties imprint.

The contents of the first Zap were not intended to be the debut issue. Philadelphia publisher Brian Zahn (who had published earlier works of R. Crumb in his Philadelphia-based underground newspaper Yarrowstalks)[8] had intended to publish an earlier version of the comic, but reportedly left the country with the artwork. Rather than repeat himself, Crumb drew a new assortment of strips, which replaced the missing issue.

(The tagline of Zap #1, "Zap Comics are Squinky Comics!!" has an interesting origin. Art Spiegelman called his girlfriend of the time, Isabella Fiske, "Squink." Crumb liked the word and decided to use it on the cover. Crumb himself credits[9] Gershon Legman's 1949 article "Love and Death"[10] condemning the "horror-squinky" in 1940s comics.)

In late 1968, shortly before Zap #3 was to be published, Crumb found Xerox copies of the missing pages from the original Zap #1, which (according to fellow Zap contributor Victor Moscoso) successfully captured the linework but not the solid blacks. After being re-inked by Crumb, those strips subsequently appeared as Zap #0. Thus Zap #0 became the third in the series (even though it was drawn before #1 in 1967), and Zap #3 the fourth.[11]

With issue #4 (Aug. 1969), Zap moved publishers to the Print Mint, which weathered a lawsuit related to its contents (see above). A 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling led to the collapse of the underground comix market,[11] and after that Zap was published sporadically, with it being typical for three to five years to pass between new issues. Zap continued to be published by Print Mint through issue #9 (1978), when the company stopped publishing comics altogether.

From issue #10 (1982) onward, Zap was published by Last Gasp (which also published many reprints of earlier issues). Again, there were often long periods between issues: altogether, five issues of Zap were published (by Print Mint and Last Gasp) in the 1970s, three issues in the 1980s, and two issues in the 1990s. Zap #15 (ISBN 0867196351) came out in 2005, seven years after the previous issue.

Issues #13–15 all featured cameos by sex-positive feminist Susie Bright as a character within its pages (or on the cover).

A limited edition six-volume hardcover box set containing the complete Zap Comix (ISBN 9781606997871) was published by Fantagraphics in November 2014.[12] Besides including an oral history, portfolio, and previously unseen material, the set also included the never-before published Zap Comix #16 — the final issue in the series.[13] Zap #16 would later be released by Fantagraphics as a stand-alone, 80-page comic in February 2016, with a few changes and additions.[14]

Circulation

The first issue of Zap was sold on the streets of Haight-Ashbury out of a baby stroller pushed by Crumb's wife Dana on the first day.[15] In years to come, the comic's sales would be most closely linked with alternative venues such as head shops.

Due to its unusual outside position in the comic distribution industry, a completely accurate count of Zap's circulation cannot be known, but overall sales for the comic's first 16 issues are in the millions.

Jams

From issue #3 forward (with the exception of issue #8), every issue of the title featured a group jam by the "Zap collective," where the cartoonists would pass a story around, each one contributing panels to the overall story (which was usually no more than two pages).

In addition, in June 1970, the collective did the one-page jam "Science Fiction Comics" along with Harvey Kurtzman, which was published in East Village Other vol. 6, #1. In 1974, between issues #7 and #8 of Zap Comix, the collective produced Zam (Zap Jam), an entire 36-page comic filled with their jams.

List of Zap jams
  • "Atomic Comics," 3 pages in Zap #3
  • "Jam," 3 pages in Zap #4
  • "Micro-Minnie," .15 page in Zap #5
  • "Mammy Jama," 1 page in Zap #6
  • ["All nite comix..."], 2 pages in Zam-Zap Jam (The Print Mint, 1974)
  • "Zyklon Jam - Souvenir of the Carnage," 1 page in Zap #8
  • "The Sky Is, In Fact, Falling" ("Four Guys Comics"), 1 page in Zap #9
  • "Toe Jam Comix," 1 page in Zap #10
  • "The Constipated Chaos Consortium," 1 page in Zap #11
  • "Rotten to the Core," 2 pages in Zap #12
  • "Bark All You Want, You Can't Bite Me Now — A Shaggy Fish Story," 3 pages in Zap #13
  • "The Last Lunch," 2 pages in Zap #13 — dedicated to the memory of Rick Griffin
  • "(Self) Important Comics," 2 pages in Zap #14
  • "Circle of Jerks," 2 pages in Zap #15
  • Angelfood McSpade (R. Crumb) — a large-built black woman drawn as a racist African native caricature. She is usually depicted being sexually exploited or manipulated by men. (Appears in issues #2 and #0.)
  • Captain Pissgums and his Pervert Pirates (S. Clay Wilson) — a crew of bisexual male drug-addict pirates that are into a series of kinky and outré sexual acts. Captain Pissgums' nemesis is Captain Fatima and the butch all-female crew of the SS Quivering Thigh.[16] (A "Captain Pysse-Gummes" is mentioned as one of the captains attending the Pirate's Conference in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.)[17] (Appears in issues #3, 10, and 15.)
  • The Checkered Demon (S. Clay Wilson) — portly, shirtless demon frequently called upon to kill the various demented bikers, pirates, and rapists who populate Wilson's universe. (Appears in issues #2, 4, 5, and 8–15.)
  • Coochy Cooty (Robert Williams) — Sinner, substance abuser, fornicator, and bad-ass antihero who wears a flower pot hat. (Appears in issues #5, 6, and 8–13.)
  • R. Crumb (R. Crumb) — self-caricature portrayed as "a raving lunatic" and "one of the world's last great medieval thinkers." (Appears in issues #0, 1, 6–8, 10, 11, and 13–15.)
  • Mr. Natural (R. Crumb) — unreliable holy man and his neurotic disciple Flakey Foont. (Appears in issues #0 and #1–7.)
  • Trashman (Spain) — hero of the working classes and champion of radical left-wing causes (Appears in issues #11–13.)
  • Wonder Wart-Hog, the "Hog of Steel" (Gilbert Shelton) — a violent reactionary amoral "superhero" who hypocritically murders and rapes people he doesn't approve of. His alter ego is reporter Philbert DeSanex (Appears in issues #3-5, 13, and 15.)

Issue guide
#DatePublisherCover artistContributorsNotes
1Feb. 1968Apex NoveltiesRobert CrumbRobert CrumbFirst comics appearance of Mr. Natural, Flakey Foont, and Whiteman; first published appearance of the Keep on Truckin' image. Later printings by Print Mint and then Last Gasp.
2Aug. 1968Apex NoveltiesCrumbCrumb, Rick Griffin, Victor Moscoso, S. Clay WilsonWilson, Griffin, and Moscoso join the Zap crew. First comics appearance of Angelfood McSpade and The Checkered Demon. Later printings by Print Mint and then Last Gasp.
0Late 1968Apex NoveltiesCrumbCrumbOriginally created prior to Zap #1. Later printings by Print Mint and then Last Gasp.
3Fall 1968Apex Novelties(flip book) Griffin and WilsonCrumb, Griffin, Moscoso, Gilbert Shelton, WilsonFlip book subtitled "Special 69 Issue." Shelton joins the team. First appearance of Wilson's Captain Piss-Gums and his Pervert Pirates. Later printings by Print Mint and then by Last Gasp.
4Aug. 1969Print MintMoscosoCrumb, Griffin, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain Rodriguez, Robert Williams, WilsonWilliams and Spain join. Crumb's infamous "Joe Blow" strip leads to obscenity lawsuit. Later printings by Last Gasp.
5May 1970Print MintSheltonCharles Crumb, R. Crumb, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, WilsonPrinted by Print Mint despite Apex Novelties logo on cover.[18] Crumb's story is redrawn from childhood comics done with his brother Charles. Later printings by Last Gasp.
6Jan. 1973Print MintSheltonCrumb, Griffin, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, WilsonLater printings by Last Gasp.
7Mar. 1973Print MintSpainCrumb, Moscoso, Griffin, Shelton, Spain, Williams, WilsonLast contribution from Griffin until issue #11. Later printings by Last Gasp.
81975Print MintCrumbCrumb, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, WilsonLater printings by Last Gasp.
91978Print MintWilsonCrumb, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, Wilson10th anniversary issue. Later printings by Last Gasp.
101982Last GaspMoscosoCrumb, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, Wilson
11Feb. 1985Last GaspWilliamsCrumb, Griffin, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, WilsonGriffin returns.
121989Last GaspSpainCrumb, Griffin, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, WilsonLast contribution from Griffin (who died in 1991).
131994Last GaspMoscosoCrumb, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, Wilson
141998Last GaspWilsonCrumb, Paul Mavrides, Moscoso, Spain, Shelton, Williams, WilsonMavrides joins the crew; a number of the contributors portray their version of the dispute between Crumb and Moscoso over the direction of the title.
152005Last GaspMavridesCrumb, Mavrides, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, Wilson
16Nov. 2014FantagraphicsCrumbR. Crumb, Griffin (posthumous), Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Mavrides, Moscoso, Shelton, Spain, Williams, WilsonNew member Kominsky-Crumb collaborates with her husband R. Crumb. Originally part of Zap collection; released in Feb. 2016 as a stand-alone 96-page comic. 16 pages in color.
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References
  1. Fox, M. Steven. "Zap Comix #1", ComixJoint. Accessed Oct. 21, 2016.
  2. Heller, Steven. 1999. Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design, New York: Allworth Press.
  3. Gilbert Shelton quoted in ROSENKRANZ, PATRICK. "Zap: Censorship and Suppression," The Comics Journal website (NOV 10, 2014): "Over in Berkeley there was Si [Simon] Lowinsky who had an art gallery and he had an exhibition, and was selling copies of Snatch Comics and he got busted for that. It went to court. It went to trial. The definition of pornography in California is that it has to be of prurient interest and no one on the jury would admit to being aroused by Snatch Comics. It got a not guilty verdict."
  4. Sergi, Joe. "Obscenity Case Files: People of New York v. Kirkpatrick (Zap Comix #4)," Comic Book Legal Defense Fund website.Accessed Nov. 17, 2016.
  5. Estren, Mark James (1993). "Foreword: Onward!". A History of Underground Comics. Ronin Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 0-914171-64-X.
  6. Fox, M. Steven. "Zap Comix #14," ComixJoint. Accessed Nov. 19, 2016.
  7. Zap Comix entry at the Grand Comics Database. Accessed October 27, 2009.
  8. Heritage Comics and Comic Art Signature Auction #823 By Ivy Press, Gary Dowell, Greg Holman
  9. Crumb, Robert. "Minds are Made to Be Blown," The Complete Crumb Comics - Volume 4 (Fantagraphics, 1988). Archived on CrumbProducts.com.
  10. Odelle, Cole Moore. "From Floppity Rabbits to Horror-Squinkies," Mountain of Judgment (Aug. 2006).
  11. Estren, Mark, A History of Underground Comics, Ronin Publishing, 1993 ISBN 0-914171-64-X, 9780914171645 p.52
  12. Heller, Steve. "Comics for the Youth Movement, Not for Kids: A new history of Zap Comix celebrates how the lascivious, tongue-in-cheek cartoons revolted against conservative Cold War-era mores," The Atlantic (Nov. 20, 2014). Accessed December 14, 2014.
  13. Jennings, Dana. "Raunchy and Revered: Zap Comix, Now in a Coffee Table Boxed Set," New York Times (OCT. 31, 2014).
  14. Zap #16 page, Fantagraphics website. Accessed Nov. 16, 2016.
  15. Harvey, Robert C. (1996). The Art of the Comic Book: An Aesthetic History. University Press of Mississippi, p. 195. ISBN 978-0-87805-758-0.
  16. Zap #3b, pgs.02-11
  17. Moore, Alan and Kevin O'Neill, "And the Dawn Comes Up Like Thunder," League of Extraordinary Gentlemen vol. 2, #3 (Nov. 2002).
  18. Fox, M. Steven. "Zap Comix #5," ComixJoint. Accessed Nov. 17, 2016.
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