The Complete Zap Comix Boxed Set

Zap Comix

by Robert Crumb, S. Clay Wilson, Gilbert Shelton

There scarcely was an underground comics world before Robert Crumb s classic solo first issue ofZap. By Zap #2, he had begun assembling a Seven Samurai of the best, the fiercest, and the most stylistically diversified cartoonists to come out of the countercultural kiln. All of them were extremists of one sort or another, from biker-gang member Rodriguez to Christian surfer Griffin, but somehow they produced a decades-long collaboration: a mind-blowing anthology of abstract hallucination, throat-slashing social satire, and shocking sexual excess, that made possible the ongoing wave of alternative cartoonists like Daniel Clowes, Chris Ware, and Charles Burns. The Complete Zap Comix collects every issue of Zap every cover and every story, and even the Zam mini comic jam among the Zap artists in a five-volume, slipcased hardcover set. It will also include the 17th unpublished issue with work by Crumb, Moscoco, Wilson, Rodriguez, Shelton, Mavrides, and Williams. Plus, an introduction by founder R. Crumb and an oral history of Zap by Patrick Rosenkranz. Zap is the most historically and aesthetically important comics series ever published.

Also included exclusively in this boxed set is a portfolio of Zap covers by the eight artists, replicated from high resolution scans and proofs, and specially printed for this edition on acid-free, 100% cotton fine-art paper utilizing archival pigment inks."

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Humor, History

920 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2014

About the author

Robert Dennis Crumb (born August 30, 1943)— is an American artist, illustrator, and musician recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical, subversive view of the American mainstream.

Crumb was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded as its most prominent figure. Though one of the most celebrated of comic book artists, Crumb's entire career has unfolded outside the mainstream comic book publishing industry. One of his most recognized works is the "Keep on Truckin'" comic, which became a widely distributed fixture of pop culture in the 1970s. Others are the characters "Devil Girl", "Fritz the Cat", and "Mr. Natural".

He was inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1991.

Reviews

[John Barclay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive look at the seminal underground comix mag. A seriously overstated importance if there ever was one. So much and so many pieces of fame here, writers, art, legends, etc. Still, it’s got a lot of dull stoner crap in it too.

Yes it’s sexist, yes it’s violent, yes it’s crass and crude and ugly. It is also often very very funny.

And often dull or stupid.

As a book, not just the mags themselves but also bios and stories and such it is well worth the time to read and enjoy and learn from.

[Rubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for execution and 2 stars for what is in it.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been incredible reading this collection in its entirety and watch the creativity of seven(really eight) skilled cartoonists help establish the underground comix scene. I bought this collection really for the work of R. Crumb, but by the end I found I appreciated every artist who contributed something to this collection. This is a visceral, unforgiving comic book, that pushes the boundaries of the medium of comics, and even in the stories that I didn't find terribly entertaining, I still found something to appreciate.

This collection is an effort to preserve art of a small handful of individuals, but also to make a statement about where comics have come from and what is possible when artists are simply allowed to create unfettered from censorship boards and special interests. The stories in this collection can be shocking, and at times even depraved, but they are truly honest works by cartoonists who believe deeply in the medium and craft of comics and what it can do.

Zap is a powerful book, even today, and I'm so glad I took the effort to read this collection in full. My bank account is not so forgiving, but my soul is grateful for the chance. Anyway, Keep on Truckin.

[Luci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many many years ago when I was in high school during the '70s (greatest era there ever was before Reagan), there was a store, not sure if it was a book dealer or head shop (!) which carried Zap along with The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and Pinhead comics. I bought every single one weekly as they were published. I really really miss those comics.

[Brendan]

Just read the first one ( # 1 ) as they only send me one from the library, not the whole box set.

[Ruz El · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you wanted to know and see about Zap can be found in here. It's a gorgeous book, the quality is off the charts from binding to paper to reproduction. Content wise I was only familiar with the Crumb material and I found the others a bit hit or miss. S. Clay Wilson was the big revelation with a totally mind blowing vision of perversity. Spain was my other favourite, telling true stories from his biker gang days. Gilbert Shelton was interesting too, I really need to get a Freak Brothers collection. The rest I could appreciate artistically but overall didn't do as much for me. I'm a story guy at my base.

If you can afford it, it's worth it.