Meet Robert Crumb, a man whose name alone could spark a debate at a cocktail party—a towering figure in modern cartooning who’s about as odd as your uncle’s collection of garden gnomes. Dan Nadel’s meticulously crafted biography serves up all the goods about Crumb, and trust me, there’s plenty to chew on.
For years, Crumb was best known to the civilized world as the artistic genius behind the cover of the Big Brother and the Holding Company/Janis Joplin album Cheap Thrills and for those gangly, high-as-a-kite characters brandishing the “Keep on Truckin’” slogan. This was just the froth on the cappuccino of his career, however; he was the guiding star of the underground comic scene of the Sixties and Seventies, leading the charge with Zap Comix.
Crumb populated our imagination with an absurdist, LSD-fueled pantheon of misfits like Mr. Natural and Fritz the Cat, all rendered with his signature hatching style. His most compelling character, R Crumb, is a lanky figure decked out in milk-bottle specs, oozing with neuroses and existential angst. It’s almost like he’s the patron saint of therapy bills.
Crumb learned from the legends—Harvey Kurtzman, the mad genius behind Mad Magazine, and Carl Barks, the “good duck artist”. And let’s not kid ourselves; every contemporary cartoonist—including Art Spiegelman and Chris Ware—has to pass through the Crumb filter. Spiegelman even likens the experience to an accelerated evolution scene in 2001: A Space Odyssey. I mean, who wouldn’t want to step into that time warp?
While Crumb’s curls are often intertwined with the Sixties counterculture, his interest tends to veer toward the past—particularly the early 20th century. He’s a record collector who prefers old 78s over smartphones, and the cynicism in his work often focuses more on his idiosyncratic soul than on corporate America. Because what better way to process your existential dread than through caricatures?
Born in 1943 in Philadelphia, Crumb’s upbringing could make for a dark comedy script. His family tree is laden with dysfunction, featuring everything from violent outbursts to a touch of incest. Who knew that growing up in such chaos would turn one into a self-proclaimed cartoonist capable of mirroring society’s darkest corners? A miracle, indeed, that he emerged mostly intact—though, let’s be honest, a little neurosis adds flavor to any comic.
Ah, but here’s where Crumb gets spicy. His work is what the kids today might call “#problematic.” Characters like Angelfood McSpade flirt with racial and sexual stereotypes, turning cringe-worthy tropes into comedy gold. And his early comics? Rape jokes galore! But, in true Crumb fashion, he claims he merely reflects the world, not creates it. It’s a convenient excuse—an artist’s version of “the devil made me do it.”
Rather than facing consequences or hitting the #MeToo list, Crumb had quite the charm with the ladies. His early marriage unraveled, and he neglected his son. But hey, with Aline Kominsky, he found a partner and ample material for his next comic. Of course, when the counterculture that adored him started fading, he plunged into a mid-life crisis a la artwork, striking tones of realism that came with a side of depression.
Now, fast forward to today: Crumb’s work commands jaw-dropping prices—right around the time he decided to take a break. Typical, isn’t it? A man who treated money like it was a hot potato, declining lucrative offers left and right. $20K for a Mr. Natural cuddly toy? Pass. Album cover for the Rolling Stones? Nope! He’d rather live in poverty than compromise. It’s almost admirable…if you squint hard enough.
Somehow, despite the chaos, Crumb remains a riveting figure. Nadel presents both Crumb’s genius and his many quirks with precision—though lovers of light fare may find it a bit dense. So, if you’re interested in cartoons, culture, and the chronicles of a man who navigates his own psyche through an absurd lens, look no further!
Now residing in rural France, Crumb continues to cultivate his status as a living legend. When Nadel approached him, seeking the warts-and-all biography, Crumb humored him with a simple shrug. It took quite the journey to get there—almost reminiscent of a treasure hunt!
Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life by Dan Nadel (Scribner, £25, pp 458). Available for order at timesbookshop.co.uk, complete with free UK shipping on orders over £25 and a special discount for Times+ members.
