R Crumb: The Cartoonist Who Drew Society’s Underbelly

Robert Crumb, known affectionately as “R Crumb” (because “Bob” just doesn’t scream counterculture), stands as a titan in the modern cartooning landscape—a veritable one-man freakshow. Dan Nadel’s biography of this enigmatic figure manages to deliver both the facts and the existential dread one might expect from a man who drew half-naked characters frolicking in a cloud of existential angst.

For much of his early career, Crumb was that guy who created the cover art for Janis Joplin’s Cheap Thrills, and his “Keep on Truckin'” slogan decorated countless dorm rooms and 18-wheeler mudflaps—talk about a versatile career! But let’s not pigeonhole him. He was the ultimate grandmaster of underground comics in the 60s and 70s, spawning the classic Zap Comix and characters that could make Sigmund Freud reconsider his life choices.

Crumb gifted us an LSD-infused pantheon of characters, all dripping with neuroses, hypocrisy, and the scent of stale nachos. Whether it was the egregiously exaggerated Mr. Natural or the anxious adventurer R Crumb himself, his art is like a psychological buffet where you can sample every weird craving he ever had. Who wouldn’t want a slice of that?

You see, Crumb’s childhood was about as idyllic as a warm milkshake in the sun. Born in a dysfunctional Philadelphia household, he grew up surrounded by an assortment of emotional baggage—think Jerry Springer but with fewer commercials. His beloved older brother didn’t fare much better, tragically succumbing to the demons of mental illness. And so, the man who gave you cartoons that get you questioning your life choices is a delightful concoction of trauma and triumph.

Despite being a poster child for ’60s counterculture, Crumb was always a few steps away from trendy rebellion—like wearing plaid at a black-tie event. He has a penchant for collecting dusty old 78rpm records, making him the ultimate hipster long before it became mainstream. However, if you thought his music tastes made him difficult to market, his racial and sexual politics make for even more awkward dinner conversations. Rape jokes in his early works? Chuckling at hyper-sexualized caricatures? That’s Crumb, folks—daring self-exposure married to an uncanny ability to paint the fence with some seriously problematic strokes.

What’s even more amusing is how Crumb managed to sidestep serious consequences throughout his life, despite his overwhelming success in the realm of sleaze. His first marriage could be summarized as “a cautionary tale,” and after neglecting his son, he hopped into a mostly happy yet less-than-exclusive partnership with Aline Kominsky. Talk about a subplot worthy of its own comic series.

So, what’s the deal now? Well, Crumb lives in quiet rural France, cranking out work intermittently while somehow becoming a sought-after treasure by art collectors—proving once again that while the art world may frequently miss the memo, it’s never too late to capitalize on a weird sense of nostalgia. When approached for a biography, Crumb’s response was a laid-back shrug—because why not keep everyone guessing? He’s like a one-man cloistered genius, an eccentric living proof that sometimes, ignoring the world can lead to a life’s work worth preserving, or at least laughing at.

If you want to dive into the peculiar world of Robert Crumb, grab Dan Nadel’s Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life—it’s like reading Dostoevsky on acid, peppered with bizarre doodles and a side of uncomfortable revelations. And hey, it’s only £25—less than your monthly coffee budget—so indulge in this hilarious, yet poignant insight into the celebrated antihero of cartooning.