Robert Crumb, more popularly known as “R. Crumb” (because who doesn’t like a good initial?), stands tall as a colossal figure in the realm of modern cartooning. Odd? Absolutely. Dan Nadel’s meticulously detailed biography is the rollercoaster ride you didn’t know you needed, offering a both enlightening and bewildering exploration of this curious artist.
For a chunk of his career, Crumb’s recognition in mainstream circles stemmed from his iconic illustration for the Cheap Thrills album cover by Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin. Not to mention the infamous “Keep on Truckin'” characters that adorned dorm-room walls and trucker mudflaps alike. But let’s not stick to the surface: Crumb was the mastermind behind underground comics in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the creator and cover artist of Zap Comix, which sounds like the name of a failed energy drink.
Crumb’s creations filled our lives with a riot of LSD-infused characters—think philosopher-cum-quirky artists, complete with names like Mr. Natural, the Snoid, and Fritz the Cat, alongside his own personage, a lanky figure with milk-bottle specs who could give any emo teen a run for their angst. His signature hatching style brought these figures to glorious life—if life were a twisted, psychedelic trip, of course.
His comic inspirations? Harvey Kurtzman from Mad magazine, a man who arguably redefined humor, alongside Carl Barks, the anonymous genius behind Donald Duck. Talk about a lineage! Nadel argues that without Crumb, we would live in a cartoon-free dystopia devoid of talents like Art Spiegelman, Chris Ware, and Daniel Clowes. To put it in Spiegelman’s words: “Every cartoonist has to somehow make their way through Crumb, like it’s some rite of passage in a particularly unsettling obstacle course.”
Despite being a counterculture icon, Crumb is steeped more in nostalgia than anything else. His obsession with old 78rpm records makes him the “hippie who hates hippies” and his political leanings are anti-corporate. However, his examination of society is often overshadowed by his self-critique; think less “the world is a cruel place,” and more “why am I like this?”
Born in 1943 into a less-than-ideal environment in Philadelphia, Crumb’s childhood was like a Shakespearean tragedy but with more sketchbooks and fewer soliloquys. The family tree was tangled with anger, insanity, and some truly questionable choices, leading to the suicide of his beloved older brother, which could have easily inspired a whole new genre of graphic novels titled, “Family Drama: What Was I Thinking?”
Now, let’s examine the elephant in the room: Crumb is, shall we say, #problematic? His characters often reflect outdated racial and sexual stereotypes, presenting opinions that provoke more eye rolls than applause in today’s society. Rape is treated as comedic fodder in early comics, and let’s not forget the infamous “Jail Bait of the Month” segments. His defense? “Hey, I’m just holding up a mirror!” Well, good luck getting anyone to look into that mirror, Robert!
But rather than becoming a cautionary tale for the #MeToo movement, Crumb found himself in a web of sexual exploits—many successful. His first marriage collapsed under the weight of his ego, while his second partnership with Aline Kominsky produced both romantic and professional sparks, as volatile as a pop bottle shaken before opening.
Fast forward to his later years where, instead of cashing in, he embodied the essence of an anti-capitalist cartoonist, turning down lucrative offers faster than you can say “Once upon a time.” Despite landing in serious financial trouble over unpaid taxes, he seemingly preferred a life of artistic integrity over piles of cash, becoming the poster child for “I’m broke but at least I’m true to myself.”
With Nadel’s biography, you get a mix of the nerdy and the quirky—a dash of history intertwined with the gothic charm of Crumb’s personal scandals. As Crumb now resides in rural France, he embraces the bittersweet ending of life with a shrug, as if saying, “I’m not opposed to being the subject of your fascination.” And let’s face it, we’re all the better for it.
Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life by Dan Nadel (Scribner £25 pp458) is available for order. For free UK standard P&P on orders over £25, don’t be shy—grab your copy and support the weird world of comic history!
