Week #6: Underground Comix

Underground Comix appeared 1970s and 80s, all up til now. They are comics that don't fit the childish nature of superheroes, and deal with mature or daring content. They also comes from small publishers for specific and niche magazines. The underlying point of underground is the transcendent subject matter, for example, people complaining about small things, or intruding in someone else's life because they are different. This week's readings start with Robert Crumb's Mr Natural.

At first glance, it looks like a comic straight out of Asterix and Obelix. It's cartoonish and looks innocent, but the dialogue and story is pretty daring for a comic of those days. Mr Natural is pretty much a jerk to characters, and wants things his own way. For example, the poor Buddhist Shuman wanted to concentrate on meditation but Mr Natural was tempting him with all material possessions. Somehow, they end up in a good ending, with Mr Natural being appreciated.

Mr Natural reads like a comic strip from a newspaper, simple gag. Many panels with lots of dialogue-driven action. Playing with the reader's patience and empathy.

The next comic I chose to read is different in style and layout.

Gay Comix. A compiled anthology of gay and lesbian comics dealing with those issues of the time. Homosexuality was seen (and in some cases currently as well) as immoral and deviant.

They are comics that play with the theme, Being Gay, maybe the reader can relate and laugh or cry about it. They're different themes, it can be a statement of society, arguing against the arguments of intolerant homophobic people, or personal stories, or fantasies.