17. The Complete Crumb Comics Volume 1

The Early Years of Bitter Struggle

Extended Edition (reprint)

1958-1962 - Intro by Marty Pahls
       

    Report From the Brussels World's Fair (Foo # 1)
    My Encounter With Dracula (Foo # 2)
    Clod of the Month Award (Foo # 2)   
    Khruschev Visits U.S. (Foo # 3)   
    Noah's Ark (Foo # 3)   
    Treasure Island Days [w/ Charles Crumb]   
    Cat Life   
    Robin Hood   
    Animal Town   
    Fuzzy and Brombo   
    letters to Marty Pahls [Almanac]   
    covers: Arcade # 4 ; # 5; # 6; # 9; # 22; #26   
    title page Arcade # 22

    A Christmas Tale   
    One Page Strips   
    Animal Town   
    Animal Town   
    Animal Town   
    Mabel   
    A Sad Comic Strip
    The Complete Arcade # 22 featuring Animal Town and Jim
(not in the original edition)

Okay, we're going to be completely honest here. This one is for hardcore Crumb fans only. This is very early stuff, some of it not immediately recognizable as Crumb's work. Taken as part of the entire catalog of art, along with Crumb's biography, there is some really interesting stuff here. But the casual fan won't be interested (unless you like the old-old-school Crumb girls).

Most of this stuff is unpublished elsewhere. Foo was a self-published comic made and sold (almost) by Robert & Charles Crumb.

Highlights: 

- pp. 91, 93, 94, 108 bottom strip

- Fritz strip beginning p. 111

- gorgeous girls on p.133, 135, 157, 164, 165, 171-188, 191

You need the reprint edition, otherwise you won't get The Complete Arcade # 22. At the moment of this writing, the Fantagraphics website says this volume is SOLD OUT.