Weird Comics History, Episode 12: Underground Comix, Part One

Grab your pickaxes and mining helmets, this week Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) uncover the seedy underbelly of comics history! First, a detailed look at Tijuana Bibles and a sadistic sex comic drawn by Superman co-creator, Joe Shuster. Then we take a long look at the careers of satirist and publisher Harvey Kurtzman and talented yet tragic Wally Wood, including their independently-produced works that would be so influential to a generation of comics creators. Will the reason behind the "X" in "comix" be revealed? You'll have to listen to find out!

BREAK SNIPPET:

Will Eisner speaks well of Harvey Kurtzman at the Dallas Fantasy Fair on July 5, 1990
https://youtu.be/z5OFquX5riA

SOURCES & LINKS:

Tijuana Bibles: Art & Wit in America's Forbidden Funnies, 1930s to 1950s by Bob Adelman (Simon & Schuster, 1994)

Vintage Tijuana Bible Library (WARNING: VERY NSFW)
http://www.tijuana-bibles.com/tijuanabible-comics.html
The Incredible True Story of Joe Shuster's Nights of Horror
http://cbldf.org/2012/10/the-incredible-true-story-of-joe-shusters-nights-of-horror/

Harvey Kurtzman: The Man Who Created MAD and Revolutionized Humor in America by Bill Schelly (Fantagraphics, 2015)

Humbug (2 volume set) by Harvey Kurtzman, et al. (Fantagraphics, 2008)

Trump: The Complete Collection by Harvey Kurtzman et al. (Dark Horse Books, 2016)

A Brief Biography of Wally Wood
http://www.twomorrows.com/alterego/articles/08wood.html

witzend (2 volume set) by Wallace Wood et al. (Fantagraphics, 2014)

TAGS: comics history, comic book history, underground comix, harvey kurtzman, wally wood, tijuana bibles, bazooka joe, joe shuster, humbug, trump, witzend, help!, american history, pop culture history