Robert Crumb American illustrator and cartoonist Date of Birth: 30.08.1943 Country: USA

1. Robert Crumb: The Godfather of Underground Comics
2. Early Life and Influences
3. Underground Movement Pioneer
4. "Zap" and Beyond
5. Noted Works
6. Later Career
7. Personal Life and Recognition

Robert Crumb: The Godfather of Underground Comics

Robert Crumb, born in Philadelphia in 1943, is an influential American illustrator, cartoonist, and the founder of the underground comix movement.

Early Life and Influences

Crumb's father, Charles, was a career officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, while his mother, Beatrice, was a homemaker. Growing up, Crumb was heavily influenced by his father's passion for comic strips and literature.

Underground Movement Pioneer

In the mid-1960s, Crumb relocated to Cleveland and landed a job as a greeting card designer. He soon became involved in illustrating the first issues of Harvey Pekar's American Splendor. In 1967, Crumb moved to San Francisco, the epicenter of the counterculture movement. There, he prepared the first issue of his own underground comic, "Zap," but his publisher abruptly disappeared with all of Crumb's original artwork. Undeterred, Crumb used Xerox copies and, with the help of Beat poet Charles Plymell, published the debut issue of his groundbreaking underground comix series in 1968.

"Zap" and Beyond

"Zap" became a major success, featuring not only Crumb's work but also contributions from Rick Griffin, Victor Moscoso, Gilbert Shelton, and others. Around this time, Crumb also created the iconic cover for Big Brother & the Holding Company's album "Cheap Thrills." He attributed his unique artistic style to the influence of LSD.

Noted Works

One of Crumb's most well-known works is the comic strip "Fritz the Cat" (1965-1972), which featured the sexually charged adventures of an anthropomorphic feline. The strip was adapted into an animated film in 1972, but Crumb disowned it and killed off Fritz in the comic's final issue that same year.

Later Career

After moving to France, Crumb created memorable characters such as Mr. Natural, Mr. Snoid, Angelfood MacSpade, and Devil Girl. In 2009, he released "The Book of Genesis," an illustrated version of the Bible in his signature style. Fantagraphics published a comprehensive collection of Crumb's work, "The Complete Crumb Comics."

Personal Life and Recognition

Crumb has been married twice: to Dana Morgan (1964-1977) and Aline Kominsky (1978-present). He currently resides in the south of France with his wife and daughter. In 1994, Terry Zwigoff directed a documentary about Crumb's life and work, simply titled "Crumb."