The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book

Since Crumb is still widely considered an "underground" comix artist and best known for his hippie-era work, this lavish mounting of his art may seem inappropriate or ironic. But few other figures in the comics field really merit such treatment, nor would their work profit as much from this volume's oversize pages and high-quality reproduction. The collection samples the full range of Crumb's diverse production, from juvenilia and psychedelia to lovingly rendered sketchbook pages and recent autobiographical, confessional stories. Almost as rewarding are Crumb's hand-lettered commentaries, scattered throughout, that reveal the idiosyncrasies and obsessions behind the comics, which viewers of the acclaimed documentary film Crumb (1994) will recognize. Although, unfortunately, it covers up Crumb's distinctive crosshatched line work, the addition of color to much of the originally black-and-white art may enhance its appeal for some, and although 40 bucks may seem steep for a "comic book," this is a thoroughly worthwhile purchase for libraries that don't want to commit to Fantagraphics' ongoing complete Crumb project. Gordon Flagg