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The Unofficial Underground Comix thread...
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2,279 posts in this topic

4 hours ago, CDNComix said:

I believe that 2 of the copies that sold earlier in the year were technically the second and third editions of Panter's As*hole. Both Miniature AH (stated 100 copies) and Microscopic AH (100 copies) were published in 1983, post Kennedy. I never handled any of the editions/printings, so I cannot say if there is a difference in size, page count etc. A definite viewing on-line tell is provided by viewing the inner front pages. In addition Miniature has a has a yellow/black checkered design on the back cover opposed to the first's white/black design. Another hunch that I have (maybe I am wrong) is that the book size decreases with each edition, hence Miniature and then Microscopic. For me these editions are a rare case of: "I would want to own a later edition over the first, if I only could have one", since the first had a run of 500 copies.

asshole.PNGMiniature.PNGMicroscopic Asshole.PNG

WIth Panter's early items, there seems to be no real definitive info.  Here's what I've learned, the 1st pictured one is not a 1st print, but a 2nd or later print, the "copied" signature at the top is the clue.  There's a video on youtube I've posted that shows Robert Williams open up his copy and tit's the same size about as that one and there's no signature at the top of that page.  I'm unaware of these smaller editions, but know the last one was a high quality printing done in Orange County, CA.with a glossy cover that is about the same size as the early ones.  Panter told me that he would let DiCaprio reprint his books and that's who I suspect did the printing with the copied signature at the top of the page.  I've got a HUP 1st print by Panter that George DiCaprio used to make the 2nd printing of HUP., which lost the blue color on the cover for the 2nd printing.

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13 hours ago, 50 Cent #II (1st) said:

WIth Panter's early items, there seems to be no real definitive info.  Here's what I've learned, the 1st pictured one is not a 1st print, but a 2nd or later print, the "copied" signature at the top is the clue.  There's a video on youtube I've posted that shows Robert Williams open up his copy and tit's the same size about as that one and there's no signature at the top of that page.  I'm unaware of these smaller editions, but know the last one was a high quality printing done in Orange County, CA.with a glossy cover that is about the same size as the early ones.  Panter told me that he would let DiCaprio reprint his books and that's who I suspect did the printing with the copied signature at the top of the page.  I've got a HUP 1st print by Panter that George DiCaprio used to make the 2nd printing of HUP., which lost the blue color on the cover for the 2nd printing. 

Very interesting!

Kennedy did report for the "first edition", just plain AH, that some had a signature and some did not. So, now there's a risk that a signature might indicate a later printing (probability: always? sometimes?). What is also confusing is that: Panter considers Miniature AH to be the "second printing" and Microscopic AH to be the "third printing". This is difficult to see from the scan that I stole from Worthpoint, but this is stated at the bottom of Miniature AH. So, it is possible that Miniature and Microscopic are standalone and have never been reprinted (or not). Copies have to be reviewed and handled to determine the variants and their timelines. Maybe you should take on another project like FB #2 and get to the bottom of this for us!

What's tough for a collector is risking paying bigger bucks for a "100-copy Panter book" and only to find out later it's really a later variant of an edition. Even if this becomes fully resolved, no seller is going to believe me when I offer a fraction of what they want because "you really have a third printing of Miniature AH and not a first".

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Here's what we can assume for now.

Hup (1st print) by Panter in 1977 (light blue on lower half of "HUP" on cover) (probably the first "Xerox" underground comix book?)  https://www.printedmatter.org/catalog/tables/1088/42164

Hup (2nd print) printed by George DiCaprio with Panter's approval (early 80's?) (no blue on lowe half of "HUP" on cover, one interior page has a "6" within a circle on ithe edge)

 

The AH (1st print) by Panter in 1979.  (no signature on top of interior page) as seen on Robert Williams copy at the 1:30 mark:   (note, Williams states that The AH is the first Xerox Underground Comix, but I believe he was unaware of Panter's previous Hup from 1977.  He discusses how he and S. Clay WIlson came up with the response to The AH with Yama Yama / The Ugly Head in 1981.  I suspect the DiCaprio printed the Yama Yama / The Ugly Head, would love to hear if that's so and if so, what DiCaprio had to do with getting these out?  Was he the one telling Williams about the public response to get him riled up with S. Clay?)

The AH (2nd print) by DiCaprio? in early 80's? (pencil Panter signature on inteior page top that's been "copied" with the printing.  (This could probably be seen as an unofficial printing, with Penter's approval.)

The AH (3rd print) miniture

The AH (4th print) microscopic

The AH (5th print) glossy high quality printing by Wright Litho (no longer in business) in 2003.

 

Pee Dog #1 (1983) (black ink on white paper, mini)

Pee Dog #2 (1st print) (1986) (deep red cover version)  https://hey-ho-outside-affiliatelinksnotallowedtumblr.com/post/117372888582/last-night-i-stopped-by-to-check-out-my

What is the Pee Dog #2 version with red and black in on white paper? (I think it's part of the 1st print?  Is the all red cover version above a limited signed version?)  https://www.ebay.com/itm/vtg-Pee-Dog-2-underground-mini-adult-comic-1986-Jay-Cotton-Gary-Panter/163581025483?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Pee Dog #2 (2nd print) (20xx) (Green paper with black ink in 2009 by Picture Box, 500 copies, there was also a special edition of 10# and signed copies each with unique pornographic covers)

There were some small mini Pee Dog's also made, little info. on those is available.  Here's one example:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pee-Dog-underground-mini-adult-comic-1982-Cotton-Panter-signed-handmade/113675214695?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

Edited by 50 Cent #II (1st)
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I got some mail from the Church Of the Subgenius back in the late 70's or early 80's that contained a small Pee-Dog thing (I think there was also a Poop Dog enclosure). I'm sure I still have it somewhere in the envelope it was sent in, but to locate it on purpose would be the proverbial needle in a haystack...whereas at some point I'll be looking for something else and there it will be!

 

When I do find it, I'll be sure to post it here. I do recall being baffled by it as it had nothing to do with the reason I was contacting the Church....it was just some ephemera tossed into a reply! Now I'm really looking to track it down!

 

In other news....is anyone else enjoying their copy of this magnum opus currently?

 

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Edited by wpbooks01
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I’ve recently acquired a small lot of underground comics. I was wondering if I could get some help with this book. I’m pretty sure it’s a first printing from Bill Spicer and it’s in impeccable condition. But I can’t find any other sales of the book to track its value... looking to move the books but I’d like to know it’s value before unloading it. Thanks!

 

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On 4/28/2019 at 7:45 PM, Retroheavy said:

I’ve recently acquired a small lot of underground comics. I was wondering if I could get some help with this book. I’m pretty sure it’s a first printing from Bill Spicer and it’s in impeccable condition. But I can’t find any other sales of the book to track its value... looking to move the books but I’d like to know it’s value before unloading it. Thanks! 

It's not an underground but the rare first issue of a really, really, really well known fanzine. A lot of NM copies of FI #1 and #2 sold for around $450 in 2017 (Heritage Auctions). You might want to try the silver age boards to see if there is a fanzine thread. Nice book BTW.

 

Edited by CDNComix
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On 4/30/2019 at 8:25 AM, oldmilwaukee6er said:

Cancel culture comes for counterculture comics...

I think that this shadow has followed Crumb and his band of evil henchmen since the beginning. Nothing new. The difference between 1970 and today is that the same type of people are now instantly conditioned to loudly bleat their disapproval at any public forum, whether they truly understand issue or not.

Most of the general public never understood the aspect of satire that was truly portrayed in the work of Crumb and others. Whether the story involved pornography, racism or some other social taboo, it was intended to push your buttons.

I always felt that Backderf was just an opportunist who got lucky (or unlucky), so no surprise when he quickly withdrew his support of his "hero", Crumb, after some pressure on social media.

Edited by CDNComix
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In today.  Not 100% sure if these are better placed here or in the general magazine thread.  Extremely happy to have them; the Mixed Bunch issue is the first appearance of Luther Arkwright, as near as I can tell.  And the Chester P. Hackenbush stories are something I've wanted to see for a while.  They're almost impossible to find but everybody who has seems to speak glowingly of them.

Brain_Storm_2.jpg

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On 4/16/2019 at 4:23 PM, 50 Cent #II (1st) said:

Anyone looking for a copy of Cobb's ColorVision, Ron is selling file copies from himself on eBay Australia.  Shipping adds a bit ot the price, but still under $100 for one direct from him.

 

Really late to this...  Isn't Ron Cobb an editorial cartoonist?  I have a number of his books and I always thought they were in the editorial/political category.

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On 4/30/2019 at 5:25 AM, oldmilwaukee6er said:

Meh, Passmore has an interesting but derivative visual style, and his writing is obvious. when it comes to political comix, he's no Spain Rodriguez. In twenty years no one is going to remember Passmore, but Crumb collections will still be in print. 

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Wow, someone got a hard to find one. I had it on my watch list, but I just couldn't justify bidding with the condition it was in. Probably still a good buy, but it does look like it's ready to fall apart:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AYATOLLAH-KHOMEINI-SCRAPBOOK-RARE-1980-UNDERGROUND-COMIC-by-artist-ROBERT-CRUMB/372698994930?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&autorefresh=true

 

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On 7/12/2019 at 9:23 PM, 50 Cent #II (1st) said:

Prices HAVE been low in recent months/years... 

So odd to me that Forbes was in front of this. 

I read this and my stomach sank a little, just like Sandman recently, I just worry somehow it will fail or worse yet nobody cares. I do feel content with what I've collected... Would have liked to secure a HG #2 1st or a nice HG #13 before any runup, but overall I love the Freak Brothers books I have 😄

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39 minutes ago, oldmilwaukee6er said:

Prices HAVE been low in recent months/years... 

So odd to me that Forbes was in front of this. 

I read this and my stomach sank a little, just like Sandman recently, I just worry somehow it will fail or worse yet nobody cares. I do feel content with what I've collected... Would have liked to secure a HG #2 1st or a nice HG #13 before any runup, but overall I love the Freak Brothers books I have 😄

IKR, Forbes??

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