All About Underground Comix...

Comix Underground

All About Underground Comix

Underground Comix

Did you know that the comics industry of the world had undergone some major revolutions and controversies only few decades back? Do not be surprised. Professional cartoonists and those who are still actively involved in reading comics may know about these revolutions and controversies.

These controversies revolved around the art of underground comix and their publishing. Primarily popular with hippies and punks, these are different from the mainstream comics in the sense that underground comix deal with socially relevant and satirical subjects that are prohibited to be depicted in mainstream comics. Underground comix basically show overt use of drugs, violence, anti-war protest, rock music and sex. The difference in the spelling of the words comics and comix represents the x rated content in the latter.

The concept of underground comix emerged in the United States in the late 1960s and stayed on the scene till the mid 1970s. The wave of underground comix also griped the United Kingdom during 1973 and 1974. However, it was between 1920s and 1940s, when small run under published comix first appeared and depicted sleazy and pornographic content. Initial versions are said to be personal works by artists for their friends.

The underground industry started gaining momentum when underground newspapers started publishing comix. One such major newspaper was the East Village Other that also later on started Gothic Blimp Works, a monthly comix magazine. Many people opposed the Comics Code in the 1950s that artists had to adhere to. That phase also saw parents tearing apart and burning their childrens collection of comics. Also, head shops that would sell prohibited drugs and narcotics displayed the titles of these comix. Film industry was also influenced by the growing underground comics industry and in 1970s many film-makers adapted some popular comix into animated films that were given an X rating.

In the UK, American work was reprinted by underground publications Oz and International Times (IT), both based in London. Many British cartoonists were also introduced by these publications giving boost to the underground comix industry in the country. Some employees of IT started Cyclops the countrys first Comix mag. In 1971, IT published Nasty Tales to regain its financial strength but was faced with prosecution on the charges of obscenity. IT was later acquitted. In 1972, Oz brought out cOZmic Comics that included new British underground strips and American material. The company closed down the next year.

According to the then famous American underground comix artist and cartoonist Gilbert Shelton Underground comics were more like art and less like comics. However, underground comix critics blamed underground publications for being socially irresponsible for promoting drugs, sex and violence.

Both the American and British underground comix industries started declining in the mid 1970s. However, it was in 1982 that the distribution of comix took a different turn after the start of many specialty stores. Many mainstream publishers started alternative comics to cater to the taste of adult audience. The focus of these comics was the same as of underground comix. As of today, the sale of underground comix is on rise, especially on the Internet. You can easily find reprints of original underground comix and also modern underground publications.