"Raw," "Weirdo," and Beyond

"This catalogue accompanies an exhibition of alternative comics from the 1980s and 1990s, with a particular focus upon artists who contributed to the anthologies 'Raw' (1980-91) and 'Weirdo' (1981-94), as well as other venues such as alternative newspapers and independent presses. Following the popularity and eventual decline of underground comics in the 1960s and 1970s, this next generation of cartoonists explored more complex themes and forms and garnered eclectic readers via new markets. The volume comprehensively examines the world of art-and-litary-comics from interdisciplinary perspectives. Essayists from art historical, literary, and other fields focus on the role of influential editors and publishers as well as the strategies artists employed to get comics taken seriously by readers. Subjects include the aesthetics of 'Raw' and 'Weirdo,' the punk-influenced work of Gary Panter, and the genre-breaking work of the Hernandez Brothers"