I’ve never actually sat down and read underground comix. I’ve known of them, have even flipped through a few of them to look at the art when I was doing inventory at the comic store I worked at. But this was my first time actually taking the time to read them.
They were basically everything I expected since going into them, I knew they were going to be raunchy and offensive. These comics were made for shock value though so I found it hard to actually be offended since that was the reaction they were going for.
Knowing the history behind all these, I appreciate how completely over the top they are. The underground comix movement was a counter culture movement created as a reaction against the comics code authority that started in the 50s. Underground Comics started in the 60s and were definitely a product of their time. Counter culture movements were taking over the nation at this point with the hippie movement in full swing. Fashion was changed forever, music was changed forever, and its not surprising comics followed suit.
Art in general has had a long history of being censored from the very material that Underground Comix hoped to bring to light. Things like sex and drugs are so often taboo and forbidden topics and society, so its oddly satisfying to see a group of people so boldly take those very things and shove it unapologetically in people’s faces. Even in media today, its still scandalous to show any genitalia. Underground comix exaggerates these very things that the rest of society tries to hide. Yes they most definitely do it in an offensive way, but I think that it only helps to highlight how prudish our society is.
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