ODDS & ENDS.

by Robert Crumb

A collection of cartoon strips by Robert Crumb, including previously unpublished strips as well as more of his favourite and most successful ones. All are decorated in colour, and there are photographs, portraits and text by Crumb himself.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Art

Hardcover

First published January 12, 2001

About the author

Robert Dennis Crumb (born August 30, 1943)— is an American artist, illustrator, and musician recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical, subversive view of the American mainstream.

Crumb was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded as its most prominent figure. Though one of the most celebrated of comic book artists, Crumb's entire career has unfolded outside the mainstream comic book publishing industry. One of his most recognized works is the "Keep on Truckin'" comic, which became a widely distributed fixture of pop culture in the 1970s. Others are the characters "Devil Girl", "Fritz the Cat", and "Mr. Natural".

He was inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1991.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a total waste of my time.

[Frederic · Rating 1 out of 5]

As the title implies, this book is a hodgepodge of work from throughout Robert Crumb's career, including some unpublished drawings and some that were published in obscure publications. There are even some renderings from his job drawing cards for American Greetings in Cleveland.

"Odds & Ends" was leant to me by a well meaning member of my book club who often brings novelties for me to try. To be fair, it probably isn't the best way to experience of Crumb's work for the first time.

Robert Crumb is a renowned artist with legions of fans. I don't have any deep insight into visual arts or graphic novels. Crumb might be considered a better artist than, say, Riad Sattouf, who wrote and drew the series "The Arab of the Future", which I very much enjoyed. The first volume of "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi is also not particularly well drawn, but very effective.

I confess that I find Crumb's art extremely unappealing. Every character is coarse and hideous to the point of revulsion.

Jim Unger's single frame "Herman" cartoons, which I read in childhood, also featured aggressively unattractive characters, but I vastly prefer Unger's to Crumb's work because Herman was really funny and the lumpy characters contributed to the humour.

Although I recognize that these are very different media and that Crumb is not always trying to be funny, he is trying to convey humour, satire or drama. Sattouf and Satrapi's drawings are more primitive than Crumb's, but to me, those artists are much more successful in evoking both comedy and drama than Crumb, partly because their simpler, cartoonish drawings didn't nauseate me.

Obviously, all art is highly subjective and your experience of this book may differ widely.

[RoseBlight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly intimate look into mostly non-comics work from Crumb. Chock full of portraits (of both the living and dead), pieces done for local businesses, magazine/newspaper covers, and a whole lot more. My favorite were the many spot drawings done as trade for old 78s.

I was most touched by the sheer amount of beautifully rendered birthday cards, wedding invites, and other ephemera that were clearly personal for Crumb. Would love to see another of these covering the 25 or so years since this books publication.

[Eamonn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the title says, these are odds and ends, but if you're a Crumb fan it's well worth your while. Three and a half stars.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing just how mercenary some of this is: art drawn to trade for rare records, or for a plumbing supply store's promotional materials in return for fixtures

[Jon Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my "bibles". I am always inspired when I look at R.Crumbs pen & ink work...but it goes beyond that. This man is a consummate truth-teller. He is not afraid, or perhaps he is...but he goes past that and reveals his deepest, darkest feelings and experiences and this man, in my opinion, is a master.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely collection of "odds and ends" by Crumb. It's particularly interesting to see his advertisements and Christmas cards. They offer more sides to his story and help give a more complete picture of the artist.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

An inoffensive look at some of Crumb's work, however it really is just odds and ends, not a complete story. I'd much rather read a complete book, too bad libraries won't carry his usual work...