GRIST 7
Lawrence, KS: Abington Book Shop, 1966. First Edition. Issue 7 of John Fowler's literary magazine, notable for featuring the first commercially published pieces of S. Clay Wilson's artwork. Wilson, along with Robert Crumb and Manuel "Spain" Rodriguez, was an influential pioneer in the underground comix movement beginning in the 1960's. Three pieces of artwork appear in this issue, and while they don't depict the full-throttle violence and ugly sex which usually permeates his work, the beginnings are there. The first piece is a full-page pen drawing titled 'Captain Marble and his pirate crew dine after a hard day of pillage, rape, murder, and looting. And plunder and evil.' The second piece is an untitled centerfold depicting a variety of bikers and miscreants at a burger joint. Wilson has also illustrated the rear cover of the magazine. While other artists from that era have moderated their extreme style of artwork in order to assimilate into the mainstream, even into his 70's, Wilson seems resolutely defiant. An important and extremely uncommon debut, predating any work he did for Zap! Comix by a considerable margin of time. Item #521
Quarto; white illustrated wraps printed in black and purple, stapled; 39pp; illus. Hint of toning along spine fold, else Fine.
Price: $750.00