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I've had some thoughts on anthology comics over the years. They often simply don't work, owing to an uneven quality of story, or a poor choice of mixture. Dark Horse Presents is the only one I can think of that had a successful run. Most others, like the excellent Oni Double Feature lasted less than a year, despite having luminaries like Neil Gaiman, Paul Dini, and Kevin Smith writing for them.
The thing is, many underground comix are anthologies, and they don't seem to suffer from the same problems, as far as I can see. Yes, they tend to have short runs (because they're self-published, dontcha know?), though today's title managed to survive about 15 years. Now, it only published 31 issues in that time, but still.
So what it is that makes an underground anthology work as opposed to a ground level or mainstream anthology? I don't actually think it has too much to do with the actual art and story, not from a quality perspective, as we might think with more recent attempts at anthologies. Instead, I'd argue that it stems from a focus of perspective and context from the artists. Underground creators tend to spring from the Hippie movement, and their stories, despite their disparity, have a constancy of philosophy that makes the anthology work. Here we have creators who are not afraid to put their social ideologies right there on the page, and who are also not afraid to laugh at and critique those very philosophies. They tell us what they believe in but also that it's okay to not take these philosophies, and by dint of that any philosophies, very seriously. I think that it we all took our personal philosophies a little less seriously, the world, pandemic aside, would be in much better shape.
So much good stuff in here, but the Wonder Warthog cover with all my fave superheroes, and the story within in which he has to apply for welfare, are the standouts. The unemployment stuff covered in that story is chillingly similar to what we face these days. No wonder these comics are talking to me now.
More to follow.
Further Reading and Related Links
If you've never read the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, or The Griffith Observatory, or Wonder Warthog, head over to Rip Off Press and give them a try. You won't be disappointed.
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