FUMETTI Italian Adult Comics 1970s

Largely unknown outside of Italy and the world of comic book collector's, the Italian adult, sexually explicit graphic novels, known as fumetti, are quite a surprise coming from a country where little erotic material was produced in the modern era. The covers are uniformly wonderful displaying the range from simple seduction to total, all out sexual fantasy.

Common themes run through these comics: lesbianism, catwomen, sex machines, interracial couples, crime, female domination, sci-fi sex, vampires, monsters, bondage and sado-masochism. During this period, the various series included Sesso Majjo, Maldrak, Gengis Kana, Pussycat, Giovani d'Oggi, Ilona, and Fathoman. The internal illustrations were done in a very simple, almost naive style, printed in black and white and resembling the sequential story telling of today's graphic novels. Contents are sometimes sexually explicit, while simultaneous lacking eroticism

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VASTA @ Comic Arts Brooklyn Sunday Nov. 11th

Come to the Comic Arts Brooklyn fair this Sunday November 11th @ the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, details here. Presented by Gabe Fowler, Desert Island Comics and Pratt, the one-day CAB is Not To Be Missed! Stop by my stand to see The Latest arrivals including graphzines, limited edition artist's books, '70s French adult comics, fumetti and the most recent publication from Vasta Editions, the High Heel and Corset Revue. 

See you there ~ VASTA

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Paris Paper Show Champerret October 2015

Just catching up now after the Paris Paper Show at the end of October with this post showing some the marvelous and diverse, pop culture books and paper available at the fair. It was an enjoyable show and I returned to NYC with some great new material that you can see posted in my eBay store and in February come see "the latest" at the Los Angeles Art Book Fair. Hara Kiri cover, circa 1970s.

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Blake et Mortimer hardcover comic books

 Roman noir, policier crime pulps 1950s

 Before Charlie Hebdo there was Charlie magazine 1970s

 Adult comic books 1970s

 Italian porn star, politician, ex-wife Jeff Koons, Ciccolina

 Kake magazine, Tom of Finland's alter ego

 Photo of s/m bondage art by Belgian artist Serajat 1960s

Moderni fem/dom bondage paperbacks 1970s

 Canadian magazines with pirated Robert Crumb artwork 1970s

 Le Rire French humor magazines 1960s

Diana Dors The Love Specialist 1957

1930s French crime pulps

Art Fantastix circa '00s

Saga de Xam 1967 pub'ed by Eric Losfeld

Pierre Louys La Femme et Le Pantin

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WHAT NERVE!! Hairy Who @ Matthew Marks Gallery

I rarely post my enthusiasm for a local gallery show, however the exhibition at the Matthew Marks Gallery in Chelsea is a must see! What Nerve! Alternative Figures in American Art featuring the Chicago artist collective Hairy Who. A few photos from the show which closes August 14th.

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From the gallery website contents of one of the books published for the exhibition The Collected Hairy Who Publications 1966-1969 reproducing in actual size, every page of the Hairy Who "comic book" publications.

 

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Paris PAPER SHOW Feb'15 CHARLIE HEBDO Hommage

Back in Paris for the February paper show at Champerret there was a special exhibition hastily put together by one of the dealers, Philippe Grosjean. It took a brief look at the history of French illustrated satirical journals starting in the 1860s with L'Eclipse through to the present day with the main focus on Charlie Hebdo. Although the installation of the exhibition was basic and quickly pulled together it was very well done, presenting the generational influences over 150 years that have brought illustrated satire to the forefront in free speech discussions through out the world.

No matter what you think of Charlie Hebdo, its right to exist is essential, more so than ever, after the events surrounding the terrorist attacks in Paris in January. It was well represented amongst the "generalist" paper dealers with everything from single copies to massive piles of Charlie, Charlie Hebdo and it's predecessor, Hara-Kiri. For a history of these publications go here.

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The first issue November 23, 1970. Note the match sticks used to hold the magazines in place in the corrugated cardboard mount!

Charlie was the predecessor to Charlie Hebdo and featured syndicated comic strips from a wide spectrum of newspapers, focused primarily on American serials. The title of the magazine, taken from Charles Shultz's Charlie Brown, featured Snoopy, posed on the roof of his dog house, on the cover of the first issue. Above, Chester Gould's Dick Tracy on the cover of issue 20.

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Seen at the fair the (un)usual mix of old paper, posters, books, postcards and original artwork spread around the very large exhibition space, which once again saw a drop in the number of dealers. It is the way of most collectible fairs with ever decreasing attendance by both sellers and buyers. I for one love this show and wouldn't miss it!!

 

End of the show at one of the wine bars with friends and colleagues 

Matthieu (left) and "Monsieur" Max

 

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