R Crumb illustrates Genesis....

[Richardo]

And does it straight. Heard about this on NPR last night and it sounds verrrrry interesting. Can't wait to see it.

Synopsis

From the Creation to the death of Joseph, here is the Book of Genesis, revealingly illustrated as never before.

Publishers Weekly
Far removed from the satirical reimagining some might expect from the father of underground comix, Crumb's long-awaited take on the first book of the Bible presents the artist's own sensitive, visually intense reflections. Where most visual adaptations edit down their prose sources, Crumb has, strikingly, included every word of the Book of Genesis within his first major book-length work. His humanistic visual response to this religious text imbues even briefly mentioned biblical characters with unique faces and attitudes, and his renderings of the book's more storied personalities draw out momentous emotions inspired by the book's inherent drama. Throughout, Genesis is a virtual portfolio of Crumb's career-long effort to instill fluid cartoon drawing with carefully rendered lifelike detail. Some might miss Crumb's full stylistic and tonal range, but the source's narrative sweep includes moments of sex and scandal that recall the artist's more notorious comics. Indeed, this monumental visual adaptation's basic strategy may subvert simply by demanding a reconsideration of its source, one that continues to motivate the complex cultural struggles that have, for decades, preoccupied this master cartoonist's landmark work. (Oct.)

Hm. Should I read this, or Palin's crapfest? What a quandry.

[bridgit]

1. Crumb is cool

[lob1]

2. Several years ago, someone did a documentary on Crumb.

I think it was just called "Crumb". If you haven't seen it, you really, really should. It's one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. The film claims that cartooning saved Crumb's sanity. It shows him and the rest of his family (mom & 2 brothers) and they all seem sane at first, and then you realize they're all batshit crazy, but totally hypnotizing to watch.

[dogknob]

3. Terry Zwigoff

...made the Crumb movie. He also made "Ghost World," "Bad Santa," and "Art School Confidential."

[lob1]

7. Thanks for the info. I liked "Bad Santa", too. I haven't seen "Ghost World" yet.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. It's probably the most depressing movie I've ever seen.

Worth watching though.

[slay]

6. That documentary called "Crumb" was awesome! 10/10

Shows just how fine a line there is between genius and madness. Can not recommend that documentary highly enough.

[alfredo]

4. I bough it yesterday, but I still have Atwood's new book to read first.

[whathehell]

5. "the artist's more notorious comics."

Yes, I remember reading one of them in 1973. It depicted the old "keep truckin'" character having a baby perform oral sex on him. The baby was depicted sucking his dick, and i'm not kidding..I even remember the words that went with it.

I've not been such a fan since then.

[central scrutinizer]

8. Another good version

http://www.thebricktestament.com/

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. I like Crumb, but I don't get the interest in this.

A literal interpretation of Genesis strikes me as insufferably boring.

[blogslut]

12. The Bible is chock full of violence and sex

The book of Genesis is no exception. Now, think of Crumb, faithfully depicting every horrid thing.

[msaroff]

11. I Prefer Larry Gonick's Stuff

The Prophet Samuel looks like Cousin It....