Man From Utopia, 1972, Rick Griffin, San Francisco, Very Rare Underground Comic

1972, Rick Griffin, San Francisco Comic Book Co. GREAT BIG, Underground Comic Art Magazine Near Mint Condition 20% OFF.

Only 1 left in stock - order soon. One of the first publications Griffin produced after his conversion to Christianity with lots of Christian symbols appearing in his drawings. "Special Blackjack Issue" This copy offered for sale comes from the original SF comic shop of Gary Arlington who published the magazine. Very hard to find anywhere in this condition. Featuring: The Moniter, Our Darling Jesus, Gumbo, Kilroy. Hard board stock cover, strong white pages. Every page has full page AMAZING -breathtaking Art. In 1966, Rick Griffin moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco and began shifting away from producing cartoons for Surfer magazine, which insisted on censoring his work, and towards designing rock music posters in San Francisco, which was a new genre of art that was all the rage in the counterculture. By 1967, Griffin was recognized along with Wes Wilson, Stanley "Mouse" Miller, Alton Kelley and Victor Moscoso as the "Big Five" artists who set the creative direction for psychedelic American rock posters.

In 1968, Griffin's rock poster art inspired Robert Crumb to invite him to contribute to Zap Comix, which Griffin readily accepted because he had seen Zap #1 and was excited about this new medium of art. As it turned out, Griffin proved to be the least prolific artist in the Zap Comix series, but his contributions established him as one of the most influential forefathers of underground comics and would propel Griffin to extraordinary achievements in the field of graphics and illustration. Despite Griffin's embrace of the counterculter in mid-'60s San Francisco, his life path did not take him down the same road as most of the underground comic creators who were his peers. In the spring of 1969, Griffin and his family (consisting of his wife Ida and two daughters at the time) split San Francisco and ended up returning to his native land in Southern California. By 1970, Griffin had adopted Christianity (in his own way) and the presence of Christian symbols proliferated in his artwork, a trend that would gain strength in the years that followed.

One of the first major publications Griffin produced after his conversion to Christianity was Man from Utopia, an oversize, deluxe magazine which essentially presented a portfolio of his illustrations from 1970 to 1972. Man from Utopia reproduced work that Griffin had created for concert posters, album covers and his memorable poster for John Severson's surfing film, Pacific Vibrations (Severson was the founder of Surfer magazine).

Despite the spot illustration of Jesus on the front cover art, Man from Utopia was one of the last publications Griffin produced that was not dominated by Christian imagery, though it is repeatedly punctuated by Christian symbols. Man from Utopia is first and foremost a remarkable collection Griffin's most beautifully composed illustrations, which include recurring icons far removed from Christianity. Hearts, roses, pussies, light bulbs, aliens and skulls flourish throughout the book, embedded in Griffin's complex, sharp-edged ink lines. Despite the lack of a specific story or defined narrative in Man from Utopia, the drawings feel like they are thematically connected, delivering precious lessons for those who are patient enough to absorb the entire scope of their message.

Despite his tragic death in 1991, Rick Griffin's popularity endures in several factions of today's world, from cartoonists and surfers to graffiti artists and Jesus freaks. For underground comic book fans, Man from Utopia ranks with Tales from the Tube as the strongest living testimonies to Griffin's genius. HISTORICAL FOOTNOTES: It is currently unknown how many copies of this comic book were printed. It has not been reprinted.

COMIC CREATOR: Rick Griffin - 1-32. "IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND ANOTHER - IN THIS CONDITION - AT THIS PRICE". We may have chosen to alter and block a portion of the cover of this particular comic, because it contains simple drawings, sketches, cartoon funnies and caricatures, showing the features of its subjects in a humorously exaggerated and satirical way. For Adults Only is printed on the cover because it's not a children's comic book.

OUR GUARANTEE - With all our books and comics we include an official Certificate of Authenticity. We have been buyers, sellers, and collectors of comics for over 30 years. We do not sell reproductions. Our comics are guaranteed and authentic.

Upon your request we will send you more actual photos of any individual comic books, from corner to corner, from inside to outside, to your satisfaction. Our books are kept secure in a smoke free, Virus free, pet free environment.

It cost more for BCW Modern Thick Comic Book Poly Bags, Acid Free Backer Boards, Corrugated Cardboard Support Boards, #5 Kraft Bubble Mailer Padded Envelopes. OUR STORY - While living in.

There was a little store off Bleecker that specialized in underground comics. Every Friday afternoon after work, I'd go there to see what was the latest version just hitting the shelves. With several of my hippy friends grooving, and laughing over Comics, we'd sit around that smoke-filled room, sometimes late into the night. Fast forward, some fifty years later. My wife and I discovered some old cardboard boxes hidden behind junk in the back of our storage locker. It was a dry, cool place and the hundreds of underground comics that had only been read once, were in beautiful condition. It felt like we discovered a pot of gold.

We wrote to dozens of book and comic stores with a list of our inventory. They said, there was no interest, no market and offered us little to nothing for the collection.

We explained to them that these were complete sets, first editions. To the retail outlets they were worthless, but to us they were priceless. Now we offer them on E-Bay and the collectors are grabbing them up, at our more than fair and reasonable prices. Many we had universally certified with CGC, so you'll know we're trustworthy, reliable and have the best of service.

Just check the feedback and reviews to know we're honest and responsible. Thank you again for your time and interest.