moc 01 spabits
moc 01 spabits
Rip Off Press October 1969
When Fried Schrier and Dave Sheridan approached Rip Off Press with the nearly complete artwork to Mother’s Oats Comix #1 in 1969, Rip Off co-founder Jack Jackson was convinced Sheridan’s work was worthy but not so sure about Schrier’s. But since Sheridan insisted they would only publish together, Jackson and Rip Off went ahead with the book. And were they glad they did!
Mother’s Oat Comix #1 was a huge hit and went through several printings, launching the comic careers of Schrier and Sheridan. Jackson’s initial reluctance about Schrier proved unfounded, as he acknowledged in a 1972 interview with author Patrick Rosenkranz; “Within a year, Schrier’s style had developed to where it was almost better in some respects than Sheridan’s.”
Mother’s Oats Comix #1 includes the debut of Sheridan’s Dealer McDope character in “The Doings of Dealer McDope.” Dealer McDope became one of Sheridan’s signature characters, selected as the poster boy for the 1972 California Marijuana Initiative and starring in his own board game published by Last Gasp. The comic also features Schrier’s “Ego Trips,” in which his protagonist goes on a wild, psychedelic journey to rescue his ego, which was stolen by his id.
One can see that Sheridan is a more accomplished cartoonist than Schrier in this issue, but also see Schrier’s potential, which would be soon realized. The writing is also not quite as solid as the next two issues of the book.
Fred Schrier – 1+, 2, 13, 15-25, 28? • Dave Sheridan – 1+, 2-12, 14, 26, 27?
2 – Funny Ads • 3 – The Doings of Dealer McDope • 13 – Early Morning Bathroom Capers • 14 – A Scene In A Park • 15 – Ego Trips • 26 – A Day In The Life • 27 – Tired Of Being Skinny? • 28 – Read Comics