all new underground comics
all new underground comics
Last Gasp 1972-73
As the underground comic book scene flourished in the early 1970s, sometimes certain stories were reprinted in a second or third comic book to make up a full book. For instance, a Freak Brothers one-pager might have appeared in EVO, Bijou Funnies and then a Freak Brothers comic book. So Last Gasp began publishing the All New Underground Comix series in 1972 to ensure comic book buyers that the comics in this particular title had not been reprinted from elsewhere. In this five-issue run, each comic features a different sub-title and set of creators. The third issue is a back-to-back, double-sided comic book featuring two different long-form stories.
Only one title from the series sold well enough to warrant a second printing and earn additional issues; Armageddon ran for two additional issues beyond the first, plus a “deluxe” edition of the third issue.
All New Underground Comix published some decent comics and each issue is reviewed individually. The weak link of the five books is definitely Big League Laffs, which attempts to put an underground twist on sports comics with minimal success. But Armageddon, Hot Crackers, The Mountain and Two-Fisted Zombies are all solid efforts and enjoyable reads.