The Book-a-Week Project, Week 16

The R. Crumb Handbook
R. Crumb and Peter Poplaski

I’m not a huge fan of R. Crumb’s work, but I am a fan of R. Crumb’s personality. I like his neuroses and his fascination with ragtime music and large women. I like his illustrative style, but I never get giddy when I read his comics. I’d much rather watch Crumb, the documentary. The Handbook is good that way. It contains samples of his work collected in thematic chapters and interspersed with writing from Big R. himself.

The definite highlight is the inclusion of a CD with ragtime covers from bands Crumb has been in over the past thirty years. It’s all really good. “My Baby’s Pussy” stands out.