With all this public domain Mickey talk, I may as well pt out there a write-up on a notorious piece of unauthorization: Mickey Rat.
This sick piece of work, according to Toonopedia, was created by Robert Armstrong (who invented the term "couch potato") as a t-shirt design for, presumably, hippies, in 1971. He first appeared as a character in the underground L.A. Comics, and is described by Don Markstein as being essentially a nothing except "his creators' desire to make him the opposite of the other Mickey in every possible way." There were only four issues of his solo series. The Sixties Counterculture had a bizarre hatred of Disney, where this most likely came from and who it was most likely marketed for (this topic will be discussed in an upcoming non-political blog entry.)
Don't expect me to read it. I've never read any Underground Comix simply because I'm not crazy about graphic sex and violence (so-called "mature content"), which are hallmarks of the genre, and I'm sure Mickey Rat is no exception. But have any of you?
On a totally different note, I am sad that a living legend, Joyce Randolph (Trixie in The Honeymooners), just passed away at 99. The Honeymooners is my favorite sitcom, and even though she was a fourth wheel to the series, she always was a joy to watch. I always loved her delivery of "Oh, Ed!" I bet she never dreamed a 21-year-old fan would be sad about her passing.
I have a couple of reprints of the original issues, as well as a volume with the collected stories, and think they're hilarious. His personality is more akin to D. Duck when he had the angry, misanthropic attitude you like.
ReplyDeleteIf you can stomach irreverent humor and some naughty words, you just might get a kick out of them, too. Besides, if you're seeking out dope 'n' sex hippie comix featuring The Mick to castigate, you should look no further than the champion of that particular genre, "Air Pirates Funnies".
I can do naughty words but hate anything graphic. I don't mind if they're in a historical context, but not "Sick for Sick's Sake."
DeleteThe trick to underground comix was fresh insight and a genuine graphic flair that assuaged distasteful subject matter. "Mickey Rat" demonstrates the difference between Crumb and crummy.
ReplyDeleteHave not read any Underground, let alone R. Crumb.
DeleteThe counterculture's hatred of Disney, far from being "bizarre", made perfect sense, as the company represented the sanitised, conformist society that they were rebelling against.
ReplyDeleteI encountered Mickey Rat when I was in eighth grade in 1973-74. I remember it as the same sort of irreverent humour found in MAD magazine at the time, for example in its recurring "Movie scenes we'd like to see" series, which would have things like Pinocchio stomping on Jiminy Cricket. I liked some of the underground comix of the '70s, like the drug-oriented Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, or the pornographic Cherry Poptart, which was sort of like Archie comics with graphic sex. I guess they haven't aged well.
Sorry to hear about Joyce Randolph. She was the last surviving actor to have appeared in "The Honeymooners", including all the guest stars. That show, unlike the underground comix of the 1970s, still holds up today, and will long into the future.
Welcome back, Paul!
DeleteI have a slight sympathy with 60s Counterculture merely as an artistic taste (music, colors, lettering, etc...), but not so much the Disney hatred.
I have not experienced them to see if they've aged well.