A History of Underground Comics
Perched halfway between college humor magazines andNational Lampoon,underground  comics are an overlooked component of the history of humor in this country. At their best, they're also fun as hell  to read--protopunk satire, so crazy, crass, and scatological that the stories nearly drip off the page.  Mark James Estren'sHistory of Underground Comicsis an excellent survey of the art in the days  before Crumb was a movie star and well-mannered alternative weeklies brought Matt Groening and Lynda  Barry into every suburb.  As such, I wouldn't buy it for the kids; after looking at the book, my mother  remarked, "I don't remember them being so dirty." (Of course they were, but she was dirtier herself back  then.) If you're a fan of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Trashman, Bobby London's Duck and Weevil--and you  know if you are--buy this book. Even if you're from the Love and Rockets generation, take  advantage of this primo guided tour.