Going underground
Going underground |
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Page 22 of 36  'So-realist Cartoons', Zip Comics (H Bunch, 1973) by William Rankin, one of the real stylists of British comix By the mid-1970s, a decline in the underground generally was already in evidence, and this is where the final phase begins. Chronologically, the British scene had been late to flower, and across the Atlantic things had started to go wrong around 1973-4. The- right-wing press in America had been running negative articles about the comix since the late 1960s, claiming that they were socially irresponsible and intent on glorifying violence, perverted sex and drug taking: now they stepped up their campaign by eliciting the support of the anti-pornography lobby. Partly due to this pressure, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling in 1973 whereby local communities could decide their own First Amendment standards with reference to obscenity. At around the same time, there were a series of 'anti-paraphernalia' laws passed which outlawed the selling of drug-related items. The inevitable busts followed. Zap no 4 was ruled obscene in the State of New York, and withdrawn from sale. Another title, Air Pirates Funnies (Air Pirates, 1971), was successfully sued by Disney for depicting Mickey Mouse involved in sex and drug taking. There were many more similar instances. At the same time, headshops were prosecuted and closed down: the anti-drugs laws were a convenient way to attack the comix, posters, magazines and other items that were sold.  'Rats' Tails', Animal Weirdness (H Bunch, 1974) by J Wesolowski  Cover, Animal Weirdness. Art: Anon. |