Richard Corben's UNDERGROUND Comix - Slow Death, Fantagor, Anomaly, Rowlf, Death Rattle, and more!

Ed's Links (Order RED ROOM!, Patreon, etc): linktr.ee/edpiskor
Jim's Links (Patreon, Store, social media): linktr.ee/jimrugg
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[@blzimbub]

Not only did Corben do so much work, put his studio phone number in his self published Fantagor. I called to see what I could order by mail and Richard answered the phone himself to take my order! Amazing! Later when he had a website, I emailed the site to help put together a list of his work and he answer the email himself! He is a legend and the #1 reason I got obsessed with comics (along with Kirby).

[@focusactive7781]

Corben did as much to push the craft forward as Kirby or Moebius. True legend.

[@carminedawg9506]

Hope we get some Corben Library collection . His work is light years ahead of everyone

[@szcorpioilluzion]

Slow Death #0 a new anthology is now for sale by Last Gasp. released this april. it has a new story by Corben before he passed

[@keeshanbarton2963]

Thanks to the two of you for reviving my love of comics

[@russworks2882]

There was a recent Corben exhibit in Angouleme and they published a two volume "Artist Edition" style catalog, which was way too expensive by the time I heard of it, but gives you a good look at his originals. Just search online and you can see how much sharper and mindblowing the work is before it goes through production. A stupefying amount of the halftones, particularly on human flesh, was actually pencil. It's so weird that a lot of the black linework is Sharpie and Micron marker. Obviously the tools don't mean as much as we sometimes think. Corben would figure out what results he wanted and just seize the tools he had. Other than his super-advanced vision, what seems to set Corben apart is a willingness to do the work necessary to achieve his ends, and both were quite extreme.

[@AdHouseBooks]

I left Jim Rugg at the table to acquire that two volume set. I went to the front of our tent to purchase from the "store". After around 15 minutes of translation issues, we finally figured out they didn't have copies and wouldn't be getting copies. The only place to get them was at the museum where his show was. So... off I go, leaving the tent to get to the museum, only to find around 100 kids waiting to get into to see his work. Since I'm not there to see the show, I bump my way to the front, go in backwards so I get to the store, and wait to buy my copy. It took a while, since they had just opened, but I finally made it happen. When I got home, I took two photos I had taken at the show, sent them to Corben, and he signed them and sent them back. A true keepsake from a wonderful trip!

[@russworks2882]

@@AdHouseBooks From what I've seen it was well worth it. There was some noise early on that IDW, who published domestic versions of the Wood and Buscema exhibit catalogs, would do the same with Corben, but that's not happening. I keep hoping that some publisher will work something out, because the same market that supports Artist's Editions would embrace this with enthusiasm. How about Adhouse Books?

[@nigelcox-hagan6820]

I wonder if Corben was influenced by sci fi illustrator Virgil Finlay, their is a similar sheen and texture to his black and white work.

[@dannycruz5446]

Dont know about Finlay but Corben's b&w art looks quite a lot like John Severin's art.

[@russworks2882]

Have a look at the Weird Tales art of Hannes Bok.

[@crimsonmask3819]

@@dannycruz5446 Yes, Richard Corben has stated that John Severin was an influence on him, and it's very evident in the early material. Virgil Finlay, also. He never did drop that Finlay style of stippling. He also cited Maxfield Parrish (fairly obvious in his color work), who also was an influence of Hannes Bok. So, lots of keen eyes here. :)

[@lobbymccawker2083]

Corben was brilliant

[@robsacchetto7709]

Best show on comics, and LOVING comics art ever!!!! Always blown away! Thank you guys!!!

[@dannyzee5611]

I remember my first introduction to Corben when I read rip in time and mutant world blew my mind. One of the great illustrators of our time.

[@djgforce11]

Great analogy of Corbens early underground work which is how I discovered him too, & u were right as much as I appreciated guys like Crumb & S.Clay Wilson their stuff couldnt come anywhere close to what he was accomplishing.

[@mikemauro3119]

My favorite channel, and the Warren episodes are always a delight!

[@falguard]

I recognize the exact Conan story that Conan painting is from. Awesome.

[@hcanderson3787]

Great episode, LOVE Corben. Thank you. PS: Corben did at least two Death Rattle covers.

[@chaselowe4061]

You guys always introduce me to the best shit!

[@theartofSkinner]

Awwwww yeah!! Corben party!! Dudes the best. Never be another!

[@keng.2468]

God love Corben. He was one of my influences growing up as an artist.

[@seanstewart302]

You asked if "Going Home" has been reprinted or was available. I have quite a few Corben stories in various forms. Aside from maybe in "Odd Comics World of", which I don't have, I don't think it has been reprinted. Great choice of story to use for this video.

[@TamSamuel]

Would like to see you guys do a video covering Steve Ditko’s WWF comics from the early 90’s. Keep up the good work!

[@sclr]

i was surprised at how many of these i have. RIP Corben, a true legend.

[@eduardocarvalho861]

Why not a library collection of all these out of print comics? Album size, color corrected and revised (wishful thinking)?

[@gabrieljimenez9762]

This is amazing. As always, Warren comes through with some gems. It's criminal to think that some of these haven't or won't be reprinted. Gorgeous work. I first became aware of Corben with his Edgar Allan Poe adaptations that Marvel put out. I bought it initially for Poe, but I was hypnotized by the art, it was so beautiful. After that, regardless of what book it was, who wrote it, if I saw Corben anywhere, I would pick it up. One of the first artists I did that with. Thanks for the education guys.

[@TrueBeLeafer]

Rowlf is the only one I have, but man it is so damn good! I want to get more of Corben's work for sure! 🤟🏽

[@seanvolk4202]

Den was so important to me, was ad he died, of coarse people will pass, but that one was sad for me

[@crimsonmask3819]

I'm still in shock. Rich's work was part of my life almost every day since discovering him in the Warren mags as a child, but for the last few months, it's been too emotional for me.

[@benschorr-kon2071]

Robot Mangler looks like the inspiration for Rank Xerox.

[@christiancomicstrip3913]

I remember discovering Corben when he started publishing his Den comic. Amazing artist - my favourite book is Bloodstar.

[@charlessampson6426]

Corben..... simply the best. Thanks guys.

[@timothymarkin3421]

I just found the magazine sized Fantagor 1 for $1 at a used toy store. Back in the 90s, when I lived in Kansas City (Corben’s hometown), Rich appeared at the KC Comicon and I got some old comix signed (along with a comic book adaptation he did of A Boy and His Dog...which I then got signed by writer Harlan Ellison).

[@sunriseraymusic]

these are insane! Shame that the processes for making that have been lost though. Truly amazing stuff!!!

[@olcio5501]

Richard Corben was a real genius!

[@MrShaundra]

If I had to guess on the Corben color art style I think its a combo of airbrush and standard brush work using a paint called gouache. It's a very think watercolor type paint similar to tempera paint but much more refined. If you know what you are doing you can get some very interesting and very arresting colors but it isn't easy to work with. You can thin it waaaay down (in an airbrush) or use it thick which can give you a variety of textures and applications. Check this paint out. I used it myself back in art college (back in the 80s) but to be honest I don't see it much these days. Probably because it's kinda hard to use....unless of course you are a singular talent like Richard Corben. P.S. You didn't show the cover of Slow Death #1 (which I own) and though Corben didn't do the cover he did do an excellent black and white sci fi story about the drug culture of the distant future. He also did a LOT of work for Warren books in the 70s illustrating stories like The Tangible Hatred. But my favorite Creepy/ Eerie story he did was called The Slipped Mickey Clip Flip! You MUST read it totally stoned to get the full effect.

[@GalaxianPunk]

Got the new Slow Death Zero, great stuff!

[@drawnswordgraphix]

I wonder if Corben was using white prisma color pencils on the highlights over his inks and that's what gives it that air brush look, along with some grey color pencil.

[@seanstewart302]

I also would love to see a complete collection of Corben's underground work in hardcover. Maybe Dark Horse Comics will take us up on our suggestion?

[@cthulhuhandluke8026]

R.I.P Corben

[@joyroy82]

is there a collection of Richard Corbens underground comics ?

[@leetaylorchristian]

holy sh!t

[@MrPGC137]

Sure, I remember these! There used to be a really cool comics shop in downtown San Jose called Bob Sidebottom's, where they sold all the great old classic Undergrounds by Corben & others. I was lucky to glom onto a lot of these when I was in my 20s and I'm sure I still have them safely tucked away in storage someplace. Thanks for doing this video and bringing back fond memories of this great old cool stuff! 😀

[@nojsageiv]

Question for Eddy P: is brat pack an inspiration for red room?

[@troynixeycomix]

The Walking Dead..or as I like to call it, Deadworld part deux. ;)