Amazing Heroes #125 Representative Image

Amazing Heroes #125 Representative Image

Periodical
Comic strips

Issue number 125 of Amazing Heroes fanzine, published on September 15th of 1987 features an interview with underground comix creator, Frank Cirocco, written by Kevin Dooley, beginning on page 40. The start of the article features a two page spread, the title proclaiming in thin, bold letters “The Return of Frank Cirocco.” To the left of the title, there is a large black and white drawing of an alien animal that appears as a large snake with insect-like pinschers around its mouth. The drawing is captioned “Frank’s last reincarnation- Alien Legion, which still bears his co-creator status.” On top of the title, standing on the second “c” of Cirocco, there is a smiling, hula-hooping cartoon boy.

The interview largely takes a question and answer format between the interviewer and Cirocco, touching on topics such as Cirocco’s past work and experiences in the comics world, his educational experience, his frequent disappearance and reappearances from comics, his work with Continuity Studios, his Suburban High Life comics, which were published through Slave Labor Graphics, and features black and white frames from the Suburban High Life comics In Miller’s comics career, he was a figure of underground comix, a counterculture comics movement that was most prevalent from the 1960s through the 1980s. This movement in comics was known for being far less censored than other comics of the era, as these comix were largely self-published and often not sold on newsstands. The movement is known for using themes of sexuality, and often sexism, as well as themes around drugs, anti-capitalism, and darker humor than appeared in Comics Code Authority approved works of the time, which strictly banned mentions of drugs or any work that went against traditional American values. This dark humor is certainly present in the Suburban High Life comics Cirocco mentions within the interview- the featured panels from this comic depict the life of a man who is turned into a hot dog, who then descends into depression and alcoholism and contemplates suicide.

In many ways, these comics seem to channel some of the darkness of this counterculture movement. However, within the interview Cirocco also mentions his work with independent contributors to the comic. He mentions have no strict regulations for who may or may not contribute, likely drawing influence again from the underground comix movement, as the movement heavily influenced the popularity of freelance artists in comics, rather than in-office artists. Frank Cirocco himself has no degree in art, despite attending college for two years and pursuing a degree, perhaps also influencing his decision against stringently checking the credentials of potential contributors. The comic had many science fiction influenced themes, such as mind control and “mutant gigolos from outer space,” perhaps influencing the science fiction art that Cirocco contributed to the cover of this issue of Amazing Heroes. Thus, though the underground comix movement had largely died down by the time Cirocco provided this interview in 1987, his influences can still be connected to the movement as a whole, particularly in his project Suburban High Life.

Managing Editor: Kevin Dooley
Art Director: Doug Erb
Executive Director: Kim Thompson
News Correspondents: Dave Hall and Donald K. Niven
Production Assistants: Audu Paden and Coco Shinomiya
Typesetting: L.M. Gorell and Arlene Easter
Circulation: Rachel Enger

MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47

Fantagraphics Books, Inc.

September 15, 1987

Brooke Bloomfield

Rights Restrictions Apply

Companion to Amazing Heroes 125 Cover, http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/admin/items/show/id/86
Companion to Amazing Heroes #125 Table of Contents, http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/admin/items/show/87

6-5/8 inches wide by 10-1/4 inches, black and white

English

Periodical, .jpg

1981-1992

Comic Book

6-5/8 inches wide by 10-1/4 inches