Rip
Off Comix #5, 1st Printing, September 1979, Gilbert Shelton, Bill Griffith, 52
pages, Rip Off Press, Underground Comic
In a
"Griffith Observatory" strip on the inside cover of Rip Off Comix #5,
Bill Griffith predicts the fashion trend of wearing underwear on the outside of
clothing (like Madonna during her 1990 Blond Ambition tour), but of course
Griffith was attempting to be absurd! Of all people, Griffith should know that
nothing is too absurd to become reality (and I think he does).
The
fifth issue begins with another Freak Brothers story from Gilbert Shelton and
Paul Mavrides. "Take Me Out..." is about the Freaks joining a
slow-pitch softball league (for three different teams, as it turns out) and
Freewheelin' Franklin betting on the games. Franklin makes a small fortune by
betting on the best team, but his profits are threatened in the last game of
the season when his bookie attempts to fix the outcome. But Franklin's no dope
(did I really just write that?) and has his own fixin' in the works.
Despite
its unusual (for the Freak Brothers) sports theme, "Take Me Out..."
is an entertaining tale and was reprinted the following year in Freak Brothers
#6. The story was doubtlessly inspired by the uncredited Dave Sheridan, who was
an avid softball player with the Artista Art Gang, an artist collective that
once included over 700 members and a hellacious softball squad.
After
a one-page "Cartoon Cavalcade" by Joel Beck, Harry Driggs (aka R.
Diggs) continues his Mom Squad series that launched in the previous issue.
"Mom Squad and the Space Pirates" is a somewhat disjointed 10-page
story about a mad scientist on a space satellite who apparently uses space junk
to fuel attacks on Earth as he attempts to become a global dictator. Of course
the Mom Squad is well equipped to foil his evil plans.
Dave
Sheridan follows with "Time Twisted Tales," a close-to-brilliant
story about time traveling set in the year 1979, as well as 987 and 4627.
Sheridan marvelously blends a triumvirate of characters from distant eras who
seemlessly interact with each other, demonstrating his gift for storytelling
and consummate illustration skills. Sheridan passed away at the age of 38 less
than three years after this comic was published, robbing us of two or three
more decades of his extraordinary comic art and imagination.
Shelton
culminates this issue with an 11-page Wonder Wart-Hog story, "Wonder
Wart-Hog and the Famous Superheroes School." It's a solid satire from
Shelton that skewers not only the comic superhero genre but also the evolving
(and profitable) market for highly specific "schools" that train
multitudes of students in narrowly defined proficiencies.
Rip
Off Comix hits another high note in its grand history with this issue.
HISTORICAL
FOOTNOTES: There are two printings of this comic book. The 1st printing
(unknown copies) has a $1.20 cover price. The 2nd printing (unknown copies) has
a $1.50 cover price. Given the popularity of the Freak Brothers, I'd guess the
1st printing had 10,000+ copies and the 2nd printing had 5,000 copies.
COMIC
CREATORS: Gilbert Shelton - 1 (shared), 3-11 (collaboration), 39-49, 52, Harry
Driggs - 1, 13-22, Joel Beck - 1 (shared), 12, 50, Dave Sheridan - 1 (shared),
23-38, Ted Richards - 1 (shared), 51, Bill Griffith - 1 (shared), 2, Paul
Mavrides - 3-11 (collaboration)
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cover of this particular comic, because it contains simple drawings,
sketches, cartoon funnies and caricatures, showing the features of
its subjects in a humorously exaggerated and satirical way. For Adults Only is printed on the cover
because it’s not a children’s comic book. We have listed this issue in the
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