Arcade 3 with Charles Bukowski Short-Story Illustrated by R. Crumb (1975)

Published in 1975, “BOP BOP AGAINST THAT CURTAIN” marked the first collaboration between Bukowski and Robert Crumb.

“BOP BOP AGAINST THAT CURTAIN” first appeared in the Bukowski book, South of No North -- without the R. Crumb illustrations.

This version of the story runs three pages with five great Crumb illustrations. It measures approximately 8" x 11" and is in Fine condition.

Bukowski first met Crumb in 1972 at a party hosted by Liza Williams, who was Bukowski’s girlfriend at the time. Bukowski and Crumb appeared in several magazines and weeklies together prior to them meeting, so he was familiar with Crumb’s work.

"You know, your stuff is good, kid,” Bukowski told him at the party. “It's the real thing. Just keep away from the cocktail parties.” It’s a humorous coming of age story where a young Bukowski spends his afternoon with friends who eventually end up at a cheap burlesque theater.

Three years later their first collaboration was published in Arcade 3. Published by Art Spiegelman and Bill Griffith, Arcade was a last-ditch attempt to keep the underground comix movement relevant by creating an adult-focused magazine that appealed to the mainstream. Issues were published from 1975 to 1976 and featured well-known artists such as Crumb, Kim Deitch, Spain Rodriguez, and S. Clay Wilson. For content, they tapped writers such as Bukowski, William S. Burroughs, Paul Krassner and J. Hoberman.

Arcade 3 featured a Crumb front cover of a bohemian-looking character walking through a city landscape on a windy fall day with a balloon caption reading, “This, to me, is sheer poetry!!” a humorous coming of age story where a young Bukowski spends his afternoon with friends who eventually end up at a cheap burlesque theater.

Box 29