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Zap Comix
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<p><i>Zap Comix</i> is an <a href="/facts/Underground_comix/wvH8AzNB">underground comix</a> series which was originally part of the <a href="/facts/Counterculture_of_the_1960s/BjyVc83W">counterculture of the late 1960s</a>. While a few small-circulation self-published satirical comic books had been printed prior to this, <i>Zap</i> became the model for the "<a href="/facts/Underground_comics/wvH8AzNB">comix</a>" movement that snowballed after its release. The title itself published 17 issues over a period of 46 years. </p><p>Premiering in early 1968 as a showcase for the work of <a href="/facts/Robert_Crumb/8Rzud1N2">Robert Crumb</a>, <i>Zap</i> was unlike any comic book that had been seen before. While working on <i>Zap</i> #1, Crumb saw a <a href="/facts/Chet_Helms/B2I0vRTX">Family Dog</a> <a href="/facts/Poster/vlxQkEDr">poster</a> drawn by <a href="/facts/Rick_Griffin/YYL9Ynsw">Rick Griffin</a> which resembled a <a href="/facts/Psychedelic_art/mGStgN7b">psychedelic</a> version of a <a href="/facts/Sunday_comics/XMKbCCdS">Sunday funnies</a> page. Its surreal, other-worldly imagery inspired him to think about comics in a new way, as seen in the art style of <i>Zap</i> #1's <i>Abstract Expressionist Ultra Super Modernistic Comics</i>. When Crumb started planning the next issue, he reached out to Griffin, asking him to contribute to Zap #2. Griffin agreed and suggested bringing fellow poster artist <a href="/facts/Victor_Moscoso/3lhBM6u5">Victor Moscoso</a> on board. <a href="/facts/S._Clay_Wilson/L0bUWzzd">S. Clay Wilson</a>, <a href="/facts/Gilbert_Shelton/wtk1AANg">Gilbert Shelton</a>, <a href="/facts/Robert_Williams_(artist)/Dq9xI4rv">Robert Williams</a>, and <a href="/facts/Spain_Rodriguez/VthpXygs">"Spain" Rodriguez</a> were also contributors to <i>Zap</i>. </p><p>While the origin of the spelling "comix" is a subject of some dispute, it was popularized by its appearance in the title of the first issues of <i>Zap</i>. Design critic <a href="/facts/Steven_Heller_(graphic_design)/jC3xDK4P">Steven Heller</a> claims that the term "comix" ("co-mix") refers to the traditional comic book style of <i>Zap</i>, and its mixture of dirty jokes and storylines. </p>